Ray Smith (rockabilly singer)
Raymond Eugene Smith ( born October 31, 1934 in Melber, Kentucky, † November 29, 1979 in Burlington, Ontario), also known as Rockin ' Ray Smith, was an American rockabilly musician.
Career
Ray Smith was born on October 31, 1934 in Melber, Kentucky, the son of a farmer. During his childhood he heard country music greats such as Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry. First experience as a musician he was forced to be in the Air Force, when he was forced a manager to sing songs. In a subsequent competition of the army unit he finished with Hank Williams' Lovesick Blues the first place. After his military service he founded in 1956 the "Rock and Roll Boys" by James Webb on bass and rhythm guitar, Raymond Jones on guitar, Dean Perkins on steel guitar and Henry Stevens on drums. Soon the young Stanley Walker joined as a guitarist to do so. The band toured nightclubs in the south and the western United States. With the " Ray Smith Show " Kentucky had the guitarist, pianist and harmonica player in Paducah, also has its own radio show.
Smiths manager Charlie Terrell gave him a contract with Sam Phillips, whose Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, the first recordings took place and where an Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and v. a very successful had played rockabilly and rock ' n' roll hits. The composer, pianist and later country star Charlie Rich completed the "Rock and Roll Boys" for working in the studio. The sessions were produced by Jack Clement and Bill Justis. His record successes allowed Smith television appearances, such as in the Dick Clark Show or American Bandstand. In mediation Narvel Felts ' joins Ray in 1959 a regular tour with Felts, Conway Twitty and Ronnie Hawkins by Canada to which is his second home personally and professionally.
Smith's move to Judd Records brought him Rockin ' Little Angel his greatest success. For the melody he used in a song from 1844 titled Buffalo Gals. A second chart single, Put Your Arms Around Me Honey, was an adaptation of a top hits of Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan of 1911. With Sam's brother Jud Phillips, he also changed his style from rocker to ballad performer. With the additional label Jump to Infinity, Vee -Jay, Warner Brothers, Smash, Tollie, Celebrity Circle, Diamond, BC, Cinnamon, Corona and the Canadian Boat Records Smith oriented rather to Country. The small label BC Records was founded exclusively by manager Charlie Terrell for Smith's publications, as well as his last label Wix Records through the fan club staff member Tommie Wix. On Wix Ray Smith had with Room Full of Roses a hit in England and rückbesann to its original rock-' n'- roll sound of the 1950s.
Ray Smith died on 29 November 1979 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his many years of residence in Burlington, Ontario. He left behind wife and a son.