Don Raye

Don Raye

Don Raye (born Donald MacRae Wilhoite Jr., March 16, 1909 – January 29, 1985) was an American songwriter, best known for his songs for The Andrews Sisters such as "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", "The House of Blue Lights", "Just for a Thrill" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." The latter was co-written with Hughie Prince. While known for such wordy novelty numbers, he also wrote the lyrics to "You Don't Know What Love Is," a simple, poetic lament of unusual power. He also composed the song "(That Place) Down the Road a Piece," one of his boogie woogie songs, which has a medium bright boogie tempo. It was written for the Will Bradley Orchestra, who recorded it in 1940, but the song was destined to become a rock and roll standard, recorded by The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Foghat, Amos Milburn, Harry Gibson, and countless others. In 1940, he wrote the lyrics for the patriotic song "This Is My Country". In 1985, Don Raye was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 16, 1909 (Washington, D.C.), Died January 29, 1985

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 55 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-98364	10-in.	12/9/1935	(If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes	Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-98497	10-in.	1/6/1936	(If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes	Little Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-035782	10-in.	4/24/1939	Why begin again (Pastel blue)	Three Reasons ; Dick Todd	Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band	lyricist
Victor	BS-036840	10-in.	5/1/1939	Why begin again?	Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-037137	10-in.	5/22/1939	Well all right! (Tonight's the night)	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-037636	10-in.	6/13/1939	The shoemaker's holiday	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-037637	10-in.	6/13/1939	Well all right (Tonight's the night)	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-037638	10-in.	6/13/1939	Danger! Men blasting	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-040692	10-in.	8/29/1939	The monkeys have no tails in Pago Pago	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-041148	10-in.	7/31/1939	Just for a thrill	Bob Chester Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-041530	10-in.	8/10/1939	It's the tune that counts	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-041591	10-in.	8/21/1939	Just for a thrill	Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-044312	10-in.	12/4/1939	Yodelin' jive	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-044636	10-in.	1/18/1940	I love you much too much	Delta Rhythm Band ; Evelyn Poe ; Bob Zurke	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-047727	10-in.	2/29/1940	Let's have another one	Tony Pastor Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-048677	10-in.	4/9/1940	I love you much too much	Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	PBS-049582	10-in.	3/28/1940	Sadie Hawkins' Day	Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey	Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-050536	10-in.	5/8/1940	Rhumboogie	Delta Rhythm Band ; Evelyn Poe ; Bob Zurke	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-051843	10-in.	7/11/1940	Rhumboogie	Bob Chester Orchestra ; Al Stuart	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-056107	10-in.	9/12/1940	Beat me Daddy, eight to a bar	Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Jack Lathrop	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-056161	10-in.	9/23/1940	Ready, get set, jump	Tony Pastor Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-058210	10-in.	12/3/1940	Scrub me mama, with a boogie beat	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-058892	10-in.	1/20/1941	Boogie woogie bugle boy	Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Tommy Taylor	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-058894	10-in.	1/20/1941	You're a lucky fellow, Mr.Smith	Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Mary Ann Mercer ; Tommy Taylor	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-060437	10-in.	1/21/1941	Do you call that a buddy	Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Butch Stone	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter

(Results 1-25 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Raye, Don," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106090.

Raye, Don. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106090.

"Raye, Don." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.