“A country singer is all I’m ever going to be. “But I didn’t want to be a pop singer,” Ray says. His publishing company published many of Lee’s hits, including the 1985 Country Music Association Song of the Year, “God Bless the USA.” Ray is well known on Music Row as a publisher who can match the right artist with the right song and recording company.Īlthough he knew he was country, Ray has never been a “rhinestone cowboy.” In fact, several record producers told him that he should be a pop singer, because he looked like one. In addition to his own performing career, Ray has helped shape the professional paths of others, including Lee Greenwood. They released two singles in 2016: Hands Off. In July 2015 the duo released their extended play ‘Bad Girls EP’. Ray’s other hits include “Volkswagen,” “Common Colds and Broken Hearts” and “Reconsider Me.” In 1994, the state of Virginia added him to its Country Music Hall of Fame. Their self-titled debut album was released on Januby Columbia Records. “And when he raised up, I handed him a guitar and said 'Uncle Roger, you and me are going to sing.' And we brought the house down.” Ray’s 85-year-old uncle took a bow to a nice round of applause. “I told the people my uncle is the person that believed in me and wanted me to come to Nashville and be part of this business,” Ray says. Thirty-five years after joining the Opry, Ray got to introduce his uncle onstage one Saturday night. Do-It-Yourself.” Between those two singles, he became an Opry member himself. That was the year he teamed with Opry star Jean Shepard on a pair of hits, the Top 10 “I’ll Take the Dog” and “Mr. Capitol released his first album Presenting Ray Pillow and by late 1966 he was a star. He released his first two singles, “Take Your Hands Off My Heart” and “Thank You Ma’am,” in 1965. That just fueled his desire for a country music career. He came in second in the national finals, but his performance landed him a guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry. Ray came to Nashville in 1961 as a regional winner in the Pet Milk Talent Contest.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |