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Johnnie Ray

John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Highly popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor to what became rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music, and his animated stage personality. Tony Bennett called Ray the "father of rock and roll", and historians have noted him as a pioneering figure in the development of the genre.

Born and raised in Dallas, Oregon, Ray, who was partially deaf, began singing professionally at age fifteen on Portland radio stations. He gained a local following singing at small, predominantly African-American nightclubs in Detroit, where he was discovered in 1949 and subsequently signed to Okeh Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. He rose quickly from obscurity in the United States with the release of his debut album Johnnie Ray (1952), as well as with a 78 rpm single, both of whose sides reached the Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 chart, "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud That Cried".

In 1954, Ray made his first film, There's No Business Like Show Business as part of an ensemble cast that included Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe. His acting career ended with that one movie. His career in the music business in his native United States began to decline in 1957, and his American record label dropped him in 1960. He never regained a strong following there and rarely appeared on American television after 1973. His fanbases in the United Kingdom and Australia, however, remained strong until his death in 1990 of complications from liver failure.

British Hit Singles & Albums noted that Ray was "a sensation in the 1950s; the heart-wrenching vocal delivery of 'Cry' ... influenced many acts including Elvis, and was the prime target for teen hysteria in the pre-Presley days." Ray's dramatic stage performances and melancholic songs have been credited by music historians as precursory to later performers ranging from Leonard Cohen to Morrissey.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 10, 1927 (Dallas), Died February 24, 1990 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1954 - 1964

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 87100 11/29/1954 If you believe Ethel Merman ; Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 87103 11/29/1954 After you get what you want, you don't want it Dolores Gray ; Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 87107 11/29/1954 Alexander's ragtime band, part 2 Dan Dailey ; Mitzi Gaynor ; Donald O'Connor ; Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 114369 1/16/1964 Can't I? Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 114370 1/16/1964 Sweethearts or strangers Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 114371 1/16/1964 [Unknown title(s)] Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 114372 1/16/1964 Break my heartbreak Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12253 12/5/1962 After my laughter came tears Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12254 12/5/1962 Lonely wine Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12255 12/5/1962 It's true, it's true Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12256 12/5/1962 Lookout Chattanooga Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12479 4/22/1963 I can't stop crying for you Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12480 4/22/1963 Jealous heart Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca NA 12481 4/22/1963 I've learned Johnnie Ray vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ray, Johnnie," accessed November 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/339335.

Ray, Johnnie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/339335.

"Ray, Johnnie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/339335

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