Michael Gray (DJ)

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist| | name = Michael Gray | image = Michael Gray w klubie Hunter's.jpg | image_size = | caption = Gray performing in 2011 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | alias = Mike Gray, M | birth_name = Michael Anthony Shefford Gray | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|7|25}} | birth_place = | origin = [[Croydon]], [[Greater London|London]], England | instrument = [[keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[synthesizer]], [[music sequencer]], [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]], [[drum machine]] | years_active = 1990–present | genre = [[Dance-pop]], [[nu-disco]], [[house music|house]] | occupation = [[Disc jockey|DJ]], [[record producer]] | associated_acts = [[Full Intention]], [[Maria Lawson (singer)|Maria Lawson]], [[Shelly Poole]], [[Steve Edwards (singer)|Steve Edwards]] | label = Altra Moda Music, Sultra Records | website = }}

'''Michael Anthony Shefford Gray''' (born 25 July 1966)<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/C92dJdnszrf/?img_index=3&igsh=MXByOGdmODYwdTVlZg==</ref> is a British [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[house music]] [[record producer|producer]]. He is also half of the dance music production and [[remix]]ing [[duet (music)|duo]] [[Full Intention]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/michael-gray-biography/ |title=Michael Gray Biography |publisher=[[IMO Records]] |accessdate=14 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120803090943/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/michael-gray-biography/ |archivedate=3 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="levisiteuronline.com">{{cite web | url=https://levisiteuronline.com/featured-artists/michael-gray-talks-disco/ | title=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 | date=April 2022 }}</ref>

==Biography== 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 [[1990 Brit Awards|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/so-fly/ | title=Search | Official Charts | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref><ref>M/Defected Records 2002 Cat No: M001</ref> In 2004, he began issuing records under his own name, the first being "[[The Weekend (Michael Gray song)|The Weekend]]", a worldwide hit in late that year. It peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 235}}</ref> when licensed through [[UMTV]] on Eye Industries, and also notched up over 20,000 [[airplay (radio)|plays]] on the [[radio]]. In the United States, "The Weekend" was a top 10 hit on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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 (Michael Gray song)|Borderline]]" featuring [[Singing|vocals]] from [[Shelly Poole]], formerly of [[Alisha's Attic]], released on 24 July 2006. The track peaked at #3 on the [[Australian Recording Industry Association|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 (CeeLo Green song)|It's OK]]" by [[CeeLo Green|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 (DJ)|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 (singer)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.traxsource.com/list/99/traxsource-top-100-house-artists-of-2020|title=Top Artists Of 2020 |website=Traxsource |accessdate=February 20, 2021}}</ref> The same year he released a few remixes with DJ [[Mark Knight (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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faderpro.com/programs/making-modern-disco-classic|title= Making a Modern Disco Classic |website=FaderPro |accessdate=December 4, 2023}}</ref>

In April 2024, nearly 30 years after its original mix, Gray released an official remix of [[Jamiroquai]]'s "[[Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai song)|Space Cowboy]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2024 |title=Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/30384062-Jamiroquai-Space-Cowboy-Michael-Grays-Good-Vibe-Zone- |access-date=20 April 2024 |website=Discogs}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone) - Single by Jamiroquai & Michael Gray on Apple Music |date=2024-04-19 |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/space-cowboy-michael-grays-good-vibe-zone-single/1738873349 |access-date=2024-04-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Dub) - Jamiroquai |url=https://www.traxsource.com/track/12160915/space-cowboy-michael-grays-good-vibe-dub |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=www.traxsource.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=1001Tracklists |title=Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (Michael Gray Dub Mix) [SONY] |url=https://www.1001tracklists.com/track/1cryuqux/jamiroquai-space-cowboy-michael-gray-dub-mix/index.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=1001Tracklists |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2024, Gray released an album titled "Optimism" on Sultra Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.traxsource.com/title/2255858/optimism |title= Optimism on Traxsource |website=Traxsource|accessdate=June 22, 2024}}</ref> Moreover, Gray was ranked #1 at the "Top Artists Of 2024" by Traxsource. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.traxsource.com/list/154/top-artists-of-2024|title=Top Artists Of 2024 |website=Traxsource |accessdate=January 18, 2025}}</ref>

In January 2025, Gray released a new remix of a track by Change & Tanya Michelle Smith titled "Sunrise Forever". The same month, he released a single called "Over You" featuring RoRoe. In April 2025, Gray released a remix of a track titled "If I'm Gonna Be With You" by Gwen Dickey (a member of the famous disco band [[Rose Royce]]).

In January 2026, Michael Gray invited [[Seamus Haji]] in his DJ Show called "Thankful Thursday".

Gray played DJ sets in many countries, notably in England (Night Tales in London), Spain ([[Hï Ibiza]], [[Café Mambo|Cafe Mambo]]), Poland (Baltic Summer Festival), Germany (Wangels), the Philippines, Australia (with his Australia Tour 2026)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/michaelgrayofficial/posts/just-announcedmy-7-date-tour-of-australia-and-new-zealand-next-month-with-one-hi/1414723376928769/|website=Facebook|accessdate=March 28, 2026|title= Australia Tour 2026}}</ref>, New Zealand (As part of the Australia Tour 2026), Russia, Brazil, Croatia ([[Defected Records|Defected]] Festival), Georgia and the Netherlands (Notably during the [[Amsterdam Dance Event]]).{{Clarify|reason=Maybe add specific venues (biggest from each, perhaps, where applicable)?|date=April 2024}}

==Early and personal life== Gray was born and raised in [[Croydon]], London, England.<ref>https://musictech.com/features/interviews/michael-gray-music-career-tips/#:~:text=Born%20and%20raised%20in%20Croydon,sounds%20of%20disco%20and%20soul.</ref> 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 music|soul]] and [[pop music|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.<ref name="levisiteuronline.com"/> His father, who played keyboard, often organized under-16 disco [[dance (social event)|dances]].

Gray currently lives in [[Surrey]], England. He has a son.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/C_3o6phAXuD/?igsh=MXQzOGtrdzdraThrZg==</ref>

He got engaged to long term girlfriend Melanie Lee on 1 January 2026.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Analog Is On'' (2007) * ''Optimism'' (2024)

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="9"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> ! width="35"| [[Australian Singles Chart|AUS]] <ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=pdf|pages=119}}</ref> ! width="35"| [[Austrian Singles Chart|AUT]] ! width="35"| [[Ultratop 50|BEL]] ! width="35"| [[Finnish Singles Chart|FIN]] ! width="35"| [[German Singles Chart|GER]] ! width="35"| [[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]] ! width="35"| [[Dutch Singles Chart|NED]] ! width="35"| [[Swiss Singles Chart|SWI]] |- | 1990 | align="left"| "The Brits 1990 (Dance Medley)" (credited to Various Artists) | 2 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| Singles only |- | rowspan=2| 2004 | align="left"| "Whatcha Gonna Do" (featuring [[Maria Lawson (singer)|Maria Lawson]]) | 193 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "[[The Weekend (Michael Gray song)|The Weekend]]" | 7 | 14 | 49 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 12 | 49 | align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Analog Is On'' |- | 2006 | align="left"| "[[Borderline (Michael Gray song)|Borderline]]" (featuring [[Shelly Poole]]) | 12 | 49 | 63 | 52 | — | 42 | 42 | — | 75 |- | 2007 | align="left"| "Somewhere Beyond" (featuring [[Steve Edwards (singer)|Steve Edwards]]) | — | 100 | — | — | — | 86 | — | — | — |- | 2008 | align="left"| "Ready for This" (featuring Nanchang Nancy) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| Singles only |- | 2011 | align="left"| "Piece of You" (featuring Laura Kidd) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2012 | align="left"| "Can't Wait for the Weekend" (featuring [[Roll Deep]]) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align="left"| ''[[X (Roll Deep album)|X]]'' |- | 2013 | align="left"| "My World" (featuring NY) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align="left" rowspan="11"| Singles only |- | 2016 | align="left"| "Walk into the Sun" (featuring Ann Saunderson) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2018 | align="left"| "Keep Moving On" (featuring Kimberley Brown and Shirley Marie Graham) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan=3| 2019 | align="left"| "24 7 People" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Take Me Back" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Brother Brother" (featuring Kimberley Brown) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan=3| 2020 | align="left"| "The One" (featuring RoRoe) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "The Sun" (featuring The Melody Men) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "MacArthur Park" (featuring Kelli Sae) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan=2| 2021 | align="left"| "Over & Over" (featuring Kelli Sae) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Jump In" (featuring RoRoe) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan=3| 2024 | align="left"| "Season High" (featuring Tatiana Owens) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Optimism'' |- | align="left"| "Save Me" (featuring Leela D) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | align="left"| "Ivy" (featuring Tatiana Owens) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | rowspan=1| 2025 | align="left"| "Over You" (featuring RoRoe) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | colspan="17" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

=== Selected remixes === * 2004 Scape featuring D´Empress – Be My Friend (Michael Gray Remix) * 2005 Yanou – Sun Is Shining (Michael Gray Remix) * 2007 Splittr – All Alone (Michael Gray Remix) * 2008 Seamus Haji, Lords Of Flatbush – 24 Hours (Michael Gray Remix) * 2008 [[Cicada (British band)|Cicada]] – Beautiful (Michael Gray Remix) * 2008 Priors – What You Need (Michael Gray Remix) * 2008 Danism – Strike (Michael Gray Remix) * 2009 Kläder & Vapen Featuring Anna Ternheim – What Have I Done (Michael Gray Remix) * 2009 [[Gary Go]] – Open Arms (Michael Gray Remix) * 2009 [[Visage (band)|Visage]] – Fade to Grey (Michael Gray Mix 2009) * 2010 Izzy Stardust and Dumb Dan – Looking Out For A Bigger Love (Michael Gray Club Mix) * 2010 Valeriya – All That I Want (Michael Gray Remix) * 2010 [[Cee Lo Green]] – It's OK (Michael Gray Remix) * 2011 Sterling Void – Runaway Girl (Michael Gray Remix) * 2012 [[Tara McDonald]] – Give Me More (Michael Gray Remix) * 2013 Kamaliya – Love Me Like (Michael Gray Remix) * 2015 Electronic Youth – Be Right There (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 Advance – Take Me To The Top (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 [[Sylvester (singer)|Sylvester]] – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 [[Alton Edwards]] – I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time with You) (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 Mahogany – Ride On The Rhythm (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 [[Raw Silk]] – Just In Time (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 Billy Porter – Love Yourself (Michael Gray Club Remix) * 2019 Husky, Brazen – Only One Way (Michael Gray Remix) * 2019 [[Karen Harding]] and Who – I Don't Need Love (Mark Knight and Michael Gray Remix)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-dont-need-love-mark-knight-michael-gray-remix-single/1481520919 |title=I Don't Need Love (Mark Knight & Michael Gray Remix) - Single by Karen Harding on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |date=11 October 2019 |accessdate=20 October 2019}}</ref> * 2020 Bobby D'Ambrosio featuring Lasala – Runaway Love (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Jasper Street Co. – Paradise (Mark Knight & Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Glen Horsborough & IDA fLO – Switched On (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Chevals – Thank You For The Ride (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 World Premiere – Share The Night (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Vicky D – The Beat Is Mine (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Homero Espinosa feat. Tobirus Mozelle – Love Is The Cure (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Serious Intentions – You Don't Know (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Chanelle, [[Eric Kupper]] – One Man (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Anané – Get On The Funk Train (Michael Gray & Mark Knight Mix) * 2020 Lou Casablanca – Move With The Beat (Michael Gray Remix) * 2020 Kelli Sae – Good Love (Michael Gray Extended Mix) * 2020 Hi Voltage – Let's Get Horny (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 Supakings – Back and Forth (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 Raze – Break 4 Love (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 Cultural Vibe – Ma Foom Bey (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 Brian Power – Optimistic (feat. Lucita Jules) (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 The S.O.S Band – Just Get Ready (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 Ingram – D.J.'s Delight (Mark Knight & Michael Gray Extended) * 2021 Risqué Connection - Saturday (Michael Gray Remix) * 2021 [[Junior Jack]] presents Glory feat. [[Jocelyn Brown]] - Hold Me Up (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2021 World Premiere - Share The Night (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2022 Rick Assessment - Dance With Me (Michael Gray Remix) * 2022 Komiko - Feel Alright (Dr Packer & Michael Gray Remix) * 2022 BB&Q Band - Dreamer (Michael Gray Remix) * 2022 Robin S - I Believe (Michael Gray & Mark Knight Remix) * 2023 Mystic Merlin - Just Can't Give You Up (Michael Gray Remix) * 2023 Donna Allen - Serious (Michael Gray Remix) * 2023 Spiritchaser feat. Dyanna Fearon - Tonight (Michael Gray Remix) * 2023 B. B. & Q. Band - Genie (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2023 Central Line - Don't Tell Me (Dr. Packer & Michael Gray Remix) * 2023 Artful & Ridney ft Terri Walker - Missing You (Michael Gray Remix) * 2023 Ten City - That's The Way Love Is (Michael Gray Remix) * 2024 [[Raw Silk]] - Do It To The Music (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2024 [[Jamiroquai]] – [[Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai song)|Space Cowboy]] (Good Vibe Zone) [Edit, Dub, and Extended Mix]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> * 2024 [[Unlimited Touch]] - I Hear Music In The Streets (Michael Gray Remix) * 2024 Fred Kingdom - Lost In The Rythmn (Michael Gray House Mix) * 2024 [[Inner Life]] & [[Jocelyn Brown]] - I Like It Like That (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2025 Voyage - From East to West (Michael Gray Remix) * 2025 Light of the World - Time (Michael Gray Remix) * 2025 The B.B. & Q. Band - On the Beat (Michael Gray Remix) * 2025 Change, Tanya Michelle Smith - Sunrise Forever (Michael Gray Remixes) * 2025 Gwen Dickey, Michael Gray - If I'm Gonna Be With You (Michael Gray Extended Mix) * 2025 Maxwell - Don't Ever Wonder (Michael Gray Remix) * 2025 Revival House Project, Phebe Edwards, GeO Gospel Choir - Think (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2025 Dave & Maurissa - What About My Love (Michael Gray Extended Remix) * 2026 Danny Kane & Colonel Red - Don’t You Worry (Michael Gray Extended Mix)

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Michael}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:DJs from London]] [[Category:English record producers]] [[Category:English dance musicians]] [[Category:English house musicians]] [[Category:English club DJs]] [[Category:English house DJs]] [[Category:English remixers]] [[Category:People from Croydon]] [[Category:English electronic dance music DJs]]