Robert Ray Whitley (November 22, 1943 – May 5, 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, and he also released 14 of his own singles between 1961 and 1970.[1][unreliable source?]
Ray Whitley | |
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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 |
Occupations | Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Performer |
Years active | 1961-1970 |
Labels | Vee Jay, Dunhill, Apt, Columbia, TRX, 123, Attarack, others |
Website | raywhitley |
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 singer and performer, in addition to his work as a songwriter.[3] He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1991.[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.
Date | Performer | Title | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [9][unreliable source?] |
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. |