“BEAUTIFUL” OUT NOW
Continuing the family legacy in the music industry, vocalist Lydia Gray releases a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's classic love song, “Beautiful,” reimagined in a modern Bossa Nova, acoustic-pop style, produced and arranged by Michael Shanks and Chavis Chance.
Acclaimed singer, Lydia Gray, known for her "radiant tone and expressive artistry” is set to release a modern and fresh Bossa Nova cover of the 1972 Gordon Lightfoot masterpiece, “Beautiful”. This new single marks a poignant addition to Gray’s versatile catalogue, blending her signature crossover style with the folk-pop elegance of the legendary Canadian songwriter.
Originally appearing on Lightfoot's album Don Quixote, “Beautiful" has long been a staple of 1970’s folk pop, celebrated for its “plainspoken beauty” and evocative lyrics. Gray’s rendition breathes new life into the track, leaning into her background in American and Brazilian jazz to highlight the song's exquisite melody and lyrics.
“Ive always been drawn to songs that tell a story with both simplicity and depth,” says Gray. “Gordon Lightfoot had a way of capturing the landscape of the human heart, and ”Beautiful” is a perfect example of that. It's a song about gratitude and presence - something we all need a little more of now.”
LYDIA GRAY
Based in South Carolina, Lydia Gray is the third generation singer with an impressive musical heritage. Her grandparents started “The Johnson Family Singers” a gospel group frequently on the Ed Sullivan Show, and her mother, 50s recording artist Betty Johnson (of earlyTonight Show fame) and a prolific career of over a dozen albums. Lydia Gray is featured on several of those recordings, and in addition has three critically acclaimed solo releases, Brazilian Breezes - Mostly Jobim, In My Eyes and Summer Samba, released under the Bliss Tavern Music Label. She is currently featured on many playlists on Spotify, including the single,”Sign Your Name Across My Heart,” with over 2 million streams.
PRODUCED AND ARRANGED BY CHAVIS CHANCE AND MICHAEL SHANKS
Michael Shanks is a musician, producer and singer-songwriter from Texas whose live performances have thrilled audiences from Buenos Aires to Beijing. He has worked with world renowned artists such as Duncan Sheik, Suzanne Vega and Mando Saenz. As a producer his work has garnered millions of streams including vishruti's debut EP, Changing Cities which was crowned one of Spotify's Fresh Finds of India in 2023. He is also a professor of guitar and music production at Sam Houston State University.
Chavis Chance is a Texas-born, Lisbon-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. The son of singer-songwriter Dirk Hamilton, Chavis grew up immersed in music and went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. His own releases — spanning folk, rock, and soul — have drawn praise for their melodic depth and lyrical sincerity. As a producer, he brings a live-feel sensibility shaped by years of playing and recording with other musicians.