Moved to Los Angeles to enroll in USC's screenwriting program

Began singing jazz and pop standards with a band that performed in hotels L.A.

Organized an after-hours club called the We Ours, which took place in a small coffeehouse; Gray and her jazz group performed there regularly

Signed with Atlantic Records, who declined to release the album she recorded for them; Gray retreated to Canton

Returned to L.A. to accept a publishing deal with Zomba; this in turn helped lead to a new record contract with Epic Records