Which artist made the song "Drift Away" an international hit in 1973?

"Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams written in 1970 and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer.

It was later given to soul-singer Dobie Gray, for whom it became a surprise international hit and the best known version. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and certified. It was the final pop hit for Decca Records in the United States.

Dobie Gray (born Lawrence Darrow Brown; July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter, whose musical career spanned soul, country, pop, and musical theater. His hit songs included "The 'In' Crowd" in 1965 and "Drift Away", which was one of the biggest hits and sold over one million copies, and still remains a staple of radio airplay.

A new version by Uncle Kracker, with Gray, became a major hit in 2003.