John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 ā February 24, 1990) was an American singe… Read Full Bio ↴John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 ā 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.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
We also have lyrics for these tracks by Johnnie Ray:
A Full Time Job I want a full-time job makin' love to you I'll do…
A Sinner Am I There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
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 …
All I Do Is Dream of You All I do is dream of you the whole night…
All of Me You took my kisses and you took my love You taught…
As Time Goes By As time goes by You must remember this A kiss is just…
Because I love You I'm confessin' that I love you, Tell me, do you love…
Coffee and Cigarettes Coffee and cigarettes are my only escape. I got my cup…
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…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Take Your Love from Me Tear a star from out the sky and the sky…
Faith Can Move Mountains Faith can move mountains Darling, you will see I can m…
Flip, Flop and Fly When I get the blues I get me a rockin'…
Gee, But I'm Lonesome The moon hangs high when the clock strike two The night…
Give Me Time Give me time. Give me time. If there's one thing you could…
Glad Rag Doll All dolled up in your glad rags, But tomorrow may turn…
Hernando's Hideaway I know a dark secluded place. A place where…
Hey There Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes love…
How Long, How Long Blues How long, baby how long, Has that evening train been gone? …
I'll Never Be Free Each time I hold someone new My arms grow cold aching…
I've Got So Many Million Years Now that Iā²m a million years old Now that I'm a…
If You Believe Brothers And sisters Listen You non-believers, listen You b…
Johnnie's Comin' Home Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bum…
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…
Miss Me Just A Little Umm Just a little just a little just a little Don't…
Mister Midnight Rain on the roof and time on my hands It sure…
Mountains In The Moonlight Faith can move mountains Darling, you will see I can…
No Wedding Today Call up the preacher, Save him the ride, There'll be no wedd…
Nobody's Sweetheart You're nobody's sweetheart now, 'Cause nobody wants you, som…
Out in the Cold Again (Out in the cold) The song that you sang so sweetly You…
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 …
Pink Sweater Angel Without a halo, a harp or wings You're such a heavenly…
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Years we've been together Seems we can't get along, No matte…
Please Mr Sun Talk to her please, Mr. Sun Speak to her, Mr. Rainbow And…
Sent For You Yesterday Well, don't the moon look lonesome Shining through the tree …
She Didn't Say Nothin' At All It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart Without…
Somebody Stole My Gal Gee, but I'm lonesome, lonesome and blue I've found out some…
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…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
Tell the Lady I Said Goodbye Yeah I've been so lost lately I don't really understand bab…
The Little White Cloud That Cried I went walking down by the river Feeling very sad inside Whe…
Walkin' My Baby Back Home Well now, gee, but it's great After staying out late Walking…
Whiskey and Gin I got a gal who drinks whiskey and gin, I got…
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…
You'd Be Surprised He's not so good in a crowd But when you get…