Macy Gray

Image: Macy Gray

Macy Gray (born Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6, 1967; also credited as Natalie Hinds in her music) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.

To date, Gray has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album, Big, released in March 2007—and has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including Training Day, Spider-Man, and Idlewild. Gray is best known for her international hit single “I Try”, taken from her multi-platinum debut album On How Life Is. In late 2008, Gray took on a new alias “Nemesis Jaxson”, and has plans to release her fifth studio album in 2009.