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.

Song of the Dreamer
Johnnie Ray Lyrics

We 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 Full-time Job I want a full-time job makin' love to you I'll do…
A Hundred Years from Today Life is such a great adventure Learn to live it as…
A Sinner Am I There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Ain No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Ain't Misbehavin No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
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 …
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…
All The Way When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you,…
All Through The Night The day is my enemy, the night my friend, For I'm…
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…
Broken Hearted There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Brokenhearted THERE SHE IS, MY OLD GAL THERE HE IS, MY OLD…
Build Your Love Tear a star from out the sky and the sky…
Build Your Love On A Strong Foundation (Build your love, build your love) (Build your love, build y…
Coffee and Cigarettes Coffee and cigarettes are my only escape. I got my cup…
Cool Water All day I've faced the barren waste Without the taste of…
Coquette Hear me, why you keep fooling Little coquette, making fun of…
Cry If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye It's no secret…
Day By Day Day by day I'm falling more in love with you And…
Destiny What if I never knew What if I never found you I…
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Say Love Has Ended Another love has ended (another love has ended) Like so many…
Don't Take Your Love from Me Tear a star from out the sky and the sky…
Don't Worry 'Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Dont Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Dont Take Your Love From Me Tear a star from out the sky and the sky…
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…
Far Away Places Dreary days are over Life's a four leaf clover Sessions of d…
Flip Flop And Fly When I get the blues I get me a rockin'…
For You Alone Well, don't the moon look lonesome Shining through the tree …
Full Time Job I want a full-time job makin' love to you I'll do…
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…
Goodnight My Love Just promise me darling Your love in return May this fire in…
Hands Across The Table Dinner is ended, the music is grand, Softly the lanterns gle…
Here Am I There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Here I Am There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Here I Am Broken Hearted There she is, my old gal, There he is, my old…
Hernando I know a dark secluded place. A place where…
Hey There Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes love…
Home On The Range Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam Where the…
How Long Blues How long, baby how long, Has that evening train been gone? …
Hundred Years from Today Life is such a great adventure Learn to live it as…
I Believe I believe for every drop of rain that falls a…
I Love You I'll never fall in love again It's all over now…
I Want to Be Loved I wanna be loved, but by only you I wanna…
I Wished On the Moon I wished on the moon, for something I never knew Wished…
I'll Be Home This is our fork in the road Love's last episode There's…
I'll Be Seeing You I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
I'll Bring Along My Banjo When life is hard it ain′t no easy Get up and…
I'll Get By I'll get by As long as I have you Though there be…
I'll Make You Mine (Build your love, build your love) (Build your love, build …
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'll See You in My Dreams I'll see you in my dreams And I'll hold you in…
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows I'm always chasing rainbows Watching clouds drifting by My s…
I'm An Old Cowhand I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande But my legs…
I'm Confessin' I'm confessin' that I love you, Tell me, do you love…
I've Got So Many Million Years Now that I′m a million years old Now that I'm a…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Believe Brothers And sisters Listen You non-believers, listen You b…
If You Believe I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Love Me Turn down the lights Turn down the bed Turn down these voice…
In the Heart of a Fool Hey there baby with the long hair, I know you…
It All Depends On You Lovers depend on moonlight For a love affair Babies depend o…
It's Impossible It's impossible to tell the sun to leave the sky, It's…
It's The Talk Of The Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, I…
I’ll Never Be Free Each time I hold someone new My arms grow cold aching…
Johnnie's Comin' Home Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bumm) (Bum bumm bum…
Just Walkin In The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my …
Just Walkin' in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Just Walkin'in The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my …
Just Walking in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Let's Walk A That A Way [Chorus] Let's walk a-that-a-way not a-this-a-way That-a-way…
Let's Walk That [Chorus] Let's walk a-that-a-way not a-this-a-way That-a-w…
Let's Walk That a Way [Chorus] Let's walk a-that-a-way not a-this-a-way That-a-way…
Let's Walk Thataway [Chorus] Let's walk a-that-a-way not a-this-a-way That-a-w…
Little White Cloud That Cried I went walking down by the river Feeling very sad inside Whe…
Long Ago and Far Away Dreary days are over Life's a four leaf clover Sessions of d…
Look Homeward Angel (Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh) Look homeward, angel Tell me what…
Love I'll never fall in love again It's all over now…
Love Me Turn down the lights Turn down the bed Turn down these voi…
Love Me Love Me Turn down the lights Turn down the bed Turn down these voice…
Mame You coax the blues right out of the horn, Mame, You…
Medley: The Little White Cloud That Cried I went walking down by the river Feeling very sad inside Whe…
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…
My Ideal Will I ever find the boy in my mind The one…
My Love and Devotion Just promise me darling Your love in return May this fire in…
My Melancholy Baby Well now, gee, but it's great After staying out late Walking…
My Song My Love Just promise me darling Your love in return May this fire in…
Nevertheless I knew the time had to come When I'd be held…
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 Years we've been together Seems we can't get along, No mat…
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Years we've been together Seems we can't get along, No matte…
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone Years we've been together Seems we can't get along, No mat…
Please Mister Sun Talk to her please, Mr. Sun Speak to her, Mr. Rainbow And…
Please Mr.Sun Talk to her please, Mr. Sun Speak to her, Mr. Rainbow And…
Please, Mr. Sun Talk to her please, Mr. Sun Speak to her, Mr. Rainbow And…
Red River Valley From this valley they say you are going We will miss…
Sent For You Yesterday Well, don't the moon look lonesome Shining through the tree …
September In The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
She Didn't Say Nothin' At All It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart Without…
Should I Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I…
Singin' in the Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Somebody Stole My Gal Gee, but I'm lonesome, lonesome and blue I've found out some…
Somewhere My Love Just promise me darling Your love in return May this fire in…
Springtime In The Rockies The twilight shadows deepen into night, dear The city lights…
Street 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…
Teach Me Tonight Did you say that I've got a lot to learn…
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…
They Can't Take That Away From Me Our romance won't end on a sorrowful note, Though by tomorro…
Tienes La Mente Loca Que ganas estando en silencio, si con tus miradas Me dices…
Too Marvellous For Words I search for phrases To sing your praises But there aren't a…
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…
Walking In The Rain Just walking in the rain Getting soaking wet Torturing my he…
Walking My Baby Back Home Well now, gee, but it's great After staying out late Walking…
What'll I Do All I do is dream of you the whole night…
When I Fall in Love I'll never fall in love again It's all over now…
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 …
Who's Sorry Now? (Single Version) Who's sorry now Who's sorry now Who's heart is aching for br…
Whos Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching fo…
Yes Tonight Josephine (Yip yip way bop de boom ditty boom ditty) (Yip yip…
Yesterday Yesterdays, Yesterdays, Days I knew as happy, Sweet sequeste…
You Belong to Me Turn down the lights Turn down the bed Turn down these voice…
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…

and many more tracks by Johnnie Ray.

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS