Neo soul Songstress Macy Gray Hits The Road

For many, the unique sound of Macy Gray's husky vocals defined mainstream R&B and neo soul in the early 2000s. Originally hailing from Ohio, the songstress fell into the industry when she agreed to help a fellow muso record a demo tape. When her friend failed to show up, she nonchalantly recorded the track's main vocals, yet her distinctive growl caught the ear of industry movers and shakers, paving the way for a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning career.

With a quirky sense of style and an outspoken on stage charisma, Gray's undeniable presence, star quality and idiosyncratic phrasing calls to mind Billie Holliday in her prime. Building on her radio-dominating pop crossover success, the performer has recently turned her talents towards the jazz world, touring with a quartet with brand new arrangements of the songs that made her, from her breakout 1999 hit 'I Try' to newer tunes from her 2016 jazz-leaning album Stripped.