Cornify Abby Toir - Johnnie Ray John Alvin Ray was born January 10th,...

Abby Toir

so say we all
Wed Mar 30
Johnnie Ray John Alvin Ray was born January 10th, 1927 on a farmhouse near Hopewell, Oregon It is disputed whether or not he was of Blackfoot Indian origin  Johnnie lost 50% of his hearing in a boy scout blanket toss accident when he was thrown up into the air and landed hard on a straw that went in his ear.  He would later wear a hearing aid. Moved to Portland then Los Angeles then Detroit to pursue a music career Was the first white performer at the Flame Showbar in Detroit Michigan Bernie Lang saw Ray at the Flame Showbar and tried to sell him to Danny Kessler of the OKeh Music Label and Ray was signed in 1951 Before his first publicity shot many people thought he was a black man or woman R&B performer Ray’s first hit was “Whiskey and Gin” but he became a teen idol with “Cry” and “Little White Cloud That Cried” Johnnie is credited with creating the rock and roll persona.  Unlike other performers of the time he would take the microphone off the stand, pull at his hair, throw himself on the ground and cry and interact with the audience. Was arrested twice, once in 1952 and in 1959 for soliciting men for sex.  The first time he plead guilty and paid the fine, the second went to trial and he was found not guilty. Gave his first New York concert at the Copacabana in 1952 Married Marilyn Morrison in 1952, she allegedly knew about his sexuality and said she would “straighten it out”.  They were separated in 1953 and divorced in 1954 Had a Christmas UK #1 hit, “Walkin’ in the Rain” in 1956 Was in the Billboard top 10 in 1957 for “You Don’t Owe me a Thing” Was a heavy drinker and was hospitalized in 1960 for tuberculosis and diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver at age 50 In 1965 his career had slowed and he took a contract with the Tropicana in Las Vegas In 1969 he opened for friend Judy Garland and was best man in her wedding to Mickey Deans Made television appearances in the 1970’s on The Andy Williams show and The Tonight Show He continued to stay popular in the UK and Australia until 1989, his last year of performing. Died February 24th, 1990 of liver failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles Buried in Hopewell Cemetery near Hopewell Oregon Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6201 Hollywood Blvd. for his contribution to the recording industry.

Johnnie Ray

  • John Alvin Ray was born January 10th, 1927 on a farmhouse near Hopewell, Oregon
  • It is disputed whether or not he was of Blackfoot Indian origin 
  • Johnnie lost 50% of his hearing in a boy scout blanket toss accident when he was thrown up into the air and landed hard on a straw that went in his ear.  He would later wear a hearing aid.
  • Moved to Portland then Los Angeles then Detroit to pursue a music career
  • Was the first white performer at the Flame Showbar in Detroit Michigan
  • Bernie Lang saw Ray at the Flame Showbar and tried to sell him to Danny Kessler of the OKeh Music Label and Ray was signed in 1951
  • Before his first publicity shot many people thought he was a black man or woman R&B performer
  • Ray’s first hit was “Whiskey and Gin” but he became a teen idol with “Cry” and “Little White Cloud That Cried”
  • Johnnie is credited with creating the rock and roll persona.  Unlike other performers of the time he would take the microphone off the stand, pull at his hair, throw himself on the ground and cry and interact with the audience.
  • Was arrested twice, once in 1952 and in 1959 for soliciting men for sex.  The first time he plead guilty and paid the fine, the second went to trial and he was found not guilty.
  • Gave his first New York concert at the Copacabana in 1952
  • Married Marilyn Morrison in 1952, she allegedly knew about his sexuality and said she would “straighten it out”.  They were separated in 1953 and divorced in 1954
  • Had a Christmas UK #1 hit, “Walkin’ in the Rain” in 1956
  • Was in the Billboard top 10 in 1957 for “You Don’t Owe me a Thing”
  • Was a heavy drinker and was hospitalized in 1960 for tuberculosis and diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver at age 50
  • In 1965 his career had slowed and he took a contract with the Tropicana in Las Vegas
  • In 1969 he opened for friend Judy Garland and was best man in her wedding to Mickey Deans
  • Made television appearances in the 1970’s on The Andy Williams show and The Tonight Show
  • He continued to stay popular in the UK and Australia until 1989, his last year of performing.
  • Died February 24th, 1990 of liver failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles
  • Buried in Hopewell Cemetery near Hopewell Oregon
  • Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6201 Hollywood Blvd. for his contribution to the recording industry.