The Robert Cray Band emerged from the late 1970s as an American blues rock ensemble under the leadership of Grammy-winning guitarist and singer Robert Cray. Robert Cray from Columbus Georgia, created his distinctive musical approach by uniting soulful singing with precise guitar playing and genuine songwriting to make blues music accessible to broader audiences. The band maintains its core musicianship with tight grooves through various lineup changes over the years.

The 1985 album False Accusations received critical acclaim from critics , but Strong Persuader (1986) became the band's commercial breakthrough with hits "Smoking Gun" and "Right Next Door (Because of Me)." The album achieved platinum status while winning the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.