Music Pick: Johnnie Ray

The first pop signer who caught my attention as a 7 year old in 1952 was Johnnie Ray (1927-1990). Ray came out of rhythm and blues obscurity to change the face of popular music dominated by Sinatra and Crosby by injecting emotive singing with theatrics such as contorting his face. pulling his hair, falling to the floor and crying. His double sided smash, the featured "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud That Cried", sold 2 million records and drove the teen girls nuts. Ray foreshadowed the rise of Elvis and his legion of imitators four years later. By 1957, Ray's US career hit the skids. He soldiered on for another 33 years mainly touring the UK and Australia where his popularity never waned. Side note: the back up singing group is none other than the Four Lads, who went on to a huge pre Rock N Roll career with such hits as "Moments To Remember" and "Standing On The Corner".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWGKR--p2fw