Art Grayson

Montgomery, AL-based soul singer Art Grayson was purely a local artist until 1965, when his manager, William "Hoss" Allen, got him a contract with HBR Records -- he thus joined the Chocolate Watchband on the recording subsidiary of the Hanna-Barbera animated studio. He stayed with the label without success for two years, during which he also joined the house band on Allen's television soul showcase, The !!!! Beat, as a guitarist. The show eventually replaced him in favor of Johnny Jones, but he kept plugging along in Nashville until the 1970s, enjoying a short stay with 4 Corners Records at the end of the '60s. ~ Bruce Eder