One of the greatest of the transition singers between the crooners and the rockers, Johnnie Ray was the only son of Elmer and Hazel Ray. He was born and raised in Oregon where he loved hiking in nature. He was close with his older sister, sometimes hiking with her. Mother nature eventually would inspire the song lyrics he wrote. After he became ...
[asked about his appeal to his mostly female audience] I've got no talent. Still sing flat as a table. I'm a sort of human spaniel. People come to see what I'm like. I make them feel, I exhaust them, I destroy them.
Discovered and signed by Danny Kessler of Okeh Records (a subsidiary of Columbia Records, which recorded mostly black artists) when he went to the Flame Bar in Detroit to scout the black singer-pianist Little Miss Cornshucks. When Kessler found that Cornshucks already had a record contract, he auditioned and signed Ray, who was performing during the intermissions. When Kessler brought Ray's demo record back to New York and played it for Okeh's executives, they immediately thought he'd found them a black girl who sang like Dinah Washington. "Actually, he's a guy," Kessler explained. "And he's white".
2
In 1968, when he needed to update his SAG benefits, he called producer A.C. Lyles and asked for any kind of role in the film that Lyles was about to shoot, Rogue's Gallery (1968). He was cast as a squad-car cop.
3
In the last years of his life he was honored by contemporary rock stars with mentions in the lyrics of three major hits--the #1 "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners, Billy Idol's "You Don't Need a Gun" (which also featured Johnnie's last on-screen appearance in the music video) and Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire," which hit #1 while Johnnie was in the hospital.
4
Played his last engagement at the Salem, OR theatre in his hometown, where he is now buried.
5
Awarded his latest Gold Record posthumously in 2000 for the Columbia Records CD compilation "16 Most Requested".
6
He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard.
7
His soulful performance of "Cry" was a forerunner to James Brown's "Please Don't Go".
8
The first pop singer to have a two-million-selling two-sided hit with "Cry" / "The Little White Cloud That Cried" (1951).
9
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 723-725. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
Morrissey, the lead singer of The Smiths, often performed with a hearing aid (though not hearing impaired himself) in honor of Ray.
12
Originally partly deaf in his left ear, a botched operation later left him hearing-impaired in both ears.
13
Best man at Judy Garland's wedding to Mickey Deans and opening act for Garland on the Scandinavian tour Deans set up for her in early 1969, which were her last live performances before her death in June 1969.
14
Would become enraged if anyone mispelled his first name.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Shutter Island
2010
performer: "CRY" 1951
American Masters
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2005 writer - 1 episode, 2005
Cold Case
2004
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Singing Detective
2003
performer: "Just Walking In The Rain" - as Johnny Ray
Joe the King
1999
performer: "Just Walking in the Rain", "The Little White Cloud That Cried" / writer: "The Little White Cloud That Cried"
Tohuwabohu
1993-1994
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
A Perfect World
1993
writer: "The Little White Cloud that Cried"
Someone to Watch Over Me
1987
performer: "CRY"
Young Love: Lemon Popsicle 7
1987
performer: "Just Walking in the Rain"
Desert Hearts
1985
performer: "CRY"
American Playhouse
1984
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Surf II
1984
performer: "Cry"
Heart Like a Wheel
1983
performer: "Just Walking in the Rain"
Grease 2
1982
performer: "CRY" - uncredited
Happy Days
TV Series 1 episode, 1974 performer - 1 episode, 1974
The Last Picture Show
1971
performer: "Please, Mr. Sun" - uncredited
The Big Record
1957
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Jimmy Durante Show
1956
TV Series performer - 1 episode
General Electric Theater
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1955 writer - 1 episode, 1955
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
performer: "If You Believe", "Alexander's Ragtime Band" - uncredited
The Jack Benny Program
1953
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The ABC Comedy Hour
1972
TV Series
Rogue's Gallery
1968
Police Officer
A Santa for Christmas
1957
TV Movie
Shower of Stars
1955
TV Series
General Electric Theater
1955
TV Series
Johnnie
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
Steve Donahue
The Jack Benny Program
1953
TV Series
Johnnie Ray
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Laverne & Shirley
1976-1977
TV Series musician - 3 episodes
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Laverne & Shirley
1977
TV Series contributor - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Last Picture Show
1971
for their music we thank: courtesy of Columbia Records
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Royal Variety Performance 1987
1987
TV Movie
Himself
CHiPs
1979-1980
TV Series
Himself
Juke Box Saturday Night
1979
TV Movie
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1977
TV Series
Himself
Fall In, the Stars
1977
TV Movie
Himself
All You Need Is Love
1977
TV Series documentary
Himself
American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary
1977
TV Special
Himself
Sha Na Na
1977
TV Series
Himself
Dinah!
1975
TV Series
Himself
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club
1974
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1972-1973
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971-1972
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist
The Andy Williams Show
1970
TV Series
Himself
The Last Performance
1970
TV Movie
Himself
Della
1970
TV Series
Himself
The David Frost Show
1970
TV Series
Himself
The Joey Bishop Show
1968-1969
TV Series
Himself
Frost on Sunday
1968
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Palace
1968
TV Series
Himself - Singer
The Woody Woodbury Show
1967
TV Series
Himself
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
$600,000
