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.
Cry
Johnnie Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's no secret you'll feel better if you cry
When waking from a bad dream
Don't you sometimes think it's real?
But it's only false emotions that you feel
If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Remember sunshine can be found behind a cloudy sky
So let your hair down and go on and cry
If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Well now, remember sunshine can be found behind a cloudy sky
So let your hair down and go on baby and cry (cry, and cry)
In Johnnie Ray's song "Cry," the singer provides advice on how to cope with heartache and sadness. The lyrics suggest that crying can be a healthy and healing way to deal with painful emotions. The song begins with the idea that receiving a goodbye letter from a loved one can be devastating, but the singer assures the listener that they will feel better if they allow themselves to cry. The second verse discusses the experience of a bad dream, and how sometimes false emotions can feel real in the moment. However, the lyrics again emphasize that crying can be cathartic and help the dreamer process their emotions.
The chorus of the song repeats the advice to cry in difficult times. The lyrics acknowledge that heartaches can linger and that sadness can feel overwhelming, but they also remind the listener that sunshine can be found even in the midst of a cloudy sky. The song encourages the listener to let their hair down and cry, perhaps as a way to release pent-up emotions and find a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye
When someone you love leaves you, it can be tough to cope with the pain and confusion that follows.
It's no secret you'll feel better if you cry
Sometimes it's healthy to let your emotions out, even if it means shedding a few tears.
When waking from a bad dream
Nightmares can be terrifying and disorienting, leaving you feeling unsure of what's real and what's not.
Don't you sometimes think it's real?
The images and emotions from a nightmare can linger long after you wake up, making it hard to shake the feeling that they're true.
But it's only false emotions that you feel
In reality, nightmares are just our minds processing and working through events and emotions from our daily lives, and the feelings they generate aren't necessarily accurate or reflective of reality.
If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
Heartbreak can be a persistent pain that feels like it's never going to go away.
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
When you're feeling sad and heartbroken, it can seem like everything around you is just reinforcing those feelings, making it even harder to find happiness.
Remember sunshine can be found behind a cloudy sky
Even when things seem bleak and hopeless, there's always the potential for brighter days ahead if you keep looking for them.
So let your hair down and go on and cry
It's okay to feel sad and let your emotions out. In fact, it can be a healthy way to process and move past difficult experiences.
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Churchill L. Kohlman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sauquoit13456
In the February 2nd, 1952 issue of Billboard Magazine, Johnny Ray's "Little White Cloud That Cried"* peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on it's 'Records Most-Played By Disk Jockeys' chart, and for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was Johnnie Ray's own "Cry"...
And also for that week, "Little White Cloud That Cried" was at #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Pop Records chart...
Between 1951 and 1959 the Dallas, Oregon native had twenty-nine records on the Billboard charts, eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Cry", for eleven weeks on the 'Best Sellers In Stores' chart in December of 1951...
Eight of his twenty-nine charted records were with the Four Lads...
John Alvin Ray passed away at the age of 63 on February 24th, 1990...
May he R.I.P.
* "Little White Cloud That Cried" was Johnnie Ray's first of two of his records to peak at #2, his other #2 record was "Just Walking In The Rain", for one week in October of 1956...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Most-Played By Disk Jockeys' Top 10 on February 2nd, 1952:
At #3. "Tell Me Why" by the Four Aces featuring Al Alberts
#4. "Tiger Rag" by Les Paul and Mary Ford
#5. "Shrimp Boats" by Jo Stafford
#6. "Tell Me Why" by Eddie Fisher
#7. "Sin" by Eddy Howard
#8. "Any Time" by Eddie Fisher
#9. "Slow Poke" by Pee Wee King
#10. "Slow Poke" by Ralph Flanagan
Johnnie R. Johnson
Saw him at the Black Stallion in Colorado Springs on my 21st birthday in 1977. My girl friend had written a letter to him to let him know that we would be there to see his show. Oh by the way, my Mom named me after him because he was one of her favorite singers. When he came out on stage to start the show, he came down into the audience and came straight to our table and introduced himself to us then introduced me to the audience saying "This is Johnnie Ray and it's his 21st birthday'" and sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Such a wonderful person. He paid for our dinner, invited us backstage between shows and asked if we could stay for the 2nd show. I will never forget that night and when I told my Mom what happened, she started crying. She was so happy for me. We sent him an invitation to our wedding and he called me within a few days saying he wished he could come, but that he would be in Europe at the time of the wedding. Like i said, he was such a wonderful person and I am so glad that I got to meet him in person. Just wish my Mom could have been there.
Janet Street
That's SO COOL! Thank you so much for sharing this. 😊❤
Jennifer Kay
What a story, Johnnie! Not surprised your Mom cried. Johnnie Ray was a Star with a Heart, lucky you!
TristanandIsolt
Great story. I just looked this up after listening to the Song Come on Eileen.
no comment
Man, he sounds like such a humble guy.
Re Come on Eileen, i’d never considered what those lyrics were until ^ mentioned it
Miss Jamie
How’s the wife?
Jerry Klooster
One of the authentic, brave artists that began the transition into rock and roll
Joe Nania
Yes indeed - JOHNNIE RAY with his sometimes rough squelching voice - body movements - arm and hand gestures - hair that would often flop out of place - I say was a big influence on ELVIS PRESLEY - BUT most people do not know of JOHNNIE RAY - And I am glad to see so many videos on youtube showing of HIS talents - HE also played piano very well - I sat at a table with HIM at The Whiskey A Go Go GO night club in Hollywood , California in 1979 and we talked about HIS great career - WOW - what a night , Joe Nania a.k.a. "Hollywood" Joe
Swagothor 3000
I love this. Johnnie Ray is my great great uncle. Wish I had a chance to meet him.
JoJo Leone
True? Is so....very cool! love him