Kamal Gray
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Kamal Gray | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Gray |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboard, Vocals |
| Member of | The Roots, The Tonight Show Band |
Kamal Gray is a keyboardist, rapper, vocalist, and producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He is member of the hip hop band, The Roots, who are also the house band, The Tonight Show Band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[2][3] Gray occasionally appears in games and sketches on The Tonight Show. His stage name "Kamal" comes from the saying "Come one, come all."
Growing up in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Gray played outdoor sports on the basketball court and street football.[4] He played football at Martin Luther King High but had difficulty with academic eligibility. His father noticed his skill as a musician, and Gray notes that when he got in trouble or a bad grade his dad made him practice piano for an hour.[4] He studied the guitar before focusing on jazz piano training in his early teens.[5]
Gray joined The Roots in 1994 immediately after graduating from high school in Philadelphia. He replaced keyboard player Scott Storch joining the band in London. His first album with The Roots was Illadelph Halflife in 1996, and he has played on twelve of their fourteen studio albums. Gray's background in classical and jazz piano with influences from Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk contribute to his ability to integrate complex jazz styles into hip-hop rhythms.[5] This fusion, combined with The Roots' live instrumentation and improvisational solos, helps set the band apart from typical hip-hop acts and has earned them a diverse and dedicated fan base.[5]
Discography[edit]
With The Roots[edit]
- ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, Def Jam Recordings, 2014
- Wise Up Ghost, Blue Note, 2013
- Undun, Def Jam Recordings, 2011
- How I Got Over, 2010
- Rising Down, Def Jam Recordings, 2008
- Game Theory, Def Jam Recordings[6], 2006
- The Tipping Point, Geffen, 2004
- Phrenology, MCA, 2002
- Things Fall Apart, MCA, 1999[7]
- What They Do, Geffen Records, 1996
- Illadelph Halflife, DGC, Geffen Records, 1996
Soundtrack Credits[edit]
- The 'Notic – Men In Black (The Album), Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax, 1997
References[edit]
- ^ "The Roots keyboardist assists student getting their degree". ABC WPVI-TV. October 18, 2019.
- ^ Vincenty, Samantha (January 4, 2024). "All About The Tonight Show Band, The Roots". NBC.
- ^ Bjorkgren, David (October 28, 2019). "Kamal Gray of The Roots Gives to Neumann Scholarships". Delco Today.
- ^ a b Anastasia, Phil (September 6, 2019). "Kamal Gray Jr., son of the Roots star, makes his own name as Pope John Paul II football quarterback". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ a b c Rovito, Markkus (Feb 2000). "Band: The roots". Keyboard. Vol. 26, no. 2. p. 16.
- ^ Dombal, Ryan (August 31, 2006). "Review: Game Theory". Pitchfork.
- ^ Grove, Rashad (February 23, 2023). "'Things Fall Apart': How It All Came Together for The Roots". U Discover Music. Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on 2023-12-10.