Floyd Cramer

Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "half step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signature playing style was a cornerstone of the pop-oriented "Nashville sound" of the 1950s and 1960s. Cramer's "slip-note" or "bent-note" style, in which a passing note slides almost instantly into or away from a chordal note, influenced a generation of pianists. His sound became popular to the degree that he stepped out of his role as a sideman and began touring as a solo act. In 1960, his piano instrumental solo, "Last Date" went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart and sold over one million copies. Its follow-up, "On the Rebound", topped the UK Singles Chart in 1961. As a studio musician, he became one of a cadre of elite players dubbed the Nashville A-Team and he performed on scores of hit records.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 27, 1933 (Shreveport), Died December 31, 1997 (Nashville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1952 - 1969

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, organ

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 472 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 2656 2/29/1952 That heart belongs to me Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2657 2/29/1952 I just can't be true Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2658 2/29/1952 So used to loving you Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2659 2/29/1952 I haven't got the heart Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2702 4/21/1952 Slowly Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2703 4/21/1952 The last waltz Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2704 4/21/1952 Bow Thy head Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2705 4/21/1952 Country church Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2812 7/29/1952 Back street affair Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2813 7/29/1952 I'm only wishin' Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9278 1/24/1956 If I never had anything else The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9279 1/24/1956 So doggone lonesome The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9325 4/12/1956 Old love letters (bring memories of you) The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9326 4/12/1956 Jimmie Rodgers' last blue yodel The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9327 4/12/1956 Travelin' blues The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9409 6/12/1956 You're the only good thing The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9410 6/12/1956 I've got the blues for Mammy The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9411 6/12/1956 I dreamed of an old love affair The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9412 6/12/1956 I know my baby loves me in her own peculiar way The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9413 6/13/1956 Mississippi gal The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9414 6/13/1956 There's no fool like a young fool The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9415 6/13/1956 I knew the moment I lost you The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9416 6/13/1956 You're breaking my heart The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9417 6/14/1956 When a soldier knocks and finds nobody home The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9418 6/14/1956 This troubled mind o' mine The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 472 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cramer, Floyd," accessed November 10, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179.

Cramer, Floyd. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179.

"Cramer, Floyd." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179

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