Floyd Cramer life and biography

Floyd Cramer was born on Oct. 27, 1933, in Shreveport, La. The style and sound of Cramer's piano-playing was arguably one of the biggest influences on post-50s country music. His delicate rock 'n' roll sound was achieved by accentuating the discord in rolling from the main note to a sharp or flat, known as "slip note". This is perfectly highlighted in his first major hit, "Last Date", in 1960.

He was already a vastly experienced Nashville session player, playing on countless records during the 50s. He can be heard on many Jim Reeves and Elvis Presley records (one of his first sessions was "Heartbreak Hotel"), often with his long-time friend Chet Atkins. He also recorded with Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison. During the early 60s he regularly entered the US charts. Two notable hits were the superb "On The Rebound,", and his somber reading of Bob Wills' "New San Antonio Rose." After dozens of albums Cramer was still making commercially successful recordings into the 80s, having a further hit in 1980 with the theme from the TV series Dallas. With Atkins, Cramer remained Nashville's most prolific musician until his death from cancer on Dec. 31, 1997. He was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

Albums:

1957 That Honky Tonk Piano
1960 Hello Blues
1961 Last Date ; On the Rebound
1962 America's Biggest Selling Pianist ; Floyd Cramer Gets Organized ; I Remember Hank Williams
1963 Swing Along with Floyd Cramer ; Comin' On ; Three Great Pianos (with Peter Nero and Frankie Carle)
1964 Country Piano-City Strings ; Cramer at the Console ; The Best of Floyd Cramer
1965 Hits from the Country Hall of Fame ; Class of '65 ; The Magic Touch of Floyd Cramer
1966 The Distinctive Piano Style of Floyd Cramer ; Only the Big Ones ; Class of '66
1967 Night Train ; Here's What's Happening! ; Floyd Cramer Plays the Monkeys ; Class of '67
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
1968 Floyd Cramer Plays Country Classics ; Class of '68 ; Floyd Cramer Plays MacArthur Park ; The Best of Floyd Cramer Volume 2
1969 Class of '69 ; Floyd Cramer Plays More Country Classics
1970 The Big Ones, Vol. 2 ; With the Music City Pops ; This Is Floyd Cramer ; Class of '70
1971 Almost Persuaded ; Chet Floyd & Boots (with Chet Atkins and Boots Randolph) ; Sounds of Sunday ; Class of '71
1972 Detours ; Class of '72 ; The Best of Class of Floyd Cramer ; Date with Floyd Cramer
1973 Floyd Cramer Plays the Big Hits ; Super Country Hits ; Class of '73
1974 Young and Restless ; Spotlight On ; Floyd Cramer in Concert
1975 Piano Masterpieces 1900-1975 ; Class of '74 and '75
1976 Floyd Cramer Country
1977 Floyd Cramer & the Keyboard Kick Band ; Chet Floyd & Danny (with Chet Atkins and Danny Davis)
1978 Looking for Mr. Goodbar
1979 Super Hits
1980 Dallas
1981 Great Country Hits ; The Best of the West
1982 20 of the Best
1985 Collector's Date ; Country Classics
1988 Special Songs of Love ; Country Gold ; Just Me and My Piano
1989 Forever Floyd Cramer ; We Wish You a Merry Christmas ; Originals
1991 Gospel Classics
1994 The Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer
1995 Favorite Country Hits 1
1996 The Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer 2
1997 Blue Skies ; Favorite Country Hits 2

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