Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the "Nashville sound". He was known for his "slip note" piano style, where an out-of-key note slides into the correct note.
Biography
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
In 1953, he cut his first single, "Dancin' Diane", backed with "Little Brown Jug", for the local Abbott label. During 1955 he played dates with an emerging talent who would later figure significantly in his career, Elvis Presley.
Cramer moved to Nashville in 1955 where the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. By the next year he was, in his words, "in day and night doing session". Before long, he was one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, the Browns, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, and the Everly Brothers, among others. It was Cramer's piano playing, for instance, on Presley's first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel". However, Cramer remained strictly a session player, a virtual unknown to anyone outside the music industry.
"What'd I Say" (or "What I Say") is an American Rhythm and blues song, by Ray Charles released in 1959. As single divided into two parts, it was one of the first soul songs. The composition was improvised one evening late in 1958 when Charles, his orchestra, and backup singers had played their entire set list at a show and still had time left; the response from many audiences was so enthusiastic that Charles announced to his producer that he was going to record it.
After his run of R&B hits, this song finally broke Charles into mainstream pop music and itself sparked a new subgenre of R&B titled soul, finally putting together all the elements that Charles had been creating since he recorded "I Got a Woman" in 1954. The gospel and rhumba influences combined with the sexual innuendo in the song made it not only widely popular but very controversial to both white and black audiences. It earned Ray Charles his first gold record and has been one of the most influential songs in R&B and rock and roll history. For the rest of his career, Charles closed every concert with the song. It was added to the National Recording Registry in 2002 and ranked at number 10 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
What'd I Say is the fifth on the Billboard "Pop Albums" chart in 1962. The release popularized Charles' first top 10 hit, "What'd I Say", and became his first gold record.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Ray Charles; except where indicated
Personnel
Podcasts:
Floyd Cramer
ALBUMS
- RCA Country Legends released: 2001
- Floyd Cramer Plays Town 'n' Country Favorites released: 1999
- Last Date / On the Rebound released: 1998
- Forever in Love (The Encore Collection) released: 1997
- Floyd Cramer Plays Today's Beautiful Melodies released: 1996
- Piano Magic released: 1996
- The Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer released: 1996
- The Essential Floyd Cramer released: 1995
- The Magical Piano of Floyd Cramer: Melodies of Love released: 1994
- Gospel Classics released: 1994
- Never Ending Love released: 1994
- Blue Skies released: 1992
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas released: 1989
- Plays Your Golden Favorites released: 1987
- Collector's Series released: 1985
- Dallas released: 1980
- Last Date released: 1979
- Super Hits released: 1979
- Looking for Mr. Goodbar released: 1978
- Piano Masterpieces 1900-1975 released: 1975
- Class of '73 released: 1973
- This Is Floyd Cramer released: 1971
- Sounds of Sunday released: 1971
- The Big Ones, Volume II released: 1970
- Class of '70 released: 1970
- Class of '69 released: 1969
- Class of '68 released: 1968
- Easy Listening Favorites released: 1967
- Only The Big Ones released: 1966
- The Magic Touch of Floyd Cramer released: 1965
- Cramer at the Console released: 1964
- Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer, Chet Atkins in Suid-Afrika released: 1962
- Last Date released: 1961
- Hello Blues released: 1960
- Chet, Floyd & Boots released:
- Special Songs of Love released:
- The Best of Floyd Cramer released:
- Country Favorites released:
- The Magic Touch released:
- Melodies of Love, Volume 3 released:
Floyd Cramer Plays Town 'n' Country Favorites
Released 1999- Gentle on My Mind
- You Needed Me
- On the Rebound
- You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
- Fire and Rain
- Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
- In This Life
- Love Is Blue (L'Amour Est Bleu)
- Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
- San Antonio Rose
- Danny Boy
- Can't Help Falling in Love
- I Can't Stop Loving You
- The Homecoming
- Time in a Bottle
- I Really Don't Want to Know
- Root Beer Rag
- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
- Softly as I Leave You
- A Time for Us
Last Date / On the Rebound
Released 1998- Last Date
- I Need You Now
- Moments to Remember
- Tennessee Waltz
- Too Young
- Mood Indigo
- Sweetie Baby
- Mumble Jumble
- Flip Flop and Bop
- Fancy Pants
- Rumpus
- Heart and Soul
- On the Rebound
- Wonderland by Night
- I Can Just Imagine
- Faded Love
- Let It Be Me
- Two of a Kind
- Danny Boy
- Corinna, Corinna
- Tammy
- First Impression
- San Antonio Rose
- Alma Mater
Floyd Cramer Plays Today's Beautiful Melodies
Released 1996- Theme from Ice Castles (Through the Eyes of Love)
- When a Man Loves a Woman
- If
- Sometimes When We Touch
- You Are So Beautiful
- Annie's Song
- To All the Girls I've Loved Before
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight
- I Swear
- Could I Have This Dance
- Somewhere in My Broken Heart
- Don't Know Much
- Save the Best for Last
- Love Me
- Have I Told You Lately
- Longer
- The Dance
- I Can't Make You Love Me
- Forever in Love
The Essential Floyd Cramer
Released 1995- Last Date
- Fancy Pants
- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
- San Antonio Rose
- Flip Flop and Bop
- Your Last Goodbye
- Corrine Corrina
- Drown in My Own Tears
- I Need You Now
- On the Rebound
- Georgia on My Mind
- Lovesick Blues
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Losers Weepers
- Java
- Shrum
- (These Are) The Young Years
- All Keyed Up
- Stood Up
- What'd I Say
Gospel Classics
Released 1994- Blessed Assurance
- Medley: When the Ring the Golden Bells / Rock of Ages / How Firm a Foundation / Just as I Am
- One Day at a Time
- The Old Rugged Cross
- Morning Has Broken
- Medley: Tell Me Why / He Keeps Me Singing / Heavenly Sunlight / Love Lifted Me
- Beautiful Isle
- Medley: Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown / Sweet by and By
- Crying in the Chapel
- Just a Closer Walk With Thee
- His Eye Is on the Sparow
- Medley: O, How I Love Jesus / Just a Little Walk With Jesus / I've Got That Old Time Religion
Never Ending Love
Released 1994- For the Good Times
- Morning Has Broken
- A Never Ending Love
- Stormy Weather
- Sweet Dreams
- Midnight
- Trouble in Mind
- What'd I Say
- Softly, as I Leave You
- Coming Home
- Back on My Mind Again
- My Way
- Secrets
- Rhythm of the Rain
- (These Are) The Young Years
- Help Me Make It Through the Night
- I'll Never Be Free
- Sweet Memories
- You Decorated My Life
- What the World Needs Now Is Love
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Released 1989- Intro (We Wish You a Merry Christmas) / I'll Be Home for Christmas
- Medley: Let It Snow, Let It Snow / Sleigh Ride
- Medley: Silver Bells / Winter Wonderland / Up on the House Top / Jingle Bells
- Medley: Intro (Here Comes Santa Claus) / Santa Claus Is Coming to Town / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Frosty the Snowman
- Intro (Jolly Old St. Nicholas) Jingle Bell Rock
- Medley: The Christmas Song / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / White Christmas
- Medley: Silent Night / Away in the Manger / It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / The First Noel
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Medley: Joy to the World / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- We Three Kings
- Medley: Deck the Halls / O Come All Ye Faithful
- O Holy Night
Sounds of Sunday
Released 1971- Medley: This World Is Not My Home / I'll Fly Away / Down in My Heart / Do Lord / Give the World a Smile
- Medley: Standing on the Promises / Bringing in the Sheaves / I Am Bound for the Promise Land / Shall We Gather at the River / Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
- Medley: What a Friend We Have in Jesus / Where Could I Go / It Is No Secret / Hide Me Rock of Ages / Old Time Religion
- Medley: Precious Memories / In the Garden / Take My Hand Precious Lord / Softly and Tenderly / Lord I'm Coming Home
- Oh Happy Day
- Where No One Stands Alone
- Peace In The Valley
- How Great Thou Art
- Amazing Grace
- Amen
Easy Listening Favorites
Released 1967- Yesterday Once More
- Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
- Candy Man
- Sunshine on My Shoulders
- I'll Never Fall in Love Again
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life
- I'm a Believer
- My Melody of Love
- Nobody Does It Better
- Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
- Killing Me Softly With His Song
- The Entertainer
- Midnight Cowboy
- You Light Up My Life
- Winchester Cathedral
- My Love
- The Morning After
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Time in a Bottle
Country Favorites
- Last Date
- Help Me Make It Through the Night
- Sweet Dreams
- Walking the Floor Over You
- He Stopped Loving Her Today
- Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
- Hello Darlin'
- It's Only Make Believe
- Jambalaya
- I Fall to Pieces
- Singing the Blues
- Behind Closed Doors
- Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
- Almost Persuaded
- She Thinks I Still Care
Born: 1933-10-27
Died: 1997-12-31
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Let It Be Me
by: Floyd CramerI bless the day I found you
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you, let it be me
Don't take this heaven from one
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever, let it be me
Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always let it be me
Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only