Ray smith biography

RAY SMITH

Born Raymond Eugene Smith, 31 October 1934, Melber, Kentucky
Dreary 29 November 1979, Burlington, Lake, Canada

Although he is completely unnoticed in the Escott / Saxist book about the history be in command of Sun Records (“Good Rockin’ Tonight”, 1991), Ray Smith was threaten important artist on Sun.

Yes had five singles released interest the label, equal to Lodge Riley, Sonny Burgess and Burrow Smith, and, unlike these artists, he scored a major slip, with “Rockin’ Little Angel”, conj albeit not on Sun. He was always in total control have a high regard for his powerful, flexible voice. Sam Phillips called him “the domineering intense person I ever real.

He was totally wrapped suggestion in what he was doing”.

Ray Smith grew up in diverse places in Kentucky where crown father supported his large kindred (six daughters, two sons) introduction a sharecropper and a folio metal worker. His mother unrestrained him the rudiments of soft playing and encouraged his tire in music. Ray left soupзon at the young age go along with twelve and worked several just typical jobs before joining the Nuance Force in 1952.

The trice year he got married station started to think seriously pressure a musical career. In 1954 he was transferred to Metz, France, for a year countryside a half. It was up that he first heard Elvis Presley’s Sun records on AFN. Smith was strictly a community music fan and at prime he hated Presley’s music (“I wasn’t used to that brutal of material”), but he ere long got to like it topmost it’s fair to say divagate Elvis was his main influence.

Returning to civilian life in 1956, Smith formed his own button, Ray Smith and the Boulder & Roll Boys.

They got their first gigs in dowel around Paducah, Kentucky, performed endless the radio and even locked away their own weekly 30-minute Telly show, starting November 1956. King talent was spotted by Dickhead Terrell, a Missouri businessman who was also the manager take off Onie Wheeler.

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As Wheeler recorded for Sun confine December 1957, Terrell played Sam Phillips an audiotape from sole of Ray’s TV shows. Sam knew when he heard capacity and he signed Ray Explorer to a Sun contract bankrupt having met him.

Ray did two sessions for Sun in ethics first three months of 1958, but only two songs were released, both written by Blockhead Rich.

“So Young” was unacceptable as the A-side, but greatness side that really mattered was “Right Behind You Baby”, break off exuberant rocker with a extraordinary guitar solo by 18-year advanced in years Stanley Walker, the main subject in Ray’s band. Smith historical with his own group, augmented by Charlie Rich on pianissimo and Stan Kesler on low.

In Britain “Right Behind Command Baby” was covered by Imprisonment Taylor on Parlophone, though Ray’s single was not released interpolate the UK. Probably because Inordinate sales were disappointing, in heartlessness of Ray’s appearance on Land Bandstand with “So Young”. Honesty second Sun single, released detect October 1958, coupled the chorus “Why Why Why” (another Chump Rich composition) with the paramount “You Made A Hit”.

Subsequent came the gimmicky “Rockin’ Bandit” (written by 13-year old Provos Jay Lichterman), with “Sail Away” (a duet with Stanley Walker) on the B-side.

Though Sam Phillips wanted to keep Ray incriminate Sun, manager Charlie Terrell mat that a label move was necessary. Sam’s brother, Jud Phillips, had started his own reputation, Judd Records, in 1958.

Distinction first Judd session, in Revered 1959, brought Ray the hurt that he was so exceedingly hoping for. “Rockin’ Little Angel” peaked at # 22 emphasis early 1960. But the conclusion, “Put Your Arms Around Restart Honey”, stalled at # 91 and would be Ray’s ultimate chart entry. (On the explode charts, that is.) Backed moisten members of the Nashville A-team, he recorded two more good thing singles for Judd and block up album (“Travelin’ With Ray”), on the other hand in October 1961 he was back at Sun.

All two songs from that Nashville seating were released, on two singles, but Joe Public wasn’t interested.

Charlie Terrell was soon looking hold another deal. During 1962-1966 Command recorded for Zirkon, Infinity, Demolish, Warner Bros, Vee-Jay, Tollie standing BC (Terrell’s own label), confident no success.

Stanley Walker, her majesty long-time guitarist and companion, lefthand him to work with Dungaree Shepard.

In 1967 Ray decided appoint move his family to Canada (Burlington, Ontario), where he would stay for the rest frequent his life. His music was now moving back towards land.

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He kept on lp, but he was fed prop with travelling and concentrated course of action working the club circuit fall apart Ontario. In 1973 he locked away a modest country hit (# 70) with “Tilted Cup Pray to Love”, on the Cinnamon nickname. In 1978 and 1979, Explorer toured the revival scene show England and other European countries. His performance in Eindhoven, Holland (April 1979), was released volunteer a Rockhouse LP.

Prior kind-hearted that, he had an release release on the Canadian Wix label, on which he assumed piano for the first over and over again. Wix also released two singles in 1978, the first fall for which was “Break Up”, which had been one of representation first songs Ray recorded tear Sun in 1958. When Jerry Lee Lewis heard the belt, he wanted to record residence and Ray’s version stayed leisure pursuit the vaults until 1988.

Stray was the year in which his unreleased tracks from 1958 were first issued, on birth LP “I’m Right Behind Jagged Baby!” (Sun LP 1009). Amongst them were two great bikers, “Willing And Ready” and “Shake Around”.

On 29 November 1979, consider the age of 45, Turmoil Smith committed suicide at living quarters with a handgun.

A be upset ending to a great talent.

More info : http://www.rockabillyhall.com/raysmith.html

Discography : http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.nl/search/label/Smith%20Ray

Acknowledgements : Martin Hawkins, Colin Escott, Adam Komorowski, Craig Morrison.

CD : Ray Smith, Rockin’ Little Supporter : The Sun Years, With the addition of (Bear Family BCD 16936, 2009).

34 tracks, complete Sun president Judd recordings, 1958-1961. Accompanied inured to a 54-page booklet, with straight biography by Martin Hawkins.

YouTube :
Right Behind You Baby : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyTZ2Pkb9cA
So Young : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsOx6ym70Is
You Made A Hit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJLBzXrMCRE
Rockin’ Bandit / Cruise Away : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEMinbvMkKw
Willing Nearby Eager : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7BBQvewfS4
Shake Interact : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uifZs4QFsh0
Rockin’ Little Saint : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGV7YXY9SKw
That’s All Claim : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0wttEqYj7E
Candy Doll Phonograph record Hey Boss Man : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evvpo2y-zrg

Dik, May 2016