Susan Raye
Susan Raye ( born October 8, 1944 in Eugene, Oregon, United States) is an American country music singer.
Music career
Raye began her career in the late 1960s, she sang on local events in Oregon and became a regular on the country music television Hoedown from Portland. During an event, she was discovered by country music superstar Buck Owens, who in 1969 took them under contract, so that they became part of his road show and could also occur in nationally broadcast television programs. Raye then moved to California to be closer to Buck Owens Enterprises and also played in the Country -variety series Hee Haw on CBS at his side. When the series in 1971 but moved to Nashville, Raye left the show.
Rayes success was amazing; it was regularly among the top ten as a solo artist with Willy Jones in 1970 and her duets with Owens, including The Great White Horse (1970), Looking Back to See (1972) and Love Is Strange (1975 ), were also very successful. Their song LA International Airport ( 1971) became an international pop hit while with the two following songs Pitty Pitty Patter (1971) and I've Got a Happy Heart (1971 ) stormed almost the country charts. Towards the end of 1971 Raye was established as one of the most successful singers of country music and even sold more than the better-known Dolly Parton and Connie Smith. Raye continued its success with hits like My Heart Has A Mind of it's Own ( 1972), Cheating Game ( 1973) and Stop the World and Let Me Off (1974 ) continued and was three times nominated by the Academy of Country Music as best singer. During this time she also married Owens drummer Jerry Wiggins.
The Team Owens- Raye broke apart, however, when in 1975 the band member and the right hand Owens Don Rich died. Raye came in 1976 at United Artists under contract, but because of their moderate success, they decided in 1978 to stop the music, and instead focus on her family. In 1985, she attempted a comeback and recorded two albums and several nationally successful singles. But she was returned at the time to college to get their degree in Psychology and continued her studies rather than build on the chart success. Raye had 2004 one of her rare public appearances when she was guest of honor at the 75th anniversary of LAX and their classic LA International Airport sang.