Ray Whitley (songwriter)

Ray Whitley
Birth name Robert Ray Whitley
Born (1943-11-22)November 22, 1943
Columbus, Georgia, United States
Died May 5, 2013(2013-05-05) (aged 69)
Gainesville, Georgia, United States
Years active 1961-1970
Labels Vee Jay, Dunhill, Apt, Columbia, TRX, 123, Attarack, others

Robert Ray Whitley, commonly known as Ray Whitley, (1943-2013) was an American beach music composer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for composing hit songs recorded by The Tams and Guy Darrell, though he also released 14 of his own singles between 1961 and 1970.[1]

Biography

Whitely was born in Columbus, Georgia on November 22, 1943 to Robert S. and Willie Bell Whitley.[2] Whitley was 14 when he formed his first band in his hometown.[3] Producer Felton Jarvis soon discovered him in an Atlanta High School.[3] Jarvis introduced Whitley to Atlanta music producer Bill Lowery, who saw Whitley's potential and signed him to a contract.[3]

Whitley's songwriting credits include "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (which reached #9 on the Billboard charts), "I've Been Hurt", "Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me", "You Lied to Your Daddy", and "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (co-written with J.R. Cobb of the Atlanta Rhythm Section) for The Tams.[1][3][4][5] His compositions were also recorded by Billy Joe Royal, Tommy Roe, Guy Darrell, The Swinging Medallions, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Mylon LeFevre and Sonia Evans.[1][6]

Whitley toured nationally as a performer, in addition to his work as a songwriter.[3] He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in the early 1990s.[3][7]

Later in his life, Whitley struggled with alcoholism and homelessness; as of 2011, he was living in a shelter in Gainesville, Georgia.[5][8] Whitley died on May 5, 2013, after several months of illness.[2] Ray had one child, Christopher.

Discography as performer

Selected songs written by Ray Whitley

Date Performer Title Peak chart positions Notes
US
[9]
US AC
[9]
US Country
[9]
US R&B
[9]
UK
[9]
12/1963 The Tams What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) 9 1 ABC-Paramount 10502.
03/1964 The Tams You Lied to Your Daddy 70 27 ABC-Paramount 10533.
07/1964 The Tams Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me 41 10 ABC-Paramount 10573.
10/1966 Bryan Hyland Run, Run, Look, and See 25 Philips 40405. Written by Martin Cooper & Ray Whitley.
04/1967 The Swingin' Medallions I Found a Rainbow 107 Smash 2084.
05/1968 December's Children Backwards and Forwards 123 World Pacific 77887.
09/1968 The Tams Trouble Maker 118 ABC 11128.
04/1969 Bill Deal & the Rhondels I've Been Hurt 35 Heritage 812.
08/1969 Bill Deal & the Rhondels What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am 23 Heritage 817.
07/1971 The Tams Hey Girl Don't Bother Me 1
08/1973 Guy Darrell I've Been Hurt 12
1976 Larry Jon Wilson Think I Feel a Hitchhike Coming On 47 74 Monument 8692.
1978 Eddie Middleton What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) 44
08/1991 Sonia Evans Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy 13 22 I.Q./RCA 62246. Written by James Cobb & Ray Whitley.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ray Whitley - Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Robert Ray Whitley, 69". Access North Georgia. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zell Miller (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-0-86554-504-5.
  4. Jon Kutner (2010). 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. part 411. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
  5. 1 2 Rick Simmons (2013). Carolina Beach Music from the '60s to the '80s: The New Wave. The History Press. pp. 168–170. ISBN 978-1-60949-750-7.
  6. Bob Leszczak (2014). Who Did It First?: Great Pop Cover Songs and Their Original Artists. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-4422-3068-2.
  7. "Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Inductees". Georgia Music Channel. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  8. Eggers, Marc (January 29, 2011). "Homeless man still has song in his heart". WDUN. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Songs written by Ray Whitley". MusicVF.com. Retrieved May 27, 2015.

Further reading

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