The genre-spanning singer known for hits like "The 'In' Crowd" and "Drift Away" was born in Texas to sharecroppers. His birth name has been cited as both Lawrence Darrow Brown and Leonard Victor Ainsworth.
With the help of Sonny Bono, he signed to Stripe Records, an independent label that suggested he change his name to Dobie Gray to capitalize on the success of the '60s sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
He was also an actor who enjoyed a two-and-a-half year run in the Los Angeles production of the popular musical Hair.
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