Floyd Cramer

From Wikinfo

Floyd Cramer (27 October 1933 - 31 December 1997) was an American pianist.

Floyd Cramer was born in Samti, Louisiana on 27 October 1933 and was raised at Huttig, Union County, Arkansas. Cramer left Arkansas to join the Louisiana Hayride radio program.

Cramer was a popular pianist with a unique style resulting from his distinctive fingering technique that featured bent notes or slip notes where one note blends with the next. This distinctive style created a unique "lonesome" sound. Cramer was a large influence on the development of the Nashville Sound along with his producer Chet Atkins.

During the 1960s Cramer appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and had several hit recordings of instrumental music. Cramer's biggest hits were Last Date and Alley Cat. Cramer appeared as a studio musician on the recordings of many famous entertainers including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Eddy Arnold, and the Everly Brothers among others.

In 1979 Cramer won a Grammy Award for best country instrumental for the song, "My Blue Eyes".

Later in his career, Cramer expanded into light jazz and pop music.

Cramer is a member of the Arkansas Entertainer's Hall of Fame.

Floyd Cramer died on 31 December 1997 at Nashville, Tennessee.