American electric blues, Texas blues and jazz blues tenor saxophonist, who performed and recorded with Little Richard in the 1950s. He also backed other musicians.
Gaines played on Big Walter Price’s “Pack Fair and Square” and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s “Dirty Work at the Crossroads,” before joining Little Richard’s fledgling backing band, the Upsetters, as its leader in 1955. He played on Richard’s “Keep a Knockin'” and “Ooh! My Soul.”
The Upsetters carried on after Richard ‘retired’ in 1957. They toured with Dee Clark, Little Willie John, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Tex. The band recorded for Vee-Jay Records in 1958 backing Clark. Gaines also led Sam Cooke’s backing band up to Cooke’s death. Several recording sessions followed for Gaines and his band at various labels including Vee-Jay, Gee and Fire.
Once the Upsetters disbanded, Grady toured with Millie Jackson and Curtis Mayfield, although he stopped playing in 1980. He re-emerged in 1985, reforming the now Texas Upsetters, playing at concerts in Houston before recording Full Gain (1988), Horn of Plenty (1992), and Jump Start (2002).
Gaines performed in both 1989 and 1996 at the Long Beach Blues Festival. He continued to perform with his Texas Upsetters for private parties and wedding receptions and for public events. Grady Gaines died on 29 January 2021 at age 86.
Link to Wikipedia biography