Ray Stevens

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For other people named Ray Stevens, see Ray Stevens (disambiguation).

Ray Stevens
Stevens on The Johnny Cash Show, c. 1971
Stevens on The Johnny Cash Show, c. 1971
Background information
Birth nameHarold Ray Ragsdale
Born (1939-01-24) January 24, 1939 (age 83)
Clarkdale, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • arranger
  • comedian
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • trumpet
Years active1957–present
Labels

Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939),[1] known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country[2] and pop singer-songwriter and comedian,[3][4] known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "Misty", as well as comedic hits such as "Gitarzan" and "The Streak". He has received gold albums for his music sales. He has worked as a producer, music arranger, and television host. He is an inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Early life[edit]

Harold Ray Ragsdale was born on January 24, 1939, in Clarkdale, Georgia.[1] He is the elder of two sons born to Willis Harold Ragsdale (1915–2001) and Frances Stephens Ragsdale (1916–1997).[5] He has a younger brother, John, who was an actor and writer. His brother died in 2020 at the age of 75.[6] While attending high school, Stevens formed his first band, a rhythm and blues group named The Barons. Following his graduation, Stevens enrolled in Georgia State University as a music major.[7]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

At 18, Stevens signed to Capitol Records' Prep Records division in 1957,[7] and produced the single "Silver Bracelet", with a cover of "Rang Tang Ding Dong" as the B-side. The single was met with a positive review from Billboard.[8] The B-side was originally recorded by doo-wop group The Cellos in 1956.[9]

Stevens signed with Mercury Records in 1961.[10]

1970s[edit]

In the 1970s, Stevens became a producer and studio musician in Nashville. He recorded songs for Barnaby Records and Warner Brothers during 1970–79. Stevens' biggest hit in the U.S. was his gospel-inflected single "Everything Is Beautiful" (1970). The single won a Grammy Award, was the theme song for his summer 1970 TV show, hit number one on both the pop and Adult-Contemporary charts, and marked his first time in the Top 40 on the country charts, peaking at number 39. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[11]

1980s[edit]

Stevens then joined MCA in 1984 as a "country comedy" act and thereafter released only novelty song albums. In 1985 he performed at the Lanierland Music Park in Georgia with Pinkard & Bowden.[12]

2010–2014[edit]

In April 2010, Stevens released We the People, a CD/DVD of political songs. This album reached Top-5 on the Billboard Comedy Album chart.[13][14]

RAY-ality TV ended its digital TV run in January 2014. In March 2014, a webisode series, also titled Rayality TV was launched. In 2014, Stevens co-starred in the movie Campin' Buddies.[15]

Stevens published his autobiographical memoir Ray Stevens' Nashville in 2014.[16][17]

Since 2015[edit]

Stevens released the album Here We Go Again on March 24, 2015, which includes the Taylor Swift spoof single "Taylor Swift is Stalking Me"[18] and "Come to the USA".[19]

Personal life[edit]

Stevens was married to Penny Jackson Ragsdale for over 60 years, until her death on December 31, 2021, from a lengthy battle with cancer. Two days prior, he canceled his New Year's Eve concert at CabaRay, due to her rapidly declining health. They had two children and 4 grandchildren.[20]

Discography[edit]

Main article: Ray Stevens discography

Accolades[edit]

Grammy awards[edit]

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1970 Best Contemporary Male Vocalist "Gitarzan" Nominated [21]
1971 "Everything Is Beautiful" Won [22]
1971 Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) "Everything Is Beautiful" Nominated [23]
1971 Contemporary Song "Everything Is Beautiful" Nominated [23]
1971 Record of the Year "Everything Is Beautiful" Nominated [23]
1971 Song of the Year "Everything Is Beautiful" Nominated [23]
1971 Best Inspirational Performance "Love Lifted Me" Nominated [23]
1976 Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) "Misty" Won [22]
1976 Best Country Vocal Performance – Male "Misty" Nominated [24]
1980 Best Comedy Recording "I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow" Nominated [25]
1988 "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex" Nominated [26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ray Stevens just thinks funny". Nashville, Tennessee: Ray Stevens. January 8, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Shelby Singleton, Nashville Producer, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Ray Stevens Comes Streaking Back With Immigration Song". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Roy, Don (1998). "Ray Stevens." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music, Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 507.
  5. ^ "Ray Stevens | Artist Bio". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Ray Stevens' Younger Brother Has "Unexpectedly" Died At Age 75". Classic Country Music. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Steven Thomas; Bogdanov, Vladamir; Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Country Recordings. Backbeat Books. p. 448. ISBN 978-0-87930-475-1.
  8. ^ "Reviews and Ratings". Billboard: 52. January 24, 1957.
  9. ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History, From 1940 to Today. Hal Leonard. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-352-33533-3.
  10. ^ Wadhams, Wayne (2001). Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture). Berklee Press. pp. 78–82.
  11. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 286. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  12. ^ Box Score Top Grossing Concerts. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 1, 1985. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. ^ "Ray Stevens Bio | Ray Stevens Career". CMT Artists. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  14. ^ "We The People CD". Ray Stevens. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Ray Stevens – Timeline Photos". Facebook. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  16. ^ Stevens, Ray; Kalb, C. W. Buddy (March 1, 2014). Ray Stevens' Nashville. Harold R.Ragsdale A/K/A Ray Stevens. ISBN 9780615993089. Retrieved October 27, 2017 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (June 20, 2014). "Ray Stevens' Nashville Details Comic Performer's Versatile Career: Comedic country legend writes memoir of good old days in Music City". RollingStone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  18. ^ Billboard, March 24, 2015 – Ray Stevens Returns With 'Taylor Swift Is Stalkin' Me' – By Chuck Dauphin
  19. ^ Billboard, January 6, 2010 – Ray Stevens Has YouTube Hit With Pro-Arizona Song
  20. ^ Dukes, Billy. "Ray Stevens' Wife Penny Has Died". tasteofcountry.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". Rockonthennet.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Past Winners Search". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Grammy Awards 1971". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  24. ^ "Grammy Awards 1976". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  25. ^ Arar, Yardena (January 9, 1980). "Grammy awards field a definite mixed bag". The Spokesman-Review. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  26. ^ McShane, Larry (January 15, 1988). "Irish rockers among Grammy nominees". The Telegraph. Telegraph Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Stevens&oldid=1085566259"