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Michael Gray (DJ)

Michael Gray
Gray performing in 2011
Gray performing in 2011
Background information
Birth nameMichael Anthony Shefford Gray
Also known asMike Gray, M
OriginCroydon, London, England
GenresDance-pop, nu-disco, house
Occupation(s)DJ, record producer
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizer, music sequencer, samplers, drum machine
Years active1990–present
LabelsAltra Moda Music, Sultra Records

Michael Anthony Shefford Gray (born 25 July 1966)[1] is a British DJ and house music producer. He is also half of the dance music production and remixing duo Full Intention.[2][3]

Biography

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In 1989, Michael Gray worked at a club in Croydon called East Street when he met Jon Pearn. He created a megamix entitled "The Brits 1990 (Dance Medley)" for that year's awards ceremony which peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, he released the single "So Fly" for Defected Records under the name M, which peaked at number 96 on the UK charts.[4][5] In 2004, he began issuing records under his own name, the first being "The Weekend", a worldwide hit in late that year. It peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart[6] when licensed through UMTV on Eye Industries, and also notched up over 20,000 plays on the radio. In the United States, "The Weekend" was a top 10 hit on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart in 2005, where it was released on Ultra Records. It featured in a Honda commercial and also in an Ugly Betty episode, "Sofia's Choice", in 2007.

The follow-up to "The Weekend" was "Borderline" featuring vocals from Shelly Poole, formerly of Alisha's Attic, released on 24 July 2006. The track peaked at #3 on the ARIA Club Chart and at #12 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2007, an album, Analog Is On, was released briefly only in Japan. A third single, "Somewhere Beyond", peaked at #5 on the Australian ARIA Club Chart.

Gray's 2000s productions include: Full Intention's "I Believe in You" (2005), Miami Ice's "Better Than Perfect" (2005), "Whatcha Gonna Do" as Hi Fashion featuring Maria Lawson (2005), and "Ready for This" as Robot Man (featuring Nanchang Nancy) (2008). In 2009, with his new label Full Intention Records, he released new versions of Full Intention's "Once in a Lifetime", "I Will Follow" and "Forever".

His early 2010s productions include: Michael Gray, Paul Harris, Kid Massive & Sam Obernik's "Home" (2010), Michael Gray, Paul Harris & Jon Pearn feat. Amanda Wilson's "Caught Up" (2010) and Michael Gray, Jon Pearn, Rob Roar & Cassandra Fox's "Lights Down Low" (2010). In 2010, Gray appeared at Belgrade Arena DJing alongside David Guetta. In late 2010, Gray made a remix of the song "It's OK" by Cee Lo Green. In 2011, he released a single titled "Remember" with Marco Lys. In 2013, he released another single with Marco Lys titled "The Underground". In 2013, he released under the name MGNY the single "My World" featuring the vocalist NY.

With Full Intention, the most popular tracks he released were "Keep Pushing" in 2016 and "I Miss You" in 2017. In 2016, Michael Gray released new versions of his hit "Walk Into The Sun", notably with a Full Intention remix. In 2018, Full Intention made a remix of a David Penn's song featuring Lisa Millett entitled "Join Us". In 2018, Michael Gray released a single entitled "Keep Moving On", featuring the vocalists Kimberley Brown and Shirley Marie Graham. In 2019, he released the tracks "24 7 People", "Take Me Back" and "Brother Brother". The same year, his remix of Sylvester's hit "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was real success on the charts and was played by many DJs in clubs and concerts.

In 2020, Gray released a new "Sultra Mix" of his song "The Weekend". The same year, he worked with vocalist RoRoe to produce a track titled "The One", released on Sultra Records. In September 2020, he released a track titled "The Sun" with the Melody Men. Gray was ranked #1 on the "Top Artists of 2020" by Traxsource.[7] The same year he released a few remixes with DJ Mark Knight. Since 2020, Gray's club tracks were often real DJ hits, and often in the top 10 of Traxsource's charts.

From 2021 to 2023, Gray collaborated with Australian DJ and producer Dr. Packer to release several remixes of tracks by famous house and disco artists like Brenda Taylor and Siege for example.

2023 saw Gray release his educational music production course Making a Modern Disco Classic.[8]

In April 2024, nearly 30 years after its original mix, Gray released an official remix of Jamiroquai's "Space Cowboy".[9][10][11][12] In May 2024, Gray released a new album titled "Optimism" on Sultra Records.[13] Moreover, Gray was ranked #1 at the "Top Artists Of 2024" by Traxsource. [14]

In January 2025, Gray remixed a new track by Change & Tanya Michelle Smith entitled "Sunrise Forever".

Gray played DJ sets in many countries, notably in England, Poland, Germany, the Philippines, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Georgia, Spain and the Netherlands.[clarification needed]

Early and personal life

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Gray was born and raised in Croydon, London, England.[15] He started getting into music when he was around 5–6 years old, with his family buying records. He was inspired by his 4 older sisters who were into various kinds of music, including soul and pop. He was inspired to become a musician after one of his sisters’ boyfriends, a DJ, would bring his equipment for Christmas and his family would party.[3] His father, who played keyboard, often organized under-16 disco dances.

Gray currently lives in Surrey, England. He has a son.[16]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Singles

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Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[6] 		AUS
[17] 		AUT BEL FIN GER IRE NED SWI
1990 "The Brits 1990 (Dance Medley)" (credited to Various Artists) 2 56 — — — — — — — Singles only
2004 "Whatcha Gonna Do" (featuring Maria Lawson) 193 — — — — — — — —
"The Weekend" 7 14 49 11 19 22 22 29 49 Analog Is On
2006 "Borderline" (featuring Shelly Poole) 12 49 63 52 — 42 42 78 75
2007 "Somewhere Beyond" (featuring Steve Edwards) — 100 — — — 86 — — —
2008 "Ready for This" (featuring Nanchang Nancy) — — — — — — — — — Singles only
2011 "Piece of You" (featuring Laura Kidd) — — — — — — — — —
2012 "Can't Wait for the Weekend" (featuring Roll Deep) — — — — — — — — — X
2013 "My World" (featuring NY) — — — — — — — — — Singles only
2016 "Walk into the Sun" (featuring Ann Saunderson) — — — — — — — — —
2018 "Keep Moving On" (featuring Kimberley Brown and Shirley Marie Graham) — — — — — — — — —
2019 "24 7 People" — — — — — — — — —
"Take Me Back" — — — — — — — — —
"Brother Brother" (featuring Kimberley Brown) — — — — — — — — —
2020 "The One" (featuring RoRoe) — — — — — — — — —
"The Sun" (featuring The Melody Men) — — — — — — — — —
"MacArthur Park" (featuring Kelli Sae) — — — — — — — — —
2021 "Over & Over" (featuring Kelli Sae) — — — — — — — — —
"Jump In" (featuring RoRoe) — — — — — — — — —
2024 "Season High" (featuring Tatiana Owens) — — — — — — — — — Optimism
"Save Me" (featuring Leela D) — — — — — — — — —
"Ivy" (featuring Tatiana Owens) — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Selected remixes

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C92dJdnszrf/?img_index=3&igsh=MXByOGdmODYwdTVlZg==
  2. ^ "Michael Gray Biography". IMO Records. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Michael Gray talks about Full Intention, the Weekend, the Scottish House & Disco Festival, remixing classics, Number 1 singles, his studio and much more (Audio Interview) - le Visiteur Online". April 2022.
  4. ^ "Search | Official Charts". Official Charts.
  5. ^ M/Defected Records 2002 Cat No: M001
  6. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 235. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "Top Artists Of 2020". Traxsource. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Making a Modern Disco Classic". FaderPro. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone)". Discogs. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone) - Single by Jamiroquai & Michael Gray on Apple Music, 19 April 2024, retrieved 20 April 2024
  11. ^ a b "Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Dub) - Jamiroquai". www.traxsource.com. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b 1001Tracklists. "Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (Michael Gray Dub Mix) [SONY]". 1001Tracklists. Retrieved 20 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Optimism on Traxsource". Traxsource. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Top Artists Of 2024". Traxsource. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  15. ^ https://musictech.com/features/interviews/michael-gray-music-career-tips/#:~:text=Born%20and%20raised%20in%20Croydon,sounds%20of%20disco%20and%20soul.
  16. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C_3o6phAXuD/?igsh=MXQzOGtrdzdraThrZg==
  17. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 119.
  18. ^ "I Don't Need Love (Mark Knight & Michael Gray Remix) - Single by Karen Harding on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.