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Biography
Roy Gaines was born August 12, 1937 in Waskom, Texas. His family moved to Houston when he was six. He is the brother of Grady Gaines, once saxophone player in Little Richard's backup band The Upsetters. At an early age Gaines first began playing piano in the style of Nat King Cole. He became friendly with other local musicians such as Clarence Hollimon and Johnny Copeland. In his teens he switched to the guitar and became an admirer of T-Bone Walker, another Texan. Roy soon began playing clubs throughout the Houston area. He met his hero in 1951, and even backed T-Bone on stage when he was fourteen.
By the 1950's Gaines had moved to Los Angeles. There he joined Roy Milton's band. He was only sixteen and learning quickly. Soon he took his new skills back to Houston. This period saw Gaines sitting in on many recording sessions with the legendary Peacock Studios He made his solo debut with an obscure release on Chart Records out of Miami. But it was when he came to the attention of Bill Harvey that his career stated to take off. Harvey was the leader of Duke and Peacock Record's house band. With that band Gaines was featured on various releases by Big Mama Thorton, Jr. Parker ("Driving Me Mad") and Bobby "Blue" Bland ("It's My Life Baby" & "Woke Up Screaming") in 1955. Other early sessions included "Essential Jimmy Rushing" in 1954. And 1957's "Blues Wail: Coleman Hawkins Plays the Blues". He also worked with the Jazz Crudaders (later known simply as the Crusaders) appearing on two LPs in 1961. In 1966 Gaines returned to Los Angeles and joined the Ray Charles big band. While with the band he wrote "No Use Cryin'" for Ray's hit album "Crying Time".
