Floyd Cramer

Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "whole-step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signature playing style was a cornerstone of the pop-oriented "Nashville sound" of the 1950s and 1960s. Cramer's "slip-note" or "bent-note" style, in which a passing note slides almost instantly into or away from a chordal note, influenced a generation of pianists. His sound became popular to the degree that he stepped out of his role as a sideman and began touring as a solo act. In 1960, his piano instrumental solo, "Last Date" went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart and sold over one million copies. Its follow-up, "On the Rebound", topped the UK Singles Chart in 1961. As a studio musician, he became one of a cadre of elite players dubbed the Nashville A-Team and he performed on scores of hit records.

Birth and Death Data: Born Shreveport (parish seat of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States), Died December 31, 1997 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1952 - 1969

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, organ

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 484 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor G2WB-0218 10-in. 1/11/1956 I was the one Elvis Presley Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO48805 10-in. 1/18/1953 I'm looking for love Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO48807 10-in. 1/18/1953 Don't let your pride break your heart Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO48808 10-in. 1/18/1953 I didn't have the nerve it took to go Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO49077 10-in. 3/8/1953 Mexican Joe Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO49996 10-in. 9/27/1953 I got lost along the way Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO49997 10-in. 9/27/1953 I can't keep the girls away Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO52848 10-in. 12/2/1954 Let me hear from you Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO52849 10-in. 12/2/1954 Hey! Billy Walker Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO55807 10-in. 3/1/1956 Crazy arms Ray Price Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO55808 10-in. 3/1/1956 You done me wrong Ray Price Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO56863 10-in. 9/3/1956 I've got a new heartache Ray Price Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2656 2/29/1952 That heart belongs to me Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2657 2/29/1952 I just can't be true Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2658 2/29/1952 So used to loving you Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2659 2/29/1952 I haven't got the heart Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2702 4/21/1952 Slowly Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2703 4/21/1952 The last waltz Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2704 4/21/1952 Bow Thy head Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2705 4/21/1952 Country church Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2812 7/29/1952 Back street affair Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2813 7/29/1952 I'm only wishin' Webb Pierce instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9278 1/24/1956 If I never had anything else The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9279 1/24/1956 So doggone lonesome The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 9325 4/12/1956 Old love letters (bring memories of you) The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 484 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cramer, Floyd," accessed January 4, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179.

Cramer, Floyd. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 4, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179.

"Cramer, Floyd." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 4 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/202179

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