Ray Smith
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.
Ray Smith was the son of a farmer.
During his childhood he listened to country greats such as Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry. He had his first experience as a musician in the Air Force when a superior ordered him to sing songs. At a subsequent Army unit competition, he took first place with Hank Williams' Lovesick Blues. After his military service, he founded the “Rock and Roll Boys” in 1956 with James Webb on bass and rhythm guitar, Raymond Jones on guitar, Dean Perkins on steel guitar and Henry Stevens on drums. The young Stanley Walker soon joined as a guitarist. The band toured nightclubs throughout the southern and western United States. The guitarist, pianist and harmonica player also had his own radio show in Paducah, Kentucky, the “Ray Smith Show”.
Ray Smith on Wix Records
Smith's manager Charlie Terrell got him a contract with Sam Phillips, in whose Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee, the first recordings took place and where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and many others. a. had recorded very successful rockabilly and rock 'n' roll hits. The composer, pianist and later country star Charlie Rich completed the “Rock and Roll Boys” for work in the studio. The sessions were produced by Jack Clement and Bill Justis. His record successes enabled Smith to appear on television, e.g. B. on the Dick Clark Show or American Bandstand. Through Narvel Felts' intervention, Ray joined a regular tour with Felts, Conway Twitty and Ronnie Hawkins through Canada in 1959, which became his second home both personally and professionally.
Smith's move to Judd Records brought him his greatest success with Rockin' Little Angel. For the melody he used a song from 1844 called Buffalo Gals. A second chart hit, Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey, was an adaptation of a 1911 chart-topper by Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan.
Under Sam's brother Jud Phillips he also changed his style from a rocker to a ballad interpreter. With the further label changes to Infinity, Vee-Jay, Warner Brothers, Smash, Tollie, Celebrity Circle, Diamond, BC, Cinnamon, Corona and the Canadian Boots Records, Smith oriented himself more towards country. The small label BC Records was founded by manager Charlie Terrell exclusively for Smith's releases, as was his last label Wix Records by fan club employee Tommie Wix. On Wix, Ray Smith had a hit in England with Room Full of Roses and returned to his original rock 'n' roll sound from the 1950s.
