Ray Stevens: Difference between revisions
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'''Harold Ray Ragsdale''' (born January 24, 1939),<ref name="rays-bio">{{cite web | url = https://raystevens.com/about/ | title = Ray Stevens just thinks funny. | date = January 8, 2016 | publisher = Ray Stevens | location = Nashville, Tennessee | access-date = February 3, 2018 }}</ref><!--<ref>[http://www.raystevens.com/bio/index.php] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921153550/http://www.raystevens.com/bio/index.php |date=September 21, 2009 }}</ref> --> known professionally as '''Ray Stevens''', is an American [[country music|country]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/arts/music/11singleton.html|title=Shelby Singleton, Nashville Producer, Dies at 77|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> and pop singer-songwriter and comedian,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/ray-stevens-comes-streaking-back-with-immigration-song/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|title=Ray Stevens Comes Streaking Back With Immigration Song|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>Roy, Don (1998). "Ray Stevens." In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music'', Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 507.</ref> known for his [[Grammy]]-winning recordings "[[Everything Is Beautiful]]" and "[[Misty (song)|Misty]]", as well as comedic hits such as "[[Gitarzan]]" and "[[The Streak (song)|The Streak]]". He has received [[Music recording sales certification|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]], |
'''Harold Ray Ragsdale''' (born January 24, 1939),<ref name="rays-bio">{{cite web | url = https://raystevens.com/about/ | title = Ray Stevens just thinks funny. | date = January 8, 2016 | publisher = Ray Stevens | location = Nashville, Tennessee | access-date = February 3, 2018 }}</ref><!--<ref>[http://www.raystevens.com/bio/index.php] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921153550/http://www.raystevens.com/bio/index.php |date=September 21, 2009 }}</ref> --> known professionally as '''Ray Stevens''', is an American [[country music|country]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/arts/music/11singleton.html|title=Shelby Singleton, Nashville Producer, Dies at 77|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> and pop singer-songwriter and comedian,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/ray-stevens-comes-streaking-back-with-immigration-song/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|title=Ray Stevens Comes Streaking Back With Immigration Song|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>Roy, Don (1998). "Ray Stevens." In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music'', Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 507.</ref> known for his [[Grammy]]-winning recordings "[[Everything Is Beautiful]]" and "[[Misty (song)|Misty]]", as well as comedic hits such as "[[Gitarzan]]" and "[[The Streak (song)|The Streak]]". He has received [[Music recording sales certification|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]]. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
Revision as of 21:05, 10 April 2022
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Ray Stevens | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Harold Ray Ragsdale |
Born | Clarkdale, Georgia, U.S. | January 24, 1939
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1957–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
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
Early career
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
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
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (October 2014) |
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
This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (October 2014) |
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
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
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 have two children.[20]
Discography
Accolades
Grammy awards
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
- ^ a b "Ray Stevens just thinks funny". Nashville, Tennessee: Ray Stevens. January 8, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- ^ "Shelby Singleton, Nashville Producer, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Ray Stevens Comes Streaking Back With Immigration Song". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Roy, Don (1998). "Ray Stevens." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music, Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 507.
- ^ "Ray Stevens | Artist Bio". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Ray Stevens' Younger Brother Has "Unexpectedly" Died At Age 75". Classic Country Music. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Reviews and Ratings". Billboard: 52. January 24, 1957.
- ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History, From 1940 to Today. Hal Leonard. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-352-33533-3.
- ^ Wadhams, Wayne (2001). Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture). Berklee Press. pp. 78–82.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 286. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Box Score Top Grossing Concerts. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 1, 1985. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Ray Stevens Bio | Ray Stevens Career". CMT Artists. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ "We The People CD". Ray Stevens. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ "Ray Stevens – Timeline Photos". Facebook. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Billboard, March 24, 2015 – Ray Stevens Returns With 'Taylor Swift Is Stalkin' Me' – By Chuck Dauphin
- ^ Billboard, January 6, 2010 – Ray Stevens Has YouTube Hit With Pro-Arizona Song
- ^ Dukes, Billy. "Ray Stevens' Wife Penny Has Died". tasteofcountry.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". Rockonthennet.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Past Winners Search". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Grammy Awards 1971". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1976". Awardsandshows.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ Arar, Yardena (January 9, 1980). "Grammy awards field a definite mixed bag". The Spokesman-Review. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ McShane, Larry (January 15, 1988). "Irish rockers among Grammy nominees". The Telegraph. Telegraph Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
External links
- 1939 births
- 20th-century American comedians
- 20th-century American male musicians
- 20th-century American pianists
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American pianists
- American comedy musicians
- American country keyboardists
- American country pianists
- American country singer-songwriters
- American male pianists
- American male singer-songwriters
- American novelty song performers
- CBS Records artists
- Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Curb Records artists
- Georgia State University alumni
- Grammy Award winners
- Living people
- MCA Records artists
- Mercury Records artists
- Monument Records artists
- National Recording Corporation artists
- People from Cobb County, Georgia
- RCA Records artists
- Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Warner Records artists