Backstage at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre in 2003, a promoter told singer JJ Grey someone wanted to meet him.
Grey—whose band Mofro was opening for B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Galactic that night—thought it was some record label guy. But to his surprise the caller was soul legend Bill Withers.
Known for buttery vocals and hits like “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Withers has become a somewhat of a recluse. Yet he sought out Grey, whose own voice is a high-cholesterol marvel. That night in L.A., Withers told Grey “some things I needed to hear,” including “you’re not Superman and you can’t do it all by yourself.”
Like many belters, Grey has had to learn not to shred his voice every night. By 2004, one of his vocal chords had become unhinged, but the injury turned out to be a revelation.
“I lost my voice, but in losing it I found it,” Grey says. “When you start out, you just sound like your influences. Over time, your influences become ingredients. You become you.”
Grey’s full recovery is evident on Mofro’s fourth record, “Orange Blossoms.” Released in August, the disc builds on vintage Muscle Shoals, Nashville and Memphis sounds. Soul sisters coo on “The Devil You Know,” while “On Fire” wiggles to drummer Anthony Cole’s greasy meter.
On “The Higher You Climb,” Grey growls about “pimpin’ for the DEA” before keyboardist Adam Scone goes ape on a Clavinet (the device is even routed through a Talk Box, the vocoder-like effect made famous by ’70s guitarists like Joe Perry).
The production is tasty. However, “Orange Blossoms” revolves around Grey’s gravely, yet nimble voice. When the string section seeps in during “The Truth,” it’s the sonic equivalent of silk wrapping around sandpaper.
“We’re not trying to make records sound retro. Things just sounded better back then, hand’s down,” Grey says.
Mofro is known for sweaty live shows, including big gigs at Bonnaroo and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., the 41-year-old Grey is often compared to Otis Redding. Although Grey is a huge Redding fan, he’s equally influenced by Toots Hibbert, of the seminal reggae act Toots & The Maytals.
“A lot of people wouldn’t catch that right away,” Grey says. “They would say, ‘He’s a reggae singer.’ Nah, he’s a soul singer, he sings music. You could put him in front of any band and he’s going to bring it.”
Over the years, Grey has become friends with Hibbert and occasionally sits-in with the Maytals. Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson is another pal.
“I’ve been lucky to meet a lot of those guys, and they’re all salt-of-the-earth, cool people.”
Catch JJ Grey and Mofro at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at The Handlebar.
Or check out JJ playing solo earlier that day at 5 p.m. at Horizon Records.
