Johnnie Ray Interview

[@Huntgoddessfishery]

I loved Johnnie so much. I remember his crying while singing "Cry", when I was a little girl watching TV back when it was new.

[@jlbaker2000]

I'd cry too if I sang a song about crying. He got flack for that. Music is emotion.

[@Lava1964]

I bought a CD of Johnnie Ray's greatest hits a couple of years ago. The man was a huge talent. He died too young.

[@hollywoodjoe123]

+Lava1964 YES a huge talent - - JOHNNIE RAY was it all - -The HAIR fling around - - The DRAMA in his singing - The BODY MOVEMENTS were ALL what Elvis Presley took from JOHNNIE RAY - Look at the Elvis movies - "Jailhouse Rock" in 1957 and also "King Creole" in 1958 - Look at Elvis as he moves - even the songs Elvis did in those 2 movies were written and styled after the earlier song hits of JOHNNIE RAY - - Joe Nania a.k.a. Hollywood Joe

[@kjun03]

Amazing sensation of the 50s! Difficult to forget his impact!!! Thank you!!!

[@dennishunt4065]

Thank you. He was the greatest and thanks for the comment.

[@billobrien5118]

Johnnie was a real DYNAMO ------- ELECTRICITY!!!! Guaranteed to take anyone out of depression. Life affirming despite his struggles.

[@waldoordenes8096]

He was very popular in Chile as well, my father loved his style and songs especially his version of "CRY" and so do I , until today to me he is one of the greater performer of all times and I was about 15 years old myself when he came out with "Just walking in the rain"

[@mkofftiger]

One of my earliest memories is my mother singing along with Mr. Ray as "The Little White Cloud that Cried" played on the car radio (it was a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air). I put my head in her lap and began to cry. Mother, incredulously asked, "What's wrong?" I said, "I feel so sorry for that poor little cloud." The Whiteside biography of Mr. Ray, although could use some stylistic, organizational improvement, was an interesting, informative read. Thanks for posting this interview.

[@jansmiths8629]

+Chris Drake my momma loved him too. he conveyed deep emotion....

[@531bev]

I remember seeing Johnnie ray at the Orpheum theater in Portland Oregon He was just starting out it was Called The Stars of Tomorrow I loved his singing back then and I still like to hear the song the little white cloud that cried So sad .

[@jaimedesouza2138]

Era um adolescente (já faz um bom tempo)que teve a oportunidade de assistir o nosso Johnnie Ray pela Tv Record,SP,ao final de 1958,quando veio fazer uma temporada no Brasil.Os seus discos gravados para a então Columbia eram muito executados nas rádios brasileiras,como "CRY","I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN""AS TIME GOES BY"e seu grande sucesso a nível mundial;"JUST WALKING IN THE RAIN", que vários cantores brasileiros gravaram com versão em português. Por curiosidade,ele tinha um problema desde os seus nove anos:por causa de um acidente ele era parcialmente surdo e usava um aparelho de ouvido,mas isso não o impediu de se consagrar mundialmente como o grande cantor que foi. Ele nos deixou em 24 de fevereiro de 1990,em LA,aos 63 anos. Johnnie Ray nos deu um belo legado musical e quem ouviu não o esqueçe jamais.

[@davidwalsh3439]

I remember crying to the Little White Cloud That Cried I thought it was a beautiful song. He was an amazingly talented performer. A lovely man with a great god given talent.

[@alanmawson]

I saw this wonderful artist who apart from Judy, was the greatest talent I ever witnessed I had the pleasure to see him do the same act he did at the London Palladium in Singapore, spectacular, and many times in London. What a wonderful life, of a wonderful artist, which can be relived in the wonderful biography"Cry", another good buy is his 7 vinyl L.P.s on 4 c d. compilation.If you are a fan, do buy it, the L.P. of "On the trail" of cowboy songs, particularly "Wagon Wheels" have me in tears. They don't make artists like him and the great Judy any more, what a wonderful thing when Johnnie was her best man, at her final wedding before they both died.God Bless them both. Alan Dean

[@thomashall9182]

Just today I played a CD of his, which I do often, he is the link between Sinatra and Elvis, love him...

[@MissPerriwinkle]

LEGEND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@spactick]

It's amazing to me that Johnny Ray isn't mentioned in the same sentence of Tony Bennett or Sinatra. He had a unique voice and style of singing that profoundly influenced performers from the early 50's on.

[@jlbaker2000]

Yes, and every bit as good as them. It's possible because he was gay, and it wasn't accepted back then.

[@spactick]

@@jlbaker2000 I think your right. It wasn't a good career move back then to be seen 'dating' other men. Johnny Ray was popular at the same time that Les Paul & Mary Ford came out. I remember them well

[@juan58102]

Johnnie was the most dynamic entertainment in the World.. I was born in Arica, Chile, i am 55 years old.. but i remember the song of him.. I will never fall in love again.. I just fall in love with this song..I am 28 years now in Fargo N.D.

[@mamatibborscassady9388]

what a nice guy

[@LaptopLarry330]

It was interesting to learn that Johnny Ray did a lot of gigs in Las Vegas, and that he spent more time performing overseas than he did here in the United States. That is probably why he did not get the recognition here at home that he deserved.

[@marymagdalene3004]

Such a talent, such charisma, he could have been the greatest that ever was, but sadly, the demons in him won out. Mainly drinking I would venture to say since he died of liver failure way too young. It happens like that all too often.

[@davidallen508]

His two solos in “There’s No Business Like Show Business” are easily the best numbers in the movie, apart from Ethel Merman’s finale.

[@DennisHuntChannel]

@ LaptopLarry330 Thank you for your comment. He was really a great guy.

[@leejones66]

Poor old Johnnie Ray is immortalised like that in Dexter's Midnight Runners

[@spactick]

Johnnie Ray was the bridge between Sinatra and Elvis. Similar to Elton John who was the bridge between The Beatles and Michael Jackson. A unique beautiful voice that unfortunately did not live up to it's potential.

[@spactick]

who would you say was the top pop/rock performer/ record sales leader of the 70's? David Bowie?

[@TheOldshep]

I loved Johnnie Ray, a great singer vastly underrated too.I know he had a drink problem which contributed to his early demise, and have a sneaky feeling he'd been drinking here

[@danielbisson8032]

HE ALSO WAS TRYING TO HIDE BEING GAY

[@scotnick59]

he was tortured because he was gay

[@kelloggs5473]

He never said he was tortured because of sexual fantasies, so nobody knows if he was or not.

[@spactick]

What year was this interview?

[@dm41390]

I will guess around 1983 …. When he mentions “that other city on the east coast “ , that is Atlantic City, which had started opening casinos with gambling in @1980 and was tempting gamblers and acts to play there , thus taking away $$$ business from Las Vegas.

[@spactick]

What I meant was in terms of #1 spot of popular music musician. nothing to do with style, more to do with position. MJ was certainly THE top performer in the 80's to mid 90's until he was sued for "dating" children. Which by the way was also an issue with Mr. Ray. He also was found "dating" a gentleman in a mens (toilet) bathroom. I think most people would agree that Mrs. Elton John (he's married now) was the #1. Pop performer of the 70's, but your right there were others

[@Kram6298]

Your original assertion made some stylistic sense, Johnnie Ray being a bridge between Sinatra and Presley (or in essence between big band and rocknroll). I don't consider Elton John as a bridge to anything (well maybe between Billy J. Kramer and Queen, lol) and I see huge amounts of open water between The Beatles and Michael Jackson.

[@frankfurfaro1885]

Kram6298 jackson wasnt a good sinj ger

[@03333032]

Was he still deaf in his left ear? I dont see a earing aid.

[@jslasher1]

Possibly either an implant of a newer hearing aid design.

[@estellejefcoat2677]

Why didn’t he take over the care of his son, Kerry, after Dorothy’s passing? Instead Kerry was turned over to social services.

[@spactick]

Dooby Bros., Steely Dan, etc; come to mind. But none reached the levels of popularity that Mrs. John reached. She (oops) was really good back then. Before the marriage screwed up her sense of rhythm.

[@Kram6298]

Elton John was "the bridge between The Beatles and Michael Jackson". Really?

[@algranville554]

Your snide comments on J Rs sexuality tell me that you're not to sure of your own. Never mind, I won't tell anyone

[@dancelli714]

Eddie Fisher told me he regretted not lended him money.

[@spactick]

Ya, Elton John was certainly thee biggest rockster during the 70's, and I would place MJ as the most successful (at least in record sales) popular musician of the 80's. Personally I thought Steely Dan was infinitely more creative musically. but they never focused on promoting themselves. Still don't really.

[@spactick]

ha ha get a grip Al, it's KZbin, were not giving a depositions. Translation: It's a joke

[@irenekent4335]

Great entertainer stop looking for faults in people look at urself First where is ur Halo HaHa