After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II (where he worked under Walter Schumann), he was hired by Mitch Miller, then head of A & R at Columbia Records as their home arranger, and he worked with several artists, including Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray. He wrote a top 10 arrangement for Don Cherry's "Band of Gold" in 1955, a single that sold more than a million copies.
Amongst the hit singles he backed with his orchestra (and eventually with a male chorus) were "Yes Tonight Josephine" and "Just Walkin' in the Rain" by Johnnie Ray; "Chances Are" and "It's Not for Me to Say" by Johnny Mathis; "A White Sport Coat" and "The Hanging Tree" by Marty Robbins; "Up Above My Head," a duet by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray, and "Pet Me, Poppa" by Rosemary Clooney. He also backed up the albums "Tony" by Tony Bennett, "Blue Swing" by Eileen Rodgers, "Swingin' for Two" by Don Cherry. and half the tracks of "The Big Beat" by Johnnie Ray.
In these early years he also produced some similar sounding records for Columbia's Epic label under the name of Jay Raye (which stands for "Joseph Raymond") amongst them a backing album and singles with Somethin' Smith & The Redheads, an American male vocal group.
Because of the success of his backings Mitch Miller allowed him to make his own record, and this became the successful "'S Wonderful", a collection of standards that were recorded with an orchestra and a wordless singing chorus (four men, four women). He released many more albums in the same vein, including "Dance The Bop" (1957), "'S Marvelous" (1957, gold album), "'S Awful Nice" (1958), "Concert in Rhythm" (1958, gold album), "Hollywood in Rhythm" (1958), "Broadway in Rhythm" (1959), and "Concert in Rhythm, Volume II" (1959, gold album).
In 1959 he started the Ray Conniff Singers (12 women and 13 men) and released the album "It's the Talk of the Town. This group of word— not just syllable — singing singers brought him the biggest hit he ever had in his career: "Somewhere My Love" (1966). The title track of the album was written to the music of Lara's Theme from the film Doctor Zhivago (1965), and was a top 10 single in the US. The album also reached the US top 20 and went platinum, and Conniff won a Grammy. The single and album reached high positions in the international charts (a.o. Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan) as well. Also extraordinarily successful was the first of four Christmas albums by the Singers, "Christmas with Conniff" (1959). Nearly fifty years after its release, in 2004, Conniff posthumously was awarded with a platinum album/CD.
Musically different highlights in Conniff's career are two albums he produced in cooperation with Billy Butterfield, an old buddy from earlier swing days. "Conniff Meets Butterfield" (1960) featured Butterfield's solo trumpet and a small rhythm group; "Just Kiddin' Around" (after a Conniff original composition from the 1940's), released 1963, featured additional trombone solos by Ray himself. Both albums are pure light jazz and did not feature any vocals.
Later in the 1960's he produced an average of two instrumental and one vocal album a year. Among these are (Original albums only):
* "'s Wonderful" (1956)
* "Dance the Bop!" (1957)
* "'s Marvelous" (1957)
* "'s Awful Nice" (1958)
* "Concert in Rhythm, Vol.1" (1958)
* "Broadway in Rhythm" (1958)
* "Hollywood in Rhythm" (1958)
* "It's The Talk of the Town" (1959)
* "Conniff Meets Butterfield" (1959)
* "Christmas with Conniff" (1959)
* "Concert in Rhythm, Vol.2" (1959)
* "Young at Heart" (1960)
* "Say It with Music (A Touch of Latin)" (1960)
* "Memories Are Made of This" (1960, gold album)
* "Somebody Loves Me" (1961)
* "'S Continental" (1961)
* "So Much in Love" (1962, gold album)
* "Rhapsody in Rhythm" (1962)
* "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (1962, gold album)
* "The Happy Beat" (1962)
* "You Make Me Feel So Young" (1963)
* "Speak to Me of Love" (1963)
* "Friendly Persuasion" (1964)
* "Invisible Tears" (1964)
* "Love Affair" (1965)
* "Music From 'Mary Poppins', 'The Sound of Music', 'My Fair Lady' & Other Great Movie Themes" (1965)
* "Here We Come A-Caroling" (1965)
* "Happiness Is" (1965)
* "Ray Conniff's World of Hits" (1966)
* "En Español (The Ray Conniff Singers Sing It in Spanish)" (1966)
* "This Is My Song" (1967)
* "Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album" (1967)
* "It Must Be Him" (1967, gold album)
* "Honey" (1968, gold album)
* "Turn Around Look at Me" (1968)
* "I Love How You Love Me" (1968)
* "Live Europa Tournee 1969/Concert in Stereo" (1969)
* "Jean" (1969)
* "Concert In Stereo: Live At 'The Sahara Tahoe'" (1969)
* "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970)
* "We've Only Just Begun" (1970)
* "Love Story" (1970)
* "Great Contemporary Instrumental Hits" (1971)
* "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (1971)
* "Love Theme from "The Godfather" (1972)
* "Alone Again (Naturally)" (1972)
* "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972)
* "Ray Conniff in Britain" (1973)
* "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (1973)
* "Harmony" (1973)
* "The Way We Were" (1973)
* "The Happy Sound of Ray Conniff" (1974)
* "Ray Conniff In Moscow" (1974)
* "Laughter in the Rain" (1975)
* "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975)
* "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975)
* "I Write the Songs" (1975)
* "Live in Japan" (1975)
* "Send in the Clowns" (1976)
* "Theme from 'SWAT' and Other TV Themes" (1976)
* "After the Lovin'" (1976)
* "Exitos Latinos" (1977)
* "Ray Conniff Plays the Bee Gees and Other Great Hits" (1978)
* "I Will Survive" (1979)
* "The Perfect '10' Classics" (1980)
* "Exclusivamente Latino" (1980)
* "Siempre Latino" (1981)
* "The Nashville Connection" (1982)
* "Musik für Millionen" (partly produced for a German TV show in 1982)
* "Amor Amor" (1982)
* "Fantastico" (1983)
* "Supersonico" (1984)
* "Campeones" (1985)
* "Say You Say Me" (1986)
* "30th Anniversary Edition" (1986)
* "Always in My Heart" (1987)
* "Interpreta 16 Exitos De Manuel Alejandro" (1988)
* "Ray Conniff Plays Broadway" (1990)
* "'S Always Conniff" (1991)
* "Latinisimo" (1993)
* "40th Anniversary" (1995)
* "Live in Rio (aka Mi Historia)" (1997)
* "I Love Movies" (1997)
* "My Way" (1998)
* "'S Country" (1999)
* "'S Christmas" (1999)
* "Do Ray Para O Rei" (2000).
Between 1957 and 1968, he had 28 albums in the American Top 40, the most famous one being "Somewhere My Love" (1966). He topped the album list in Britain in 1969 with "His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers, His Sound". He also was the first American popular artist to record in Russia—in 1974 he recorded "Ray Conniff in Moscow" with the help of a local choir. His later albums like "Exclusivamente Latino", "Amor Amor" and "Latinisimo" made him very popular in Latin-American countries, even more so after performing in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. In Brazil and Chile he was treated like a young pop superstar in the 1980s and 1990s when he was in his 70s and 80s. He even played live with his orchestra and eight-person chorus in large football stadiums as well as in Viña del Mar.
Ray Conniff was a quiet, modest sympathetic artist. He always worked in the background so that in the fifties there were rumours that this man didn't even exist and his name was just a name fake as then his orchestral sound was so sensational. Nevertheless he sold about 70 million albums world-wide and continued recording and performing until his death in 2002.
He died in Escondido, California, and is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
In 2004, a memorial two-CD compilation set, "The Essential Ray Conniff", was released, featuring many rare and previously unreleased tracks. "The Singles Collection, Vol.1" was released on the Collectables label in 2005. This also features many rare tracks.
Clair
Ray Conniff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt as if something, somewhere
Had happened to me, which I couldn't see
And then, the moment I met you, again
I knew in my heart that we were friends
It had to be so, it couldn't be no
But try as hard as I might do, I don't know why
You get to me in a way I can't describe
I don't care what people say
To me you're more than a child
Oh, Clair
Clair
Clair, if ever a moment so rare
Was captured for all to compare
That moment is you in all that you do
But why in spite of our age difference do I cry
Each time I leave you I feel I could die
Nothing means more to me than hearing you say
"I'm going to marry you
Will you marry me, Uncle Ray"
Oh, Clair
Clair
Trumpet##
Clair, I've told you before "Don't you care"
"Get back into bed"
"Can't you see that it's late"
"No you can't have a drink"
"Oh, alright then, but wait just a minute"
While I, in an effort to babysit, catch up on my breath
What there is left of it
You can be murder at this hour of the day
But in the morning the sun will see my lifetime away
Oh Clair
Clair
Oh Clair!
The song Clair by Ray Conniff tells the story of a man who met a little girl named Clair and felt as though something significant had just happened to him. As he got to know her, he realized they were friends and that they were meant to be. However, he found that he couldn't explain his emotions when he was around her. He begins to admire her deeply and feels that she is more than just a child to him. The man is surprised that the age difference between them makes him cry whenever he leaves her. In the end, he is left to babysit Clair, which proves to be a challenge. But despite this, he knows that Clair is worth all the trouble and that the sun will see his lifetime away.
The lyrics portray a paternal relationship between the man and Clair, which is further emphasized by his nickname "Uncle Ray". This song's inspiration comes from a real-life experience Conniff had with the daughter of a friend he was visiting. The little girl's name was Clair, and he felt a deep connection with her. She made such an impact that he decided to write the song in her honor. Conniff's voice, with the instrumental accompaniment and the trumpet section, creates a beautiful melody that gives life to the lyrics. The song showcases Conniff's exceptional musicality and his ability to convey a beautiful story through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Clair, the moment I met you, I swear
From the very moment I met you, I felt like something significant had occurred in my life.
I felt as if something, somewhere
I sensed something unique or distinct that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Had happened to me, which I couldn't see
Something important had transpired in my life, but I couldn't comprehend what it was.
And then, the moment I met you, again
When we met again, I could feel in my heart that we would be good friends as we'd developed a connection.
I knew in my heart that we were friends
I was confident, in my heart, that we were meant to be friends and nothing could change that.
It had to be so, it couldn't be no
It was inevitable that we would be friends; there was nothing that would stop us from becoming friends.
But try as hard as I might do, I don't know why
Although I can't explain why I am drawn to you, I can't help it, no matter how much I try.
You get to me in a way I can't describe
You have a unique influence over me that I cannot articulate.
Words mean so little when you look up and smile
The simple act of you looking up and smiling at me outweighs the importance of any words that could be spoken between us.
I don't care what people say
Despite what others may say or think, I have my own strong feelings and beliefs about you.
To me you're more than a child
You are not just a child to me, but someone special who has impacted my life.
Clair
A repetition of the girl's name; used as a refrain throughout the song.
Clair, if ever a moment so rare
If there were ever a rare moment that needed to be immortalized in time, it would be whenever you exist.
Was captured for all to compare
If that moment was captured, it could be compared to all other rare, significant moments that have ever occurred.
That moment is you in all that you do
You are the embodiment of that rare, immortalized moment in the way that you carry yourself.
But why in spite of our age difference do I cry
Despite the difference in our ages, I am moved to tears whenever we part.
Each time I leave you I feel I could die
When I have to leave you behind, I feel as though a part of me has died as well.
Nothing means more to me than hearing you say
The most important thing in the world to me is the sound of you telling me that you want to marry me.
"I'm going to marry you
These are the words I long to hear from you, Clair.
Will you marry me, Uncle Ray"
My greatest desire is for you, Clair, to ask me to marry you.
Trumpet##
A musical interlude that takes the focus off the lyrics momentarily.
Clair, I've told you before "Don't you care"
Clair, I have told you previously that I care deeply for you; I hope you remember this.
"Get back into bed"
I am asking you, Clair, to return to bed.
"Can't you see that it's late"
I am concerned that it's too late for you to be up and out of bed.
"No you can't have a drink"
I cannot allow you to have a drink for some reason (not given in the lyrics).
"Oh, alright then, but wait just a minute"
I have given in, on one condition that she waits a minute or so for the drink.
While I, in an effort to babysit, catch up on my breath
While I am trying to care for you, I must take a moment to catch my breath.
What there is left of it
Whatever energy or breath I can spare.
You can be murder at this hour of the day
It can be challenging to deal with you at this time of day.
But in the morning the sun will see my lifetime away
Although it can be hard at times, I know that we will have a lifetime together, and for that reason, it is worth it.
Oh Clair
The song concludes with a final refrain of Clair's name.
Writer(s): O Sullivan Raymond
Contributed by Kayla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carlosmartinez5063
Maestro Ray Connif q lindas melodías nos dejaste
@oscarcuellar8085
Sensacional Ray Coniff, Díos té bendiga siempre!!! QEPD!!
@gagash32
Thanks for posting. I can't stop listening to this song over and over. Very nice music and song!
@germansoto7585
Genio de la música y de los arrehlos Ray
@javiervenegas1458
Cuanta Nostalgia Definitivamente HERMOSA CANCIÓN Saludos!!!!!!
@GoJuJu
Who would've thought this song would be a foundation for one of the greatest sounding sampled productions EVER!
@luisvaldiviezo9158
Ray Conniff para toda la vida..eterna juventud
@RainOfBlue
Named our daughter after this song. I remember we collected all the Ray Conniff Singers' album, about a dozen of them, including the 2 Christmas albums. Claire, such a beautiful song for my beautiful baby.
@richardlee7032
One of my favorite song when I was young.
@lucie-annestaelen9180
Richard Lee