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.

Give Me Time
Johnnie Ray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me time.
Give me time.
If there's one thing you could give
to help me show you all that's mine,
give me time.

Show me love.
Show me love.

If there's one thing that you know
that I've not had any of,
show me love.

Help me see.
Help me see.
If you know what it would take
to find the patience that you need,
help me see.

Give me time.
Give me time.
If there's one thing you could give
to help me show you all that's mine,
give me time.

Oh oh oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnnie Ray's song Give Me Time reflect a plea from someone who has been through a lot and is trying to win over their love interest. The repetition of "Give me time" emphasizes the importance of patience and understanding from the other person. It's almost as if the singer is asking for a chance to prove themselves and show their true self. The repeated line "If there's one thing you could give to help me show you all that's mine" highlights the singer's desire for a deeper connection, one that goes beyond the surface level.

The following lines, "Show me love" and "Help me see," add to this theme of vulnerability and a willingness to be open with the other person. The second verse specifically talks about the singer's lack of love and how they desire to experience it fully. The line "If you know what it would take to find the patience that you need, help me see" is particularly striking, as it shows the singer's desire to not just receive love, but to learn how to love others properly.

Overall, Give Me Time is a heartfelt and sincere song that showcases Ray's ability to express complex emotions through simple yet powerful lyrics. The song's message about the importance of patience, understanding, and love resonates with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me time.
I need some space and understanding from you.

Give me time.
I need you to be patient with me.

If there's one thing you could give to help me show you all that's mine,
I need some time to demonstrate my abilities and worth to you.

Show me love.
I haven't received affection before, and I want to experience it.

Show me love.
I need to feel valued and cared for.

If there's one thing that you know that I've not had any of,
I have never been shown love or affection.

Help me see.
I need you to guide me and give me insight.

Help me see.
I'm having a hard time understanding what you need from me.

If you know what it would take to find the patience that you need,
I need your help to develop the patience required in our relationship.

Give me time.
I need you to trust and believe in me.

Give me time.
I promise to work hard and show you what I'm capable of.