Mom's Creations -- Maggie Cray -- Her Introverted Robert Let His $69 Guitar Do The Talking

How can parents foster creativity in their children? This Mother's Day, we asked three mothers who should know. They are local women whose babies - choreographer Mark Morris, blues singer and guitarist Robert Cray, and actress and dancer Ann Reinking - grew up not only to be famous, but famous for their creativity.

Maggie Cray listened to her own voice when she decided how to handle her shy, musical son: Leave the boy alone.

Her son Robert was an introverted, skinny kid who shut himself away in his room, playing the $69 guitar she bought for him at a music store near Tacoma. It was the early 1960s, the era of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Robert's idea of a good time was to practice by himself for hours, then spend hours more in someone's garage, playing rock 'n' roll with his little friends.

"I didn't worry about it," said Maggie Cray, whose musical Southern accent and good looks strongly recall the voice and style of her son.

"One day, my sister made the remark, `Maggie, you should make Robert go out and play with the other kids. All he does is play in his room.' But I believe if it's something you're good at, you're going to put yourself into it."

He did. Robert's idea of a good time now is winning Grammys. Considered the premier contemporary blues singer in the country, the 37-year-old Tacoma native has never lost his devotion to his guitar and the peculiarly sad, raggedly beautiful music called the blues.

Maggie Cray says Robert got his first taste of music when his parents played the records of Fats Domino and Ray Charles in their home. Henry Cray was a career Army man. The family moved around a lot - Germany, Virginia, Tacoma. In Germany and after, Robert took music lessons, paid for in part by Henry Cray's working two jobs.

When Robert and his friend Richard Cousins started playing serious music in Tacoma and Eugene, Ore., Robert was living hand to mouth. The Crays had five children to raise; they didn't have a lot of money to spread around. But sometimes Robert ask for some. "I'd send it to him," says Maggie Cray.

Maggie since has read stories about Robert and has discerned that things might have been worse than her son was willing to let on. "They said he slept in the park, waiting for the stage to open, because he didn't have the money for a hotel room," she says.

But things did improve. "He'd call home and say, `Mom, we're working in the clubs. We're doing pretty good. We're opening for Albert Collins,' " a famous blues singer. "I'd say, `Good - someday you'll be opening for yourself.' "

Today, Robert is indeed opening for himself. At Northwest concerts, the most demonstrably enthusiastic fan may be Maggie Cray herself, who stands and dances to her son's music. She and Henry Cray have been to London to hear Robert play at the Royal Albert Hall with rock icon Eric Clapton. Robert now is on tour in Australia, promoting his "Midnight Stroll" album, but soon will return home.

Maggie Cray says supporting a child in his dreams and desires is wisest. "I've always thought that whatever they want to do, you encourage them to do it." She thinks back on those long hours Robert spent in his room and laughs again. "Besides, at least I knew where he was!"