LISTEN: Chad Gray Covers “Always on My Mind”
LISTEN: Chad Gray Covers “Always on My Mind”
An unexpected and beautiful take on the classic ballad.
Words by: Ysabela De Ocampo
Heavy metal singer Chad Gray makes his first release as a solo artist. The front man shares his rendition of “Always on My Mind,” made famous by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. The idea for the track originates from a personal moment Gray wanted to share with everyone.
Recently married, Chad Gray initially chose “Dream On” by Aerosmith to be the song for the newlywed’s first dance. But when he dug into “Always on My Mind,” the song was literally ‘on his mind’ for the wedding. “The lyrics were so emotional and compelling that it actually moved me,” says Gray. He reached out to producer Kevin Churko, who helped get Ozzy Osbourne’s pianist to send a few versions of the song for Gray to sing on. And Gray and Churko worked on the recordings at the Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas. “It was super cool when I started it, because I realized that this was such a different way of singing. No one has ever heard me doing anything like this.”
This version of the classic ballad is an unexpected, but a pleasant first release for Gray as a solo artist. With a lush piano for it’s main instrumental and a layer of strings to add a romantic feel, Gray showcases his softer vocal capabilities. It’s different from his famously dark and gritty roars for Hellyeah and Mudvayne tracks, and proves his dynamic abilities as a solo act. On it’s release he says, “This was done for my wedding, but I thought, ‘Should I release this song to the public?‘ I always talk about how I look at my fans as more than fans. They’re family, and I wanted to share this moment with them.”
Chad Gray is most notable for his work as the front man for heavy metal groups Hellyeah and Mudvayne. In light of the pandemic, he uses idle time to work on his solo project. He is doing virtual meet and greets, where he donates ticket proceeds to those struggling during the pandemic. Gray supports organizations like No Kid Hungry and St. Jude’s Cancer Research. Gray’s website for the solo project was recently launched, where he shares news on his life and what he’s been up to.
