Johnnie Ray was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist who achieved significant fame in the early 1950s. Born on January 10, 1927, in Dallas, Oregon, Ray became known for his dynamic vocal style and emotive performances, which earned him the nickname “The Prince of Wails.”
Ray’s career took off with his 1951 hit song “Cry,” which showcased his characteristic delivery marked by sobbing, emotional intensity, and dramatic phrasing. This style resonated with audiences and made the song a massive success, staying at number one on the Billboard charts for 11 weeks. His other notable hits included “The Little White Cloud That Cried,” “Walking in the Rain,” “Such a Night,” and a cover of “Just Walking in the Rain,” which became hugely popular in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Johnnie Ray’s appeal was further enhanced by his spirited stage performances, which often included him dropping to his knees or crying during songs. This flamboyant behavior made him a precursor to later rock and roll artists who would similarly emphasize emotional and physical expression in their performances.
Ray’s popularity peaked in the mid-1950s, and while he remained a popular figure in the UK and Australia for longer than in the United States, his American career declined with the rise of rock and roll. Despite this, he continued to perform and record music into the 1980s.
Johnnie Ray was also notable for being partially deaf; he began losing his hearing at a young age, which led to him wearing a hearing aid during performances. He was openly gay in his private life, a fact that was not publicly acknowledged during the height of his career but has been more openly discussed in retrospective evaluations of his life and work. Ray passed away on February 24, 1990, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in the transition from traditional pop to the more youth-oriented rock and roll.
