David Gray

As a teenager, David Gray formed a band called The Prawns, who were inspired by The Cramps and played a nine-minute cover of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” ∙ Gray studied painting at the Liverpool College of Art, selling his art to support his music career.

∙ Before breaking through with the album White Ladder, he had released three full-length albums on major labels.

∙ While he initially self-released White Ladder, the album took off after Dave Matthews signed him to his label, ATO Records, and reissued it in 2000.