John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singe… Read Full Bio ↴John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor of what would become rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music and his animated stage persona.
Ray was born in Hopewell, Oregon, spending part of his childhood on a farm, eventually moving to Portland, Oregon. Ray was of Native American origin; his great-grandmother was a full-blooded Native American and his great-grandfather was Oregon pioneer George Kirby Gay of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. He became deaf in his right ear at age 13 after an accident during a Boy Scout event. It was his participation in the "blanket toss," a sort of variation of the trampoline, that traumatized the youngster's inner ear. Ray later performed wearing a hearing aid. Surgery performed in New York in 1958 left him almost completely deaf in both ears, although hearing aids helped his condition.
Career
Ray first attracted attention while performing at the Flame Showbar in Detroit, Michigan, an R&B nightclub. Inspired by rhythm singers like Kay Starr, LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter, Ray developed a unique rhythm based style, described as alternating between pre-rock R&B and a more conventional classic pop approach.
His first record, the self-penned R&B number for OKeh Records, "Whiskey and Gin", was a minor hit in 1951. The following year he dominated the charts with the double-sided hit single of "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud That Cried". Selling over two million copies of the 45 single, Ray's delivery struck a chord with teenagers and he quickly became a teen idol.
Ray's performing style included theatrics later associated with rock 'n roll, including beating up his piano, writhing on the floor and crying. Ray quickly earned the nicknames, "Mr. Emotion", "The Nabob of Sob", and "The Prince of Wails", and several others.
More hits followed, including "Please Mr. Sun", "Such a Night", "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", "A Sinner Am I", and "Yes Tonight Josephine". His last hit was "Just Walkin' in the Rain", in 1956. He did, however, hit again in 1957 with "You Don't Owe Me a Thing", which reached #10 in the Billboard charts. He was popular in the United Kingdom, breaking the record at the London Palladium formerly set by Frankie Laine.[citation needed] In later years, he retained a loyal fan base overseas, particularly in Australia.
Later career influences
Ray had a close relationship with journalist and television game show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen who gave a boost to his sagging career during his engagement at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965.
In early 1969, Ray befriended Judy Garland, performing as her opening act during her last concerts in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. Ray was also the best man during Garland's wedding to nightclub manager Mickey Deans in London.[4]
Ray's American career revived in the early 1970s, with appearances on The Andy Williams Show in 1970 and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson three times during 1972 and 1973. His personal manager Bill Franklin resigned in 1976 and cut off contact with the singer a few years later. His American revival turned out to be shortlived. He performed in small American venues such as El Camino College in 1987. Australian, English and Scottish promoters booked him for their large venues as late as 1989, his last year of performing.
Some writers suggested that the reason American entertainment bookers and songwriters ignored him in the 1980s was because they simply did not know who he was, or what his sound was like. His exposure during the new era of cable television was limited to a few seconds in Dexys Midnight Runners' 1982 music video for "Come On Eileen", using archival footage of Ray from 1954. He was name checked in the lyrics to "Come On Eileen" (viz "Poor old Johnnie Ray sounded sad upon the radio / he moved a million hearts in mono").
His other video appearance was in Billy Idol's 1986 "Don't Need a Gun", in which Ray appeared on-camera.
Ray was born in Hopewell, Oregon, spending part of his childhood on a farm, eventually moving to Portland, Oregon. Ray was of Native American origin; his great-grandmother was a full-blooded Native American and his great-grandfather was Oregon pioneer George Kirby Gay of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. He became deaf in his right ear at age 13 after an accident during a Boy Scout event. It was his participation in the "blanket toss," a sort of variation of the trampoline, that traumatized the youngster's inner ear. Ray later performed wearing a hearing aid. Surgery performed in New York in 1958 left him almost completely deaf in both ears, although hearing aids helped his condition.
Career
Ray first attracted attention while performing at the Flame Showbar in Detroit, Michigan, an R&B nightclub. Inspired by rhythm singers like Kay Starr, LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter, Ray developed a unique rhythm based style, described as alternating between pre-rock R&B and a more conventional classic pop approach.
His first record, the self-penned R&B number for OKeh Records, "Whiskey and Gin", was a minor hit in 1951. The following year he dominated the charts with the double-sided hit single of "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud That Cried". Selling over two million copies of the 45 single, Ray's delivery struck a chord with teenagers and he quickly became a teen idol.
Ray's performing style included theatrics later associated with rock 'n roll, including beating up his piano, writhing on the floor and crying. Ray quickly earned the nicknames, "Mr. Emotion", "The Nabob of Sob", and "The Prince of Wails", and several others.
More hits followed, including "Please Mr. Sun", "Such a Night", "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", "A Sinner Am I", and "Yes Tonight Josephine". His last hit was "Just Walkin' in the Rain", in 1956. He did, however, hit again in 1957 with "You Don't Owe Me a Thing", which reached #10 in the Billboard charts. He was popular in the United Kingdom, breaking the record at the London Palladium formerly set by Frankie Laine.[citation needed] In later years, he retained a loyal fan base overseas, particularly in Australia.
Later career influences
Ray had a close relationship with journalist and television game show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen who gave a boost to his sagging career during his engagement at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965.
In early 1969, Ray befriended Judy Garland, performing as her opening act during her last concerts in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. Ray was also the best man during Garland's wedding to nightclub manager Mickey Deans in London.[4]
Ray's American career revived in the early 1970s, with appearances on The Andy Williams Show in 1970 and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson three times during 1972 and 1973. His personal manager Bill Franklin resigned in 1976 and cut off contact with the singer a few years later. His American revival turned out to be shortlived. He performed in small American venues such as El Camino College in 1987. Australian, English and Scottish promoters booked him for their large venues as late as 1989, his last year of performing.
Some writers suggested that the reason American entertainment bookers and songwriters ignored him in the 1980s was because they simply did not know who he was, or what his sound was like. His exposure during the new era of cable television was limited to a few seconds in Dexys Midnight Runners' 1982 music video for "Come On Eileen", using archival footage of Ray from 1954. He was name checked in the lyrics to "Come On Eileen" (viz "Poor old Johnnie Ray sounded sad upon the radio / he moved a million hearts in mono").
His other video appearance was in Billy Idol's 1986 "Don't Need a Gun", in which Ray appeared on-camera.
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Street Of Memories
Johnnie Ray Lyrics
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Alexander's Ragtime Band Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band …
Cool Water All day I've faced the barren waste Without the taste of…
Cry If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye It's no secret…
Destiny What if I never knew What if I never found you I…
Empty Saddles There's something strange in the old corral There's a breeze…
Endlessly Higher than the highest mountain And deeper than the deepest…
Faith Can Move Mountains Faith can move mountains Darling, you will see I can m…
Here I Am Broken Hearted There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Hernando's Hideaway I know a dark secluded place. A place where…
Home On The Range Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam Where the…
I'll Never Be Free Each time I hold someone new My arms grow cold aching…
I'll Never Fall in Love Again What do you get when you fall in love? A…
I'm An Old Cowhand I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande But my legs…
In the Heart of a Fool Hey there baby with the long hair, I know you…
Just Walking in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Let's Walk That A-Way [Chorus] Let's walk a-that-a-way not a-this-a-way That-a-way…
Look Homeward Angel (Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh) Look homeward, angel Tell me what…
No Wedding Today Call up the preacher, Save him the ride, There'll be no wedd…
Papa Loves Mambo Papa loves mambo Mama loves mambo Look at 'em sway with it,…
Paths of Paradise Last night I dreamed I walked along the paths of paradise …
Red River Valley From this valley they say you are going We will miss…
Somebody Stole My Gal Gee, but I'm lonesome, lonesome and blue I've found out some…
Springtime In The Rockies The twilight shadows deepen into night, dear The city lights…
Streets of Memories Along the lonely street of memories I miss the places that…
Such a Night Such a night It was a night, ooo what a night…
Tell the Lady I Said Goodbye Years we've been together Seems we can't get along, No mat…
The Last Round-Up Git along little doggie, git along Git along little doggie, …
The Little White Cloud That Cried I went walking down by the river Feeling very sad inside Whe…
The Touch of God's Hand The prairie sun sends down its ray to warm my…
Up Above My Head [Chorus] Up above my head (Up above my head) I hear music in…
Up Until Now (Yip yip way bop de boom ditty boom ditty) (Yip…
Wagon Wheels Heading down south to the land of the pines I′m thumbing…
Walkin' My Baby Back Home Well now, gee, but it's great After staying out late Walking…
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
Yes Tonight Josephine (Yip yip way bop de boom ditty boom ditty) (Yip yip…
You Don't Owe Me a Thing YOU DON'T OWE ME A THING Johnnie Ray Don't, be nice to…