Robert William Cray is a blues, roots and soul guitarist and singer from the United States. In 1974, he formed the formed the 'Robert Cray Band' and began playing college towns on the West Coast. Cray was the uncredited bassist in the 1978 'National Lampoon's Animal House' house party band 'Otis Day and the Knights'. The Robert Cray Band released its first album in 1980, followed by 'Strong Persuader' in 1986, 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' in 1988 and 'Take Your Shoes Off' in 1999 - the latter three each winning Grammy Awards for 'Best Contemporary Blues Album'. Cray has collaborated with many artists including John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Cray has been inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk and the Blues Hall of Fame and received the Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance.