Robert Gray – whose latest musical release, Up Until Now, offers up a solid mix of smooth songs.

One-time Essex native, Robert Gray, describes his latest musical release. Up Until Now, as having a "70's flavour".

The 12 track CD provides the kind of music that is perfect for listening to while kicking back on the couch with a good bottle of vino.

The twelve lush songs on the album are a kind of monologue, a personal look at Gray's life in musical form.

Beneath the well produced veneer and strong song structure of each tune lie hints of John Lennon (when he was on his own), Roy Orbison, and other classic rock artists.

If you're into ear bleeding, wall of sound stuff, then you may want to listen elsewhere. The music doesn't inspire you to revolt; it just demands that you listen with its catchy hooks, solid lyrics, and catchy melodies.

Gray has had great success promoting his personal production. Already four local radio stations (CHYR, CKSY, CBC Radio, and AM 1550) have picked up either "Part of Me", "Sunshine" or "Blue Sky" and added those songs to their rotation. Add to that a couple of stations found north of Ken County border and Gray can boast that he is enjoying an unusual amount of air time for a local musician.

"Every station I've sent it to has played it so far," Gray explained, "That's a pretty good testament to the music itself".

Of course, it helps that Gray spent 14 months on recording the album and he has some big name musicians accompanying him.

As stated in his press release, "longtime Valdy/Burton Cummings guitarist Norm MacPherson produced the CD and played numerous other instruments also". Gray and MacPerson were joined by Edward Bear on bass and Windsor saxophonist John Theaker to round out the studio lineup.

"I owe it to the music," Gray said, of the effort which went into the albums creation, "I didn't want to cheapen the production. I wanted it to be first class all the way".

Gray certainly put a first class effort into the production, right down to the CD jacket which could easily sit on the shelf next to any jack designed at the behest of the major labels.

With the interest in Up Until Now gaining in momentum, Gray is already doing what any good musician should – he's looking ahead. With that in mind he's already started work on his next album and he's intent on "using the same type of formula that I used on [Up Until Now]".

If you're interested in listening to some rock n' roll with an "older" yet "classical" sound, you can purchase Gray's CD at Sam the Record Man and HMV in Windsor, Dale's Music in Leamington, and at Winks and Paul Foster's office in Essex.