The legendary piano work of Henry Gray has graced numerous classic Chicago Blues recordings by Howlin Wolf, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, Little Walter, Billy Boy Arnold, Dusty Brown, Morris Pejoe, and G.L. Crockett. Henry, also a fantastic vocalist, recorded his first sides as a band leader in the early 1950s for Chess. In 1995 Henry Gray and Bob Corritore started a long and fruitful collaboration, resulting in years of performing, touring, and recording together. Please enjoy the following photo collection featuring this veteran Blues master.

Henry Gray at the Rhythm Room. Photo Daniel Swadener.

Henry Gray holding up a Blues & Rhythm Magazine! Photo Phil Wight.

Henry Gray listening to a playback at Tempest Recording! Photo Drew Verbis.

Early photo of Henry Gray with unidentified woman. Thanks to Lenita Horton, Henry’s niece for sharing this family treasure. Lenita could not identify the woman pictured or the year.

The Howlin’ Wolf Band circa 1959 or 1960. Clockwise: Henry Gray, Sam Lay, Eddie Shaw, Sam Jones, Johnny Littlejohn, Howlin’ Wolf, Jerome Arnold.

Photo by Martin Van Olderen.

Left to right: Clarence Edwards, Lil’ Ray Neal, Silas Hogan, Raful Neal, Robert Sacre, Henry Gray. Photo courtesy Robert Sacre.

Henry Gray with his granddaughter at his home in Baton Rouge, 1980. Photo Erik Lindahl.

Henry Gray and Luis Myers at the Chicago Blues Festival. Photo John Rockwood.

Howlin’ Wolf Band alumni: Henry Gray, Eddie Shaw, Hubert Sumlin.

Henry Gray at Tabby’s Blues Box, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August, 1986. Photo Martin Feldmann.

Henry Gray in session at Tempest Recording. Photo by Dick Rice.

Henry Gray hands on the piano in session at Tempest Recording. Photo by Dick Rice.

Henry Gray in session at Tempest Recording. Photo Drew Verbis.

Chico Chism, John Brim, Bob Corritore, Henry Gray. Photo Marilyn Szabo.

Henry Gray, Bob Corritore, Hubert Sumlin at the Grammy Pre-Party, Los Angeles, 1999.

Henry Gray and Bob Corritore at the Grammys 1999. Henry was up for a Grammy that year for his work on the Tribute To Howlin’ Wolf album.

Chico Chism and Henry Gray. Photo Dick Rice.

Henry Gray, Baton Rouge, 1988. Photo by Tano Ro.

Photo by Robert Sacre.

Henry Gray photo by David Horwitz.

Henry Gray, Colne Festival 1993, photo Brian Smith.

Henry Gray, Colne Festival 1993, photo Brian Smith.

Henry Gray, Colne, 1994 by Brian Smith courtesy Phil Wight.

Henry Gray, Colne, 1994 by Brian Smith courtesy Phil Wight.

Henry Gray, Colne, 1994 by Brian Smith courtesy Phil Wight.

Henry Gray, Colne, 1994 by Brian Smith courtesy Phil Wight.

Henry Gray, Colne, 1994 by Brian Smith courtesy Phil Wight.

Henry Gray at the Rhythm Room in 2000. Photo Jeff Gatesman.

Henry Gray wearing his Grammy nomination badge. Photo by Jeff Gatesman.

Henry Gray received a Blues Blast Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Blues Blast Music Awards. Here is Henry in his moment, adoringly surrounded by Fiona Boyes, Lynn Orman, and Linda Cain! Photo Bob Corritore.

Bob Corritore and Henry Gray at the Edmonton Blues Festival, Canada in 2015. Photo by Adrianna Marie.

Henry Gray receiving a standing ovation at the 2015 Edmonton Blues Festival. Photo from the stage by Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray and Bob Corritore at the 2015 Edmonton Blues Festival.

Gift bag from the 2015 Edmonton Blues Festival.

Henry Gray, Bob Corritore, Junior Watson at the 2016 Hondarribia Blues Festival, Spain.

Henry Gray and Deitra Farr at the Hondarribia Blues Festival, Spain 2016. Photo Bob Corritore.

Carol Fran and Henry Gray. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray, Bob Corritore, Bob Margolin recording for Blues Radio International! Photo J. Skolnick.

Henry Gray at Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago in 2016. Photo by Karen Murphy.

Bob Margolin, Bob Corritore, Jimi Bott, Willie J Campbell, Henry Gray at the 2016 Blues Music Awards in Memphis! Photo by Marilyn Stringer.

Henry Gray at the 2016 Hondarribia Blues Festival. Photo Alex Rodriguez Cruz.

Piano hands! Photo by Drew Verbis. 

Henry Gray at the Hondarribia Blues Festival, Spain in 2016.

Bob Corritore and Henry Gray performing in 2016 at the Blues Bast Music Awards. This is the year when Blues Blast Magazine presented Henry with a lifetime achievement award. Photo Kurt Foor.

Henry Gray and Bob Corritore at the Rhythm Room in 2016. Photo Drew Verbis.

Henry Gray and Oscar Wilson, Phoenix, 2017. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray, Chicago, 2017. Photo Scott Barretta.

Terrance Simien, Henry Gray, Bob Corritore at Dockside Studios, Marksville, Louisiana, 2017.

Henry Gray in session at Tempest Recording. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray celebrating his 92nd birthday in 2017 at the Rhythm Room!

Dr. Janice Johnston and Henry Gray right after Henry’s induction into the Blues Hall Of Fame in May of 2017, Memphis. Photo Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray at his Blues Hall Of Fame induction! To his left is Drew Verbis and to his right is Zakiya Hooker! Thank you Blues Foundation!

Barbara Newman (President and CEO of the Blues Foundation)and Henry Gray before Henry’s induction in the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2017. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Henry Gray portrait by Rustin Gudim.

Bob Corritore, Henry Gray, John Primer! 

Henry Gray, the millionaire! Photo by Bob Corritore.

Lazy Lester, Kenny Neal, Henry Gray at the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Photo by Amy Brat.

Bob Corritore and Henry Gray at Henry’s home in Baton Rouge, 2018

Cynthia Simien and Henry Gray backstage at the 2018 Crescent City Blues & Barbecue Festival!

Henry Gray and Bob Corritore. Photo Daniel Swadener.

Photo by Bill Henderson.

Henry Gray’s image appears painted on a drum head on the wall at Bradfordville Blues Club, Tallahassee, Florida.

Henry Gray 45 from 1988 on red vinyl.

Autographed flyer from 1996 show.

The poster for the 2018 Baton Rouge Blues Festival featured this artistic rendering of Henry Gray as it’s theme.

Next photo page
Previous photo page

Back to photo index