Insights into … Ray Stevens
[27 Billboard Hot 100 singles, 1961–79; three certified RIAA gold]
Ray Stevens is far more than an entertainer and
recording artist whose songs have topped both the pop and country music charts.
He also has excelled as a recording session producer, a music publisher and a
session musician, and has been a disc jockey, a musical theater owner, and host
of a nationally broadcast NBC television variety program. All that came after
he abandoned his fanciful ambition in his youth — to be a Major League Baseball
player.
When Ray set his sights firmly on a career in the
music field, though, he took it seriously, and enrolled as a freshman at
Georgia State University in the autumn of 1957 as a music major, studying
classical piano and music theory. While a student, he connected with music
publisher Bill Lowery and record producer Shelby Singleton, and began writing
and recording his own songs. Despite early disappointments, he persisted, and at
22 years of age, Ray had a hit record on his hands – the first of 27 of his
singles to reach the pop chart. “Jeremiah Peabody’s Poly Unsaturated Quick
Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills,” his comedic
but searing poke at television commercial hucksterism, premiered on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 21, 1961,
peaked at No. 35, and remained on the chart for six weeks. Ray was on his way.
He flourished as a “crossover” recording artist, who
achieved popularity among country music fans as well as pop music audiences.
During four decades, Ray racked up 52 chart singles: 18 releases that reached
the Billboard Hot 100 chart, 25 that
were exclusively country hits on the Billboard
Hot Country chart, and nine others that registered in the top 100 on both pop
and country charts. His singles “Gitarzan” (1969), “Everything Is Beautiful”
(1970), and “The Streak” (1974) earned Recording Industry Association of
America gold record recognition. He recorded Kris Kristofferson’s bitterly
tender song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” before Johnny Cash did. As a session
musician, he played trumpet on an Elvis Presley track. Years later Ray’s
company published “Way Down,” the last hit that Elvis had before dying in 1977.
Throughout his 55-year career, Ray Stevens has been
anything but predictable. No two Ray Stevens songs have been alike. Some of his
recordings have been sentimental, others introspective, but most of them have
been flat-out wacky – none more so than his feathers-flying impression of
chickens clucking out Glenn Miller’s classic tune “In the Mood,” under the name
The Henhouse Five Plus Too. Most recently, he has concentrated on scathing
political satire. And although he casts himself as a bit of a bumpkin in the
comedic videos he has made during recent years, he is a shrewd, experienced,
multi-talented, Grammy-winning entertainment professional who has earned
respect in the music industry.
Ray’s real musical education
“[Musician, composer, and arranger] Bill Justis was a
great friend and great musician, and he taught me a lot about arranging.
Although I never graduated from Georgia State, I spent three years there
studying music theory and composition. But I learned more in three days from
Bill Justis than during all that time in college. He was the first guy who
showed me how to lay out a score, and it all just fell into place. In the
basement of his house he showed me a big table laid out with score pages, and
it was a revelation to me.”
Serving as Andy Williams’ summer TV replacement host
“The inducement for me to sign with Barnaby [Records]
was to host the Andy Williams summer show on NBC television. I was scared to
death. I did the best I could at the time, and it was okay, I guess. I’d like
to do it over with the experience I have now.”
What influenced Ray to go serious with ‘Everything Is
Beautiful’
“I wrote ‘Everything is Beautiful’ to be the theme
song for the TV show, and it was my first record on Barnaby. And sure enough,
it was a successful song. I think there are ideas floating around in space, and
every once in a while, I zone out and tune in and I can get those vibrations.
I’m not trying to go weird on ya. It has come to my attention over the years
that a lot of songwriters will write the same damn song at the same time, and
that’s because of the ideas that are floating around in what some people call
‘the universal mind.’ I just think I was able to tap into some ideas that were
floating around in space.”
Why Ray wrote ‘Mr. Businessman’
“I had gotten the short end of a business deal, and I
was kicking myself because I should have known better. So instead of punching
the guy in the nose, I wrote that song to vent my frustration and anger.”
Would political critic Ray ever run for elective office?
“I’m from the rural south and just a redneck Southern
boy, but I’m way too smart for that.”
Ray Stevens in 2012
(photo by Shannon Fontaine, courtesy of Ray Stevens)
######
The narrative and quotations in this article are
excerpted from the book Where Have All the Pop
Stars Gone? — Volume 2, by Marti Smiley Childs and Jeff
March. This material is copyrighted © 2012 by EditPros LLC and may not be
reproduced or redistributed without written permission.
Pick up YOUR copy here ... https://www.editpros.com/WHATPSG_Vol_2.html
######
I have always been a fan of Ray Stevens' music. (His theater was closed during our last trip to Nashville but I would still like to venture back again someday to see his show there.)
I visited his Barnaby Records office back in the early '70's (again, he was out of town at the time!), trying to pedal some of my OWN songs. There were a couple that drew some interest, but nothing ever came of the experience.
I love the versatility that Ray brings to the table. Pop, Country, Novelty or Straight, the man knows which buttons to push to entertain an audience. I am definitely a fan. (kk)
THE RAY STEVENS HIT LIST (Billboard Top 50 Pop and Country Hits)
1961 - Jeremiah Peabody's Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green And Purple Pills (#35 Pop / #xx Country)
1962 - Ahab The Arab (#5 Pop / #xx Country)
1962 - Santa Claus Is Watching You (#45 Pop / #xx Country)
1963 - Harry The Hairy Ape (#17 Pop / #xx Country)
1968 - Mr. Businessman (#28 Pop / #xx Country)
1969 - Gitarzan (#8 Pop / #xx Country)
1969 - Along Came Jones (#27 Pop / #xx Country)
1970 - Everything Is Beautiful (#1 Pop / #39 Country)
1970 - America, Communicate With Me (#45 Pop / #xx Country)
1971 - Bridget The Midget (The Queen Of The Blues) #50 Pop / #xx Country
1972 - Turn Your Radio On (#63 Pop / #17 Country)
1973 - Nashville (#xx Pop / #37 Country)
1974 - The Streak (#1 Pop / #3 Country)
1975 - Everybody Needs A Rainbow (#xx Pop / #37 Country)
1975 - Misty (#14 Pop / #3 Country)
1975 - Indian Love Call (#68 Pop / #38 Country)
1976 - Young Love (#93 Pop / #48 Country)
1976 - You Are So Beautiful (#101 Pop / #16 Country)
1976 - Honky Tonk Waltz (#xx Pop / #27 Country)
1977 - In The Mood (#40 Pop / #39 Country) as Henhouse Five Plus Too
1977 - Dixie Hummingbird (#xx Pop / #44 Country)
1978 - Be Your Own Best Friend (#xx Pop / #36 Country)
1979 - I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow (#49 Pop / #85 Country)
1980 - Shriner's Convention (#101 Pop / #7 Country)
1980 - Night Games (#xx Pop / #20 Country)
1981 - One More Last Chance (#xx Pop / #33 Country)
1982 - Written Down In My Heart (#xx Pop / #35 Country)
1985 - Mississippi Squirrel Revival (#xx Pop / #20 Country)
1985 - The Haircut Songo (#xx Pop / #45 Country)
1986 - The Ballad Of The Blue Cyclone (#xx Pop / #50 Country)
1987 - Would Jesus Wear A Rolex (#xx Pop / #41 Country)
2002 - Osama-Yo'Mama (#xx Pop / #48 Country)
BONUS TRACK: "Unwind" (#52 in 1968 ... and always one of my favorite of Ray's more serious songs)
