Johnnie Ray's Life Story

Johnnie Ray's Life Story (Continued from page 39) Ray, came swiftly, spectacularly. Came he comes back to Franklin High the next breathlessly. Like this: time, it will be as a famous man.' The While working his way across country principal then added: `Well, John, we shall to his mecca, New York, Johnnie stopped see.' in Detroit and sang for his supper at "John had his Big Moment last Janu- Detroit's Flame Bar. During his brief en- ary," Elma added, "when he came home to gagement Bobby Seymour, a disc jockey. Portland and visited Franklin High as the heard "The Weeper" and -stirred as he nation's bobby -sox idol." had never been by a singer before -asked After his graduation in 1945, Johnnie Danny Kessler, visiting in Detroit, to went to work as a ship -welder, a soda "Listen to this kid. He sends you!" Danny jerk, a lumberjack. "And then, since I Kessler, then recording director for Okeh only knew singing and piano-playing and Records, listened to "the kid." And, as the demand that I be a `second Gable' was Danny tells it, "A bell rang." not forthcoming, I went into burlesque in In Detroit, Danny put Johnnie and two Portland. I sang songs and was straight of Johnnie's 'songs, "Tell The Lady I Said man for a couple of comics. Even so, even Goodbye" and "Whiskey and Gin," on thus, I was too `weird,' I was told, for the records. These were the first two record- customers!" ings Johnnie Ray ever made. Fired from burlesque, young "Mr. Also in Detroit, Danny introduced { IN THE ICE BOX Emotion" sang at the Rio Villa in Port- Johnnie to Bernie Lang, a young man of land and in other of the croon- and -swoon about Johnnie's own age. Bernie had 11 bythe set's minor temples, picking up seventy - been a song -plugger in New York but had five dollars a week-when, infrequently, aspirations to become a manager if he -Fi he lasted a week. Today, Johnnie is cash- could find "the right talent." Danny de- ,the, ing weekly paychecks of between $5,000 scribed would -be- singing -star Ray to and $7,500, and for the same act. would -be- manager Lang. "This," said When opportunity in Portland ended, Danny, "is the kid for you." Johnnie drifted up and down the Coast, As Johnnie tells it: "When Danny in- p continuing to sing in night clubs, includ- troduced us, Bernie and I took one look ing some not patronized by movie stars at each other and that was that. A wave SAVES K° n in Los Angeles. While in L.A., he played length -and it has paid off." W a bit part (so "bit" as to be anonymous) The records "made noise," as Johnnie A s in Paramount Pictures' "A Place In The phrases it. Sun." "They were the biggest -selling records "John struggled awfully hard for recog- in Cleveland," Johnnie said. "But I didn't Seery nition and a bare existence here in the know it. Didn't know it, that is, until 1 West," his sister says. "They love him one night I went into Moe's Main Street now -but that is the way with success, Cafe, not as an entertainer, but to hear isn't it ?" Don Cherry, who was singing there. Later in the evening, with everyone feeling In the beginning of Johnnie's career, friendly, I was asked, as is sometimes the his parents felt that their son was sowing custom, to sing. I got up and sang -and his `wild oats," that he'd get over it in the lid of the place blew off! That's when time and come home to a good, steady life it happened. That's where it happened. as a lumberman or, perhaps, a farmer. That's when we knew. That's when we "But, in spite of their fear of the 'out- realized the possibility of what might landish' work I was doing, they always happen, of what could happen. ." had faith in me," Johnnie says, and grate- What did happen. fully. "They always backed me. Sent me In New York, Johnnie's records came to SA money, coddled me, helped me along, the attention of Mort Miles, recording . soft rin prayed for me." director of Columbia Records. Mort found t That his father played a major part in "Cry" (and what could be more appropri- s Johnnie's fabulous success, Elma revealed ate?) for Johnnie. "Cry" started to hit when she said: (it has now sold better than 4,000,000 "At the dinner table, one Sunday in copies, which beats the record for any August of 1950, Johnnie was talking about Columbia song on record, with the single going East. The West, he said, would have exception of "Rudolph, The Rednosed none of him but perhaps in the East, in Reindeer "), and Johnnie, a human sky- You can't beat Kool -Aid soft New York . and my father said: `Go rocket, was up among the stars. ahead, John, go East and take advantage Meantime, he played the Town Casino, drinks for refreshment, variety of every opportunity. Some day, you'll his first major night -club engagement, in and real economy. Buy Six Packages strike it rich. Meanwhile, if the going gets Buffalo. He opened with Ann Shelton and too tough, call me and I'll send you money Ethel Smith, as the first number on the and SAVE! Six packages of Kool -Aid to get home. Remember this, you'll always bill. After opening night, he went on last. make 12 quarts of delicious, cold have us to fall back on.' Then Dad gave No one could follow him. No one, since John a check sufficient to feed him for then, ever has. beverage. Don't run out; when you quite a time -and Johnnie Ray was After the Buffalo triumph, he continued get down to 2 packages, Buy Six and gone!" on in night -club engagements until, at the flavors. In less time than it takes to tell, Johnnie Boulevard in Queens, New York-which SAVE! Choice of 6 grand Ray was calling home -but not for money. canny manager Lang planned as a stra- At 5'` a package, think of the savings! Soon, he was sending money, every week. tegic showcase for his star - .Johnnie was Then he was sending for Mom and Dad to heard by Jack Entratter, one of the own- AT GROCERS come East for his opening at the Para- ers of New York's talent -happy Copaca- mount Theatre and, as it developed, for bana. Mr. Entratter, who knew an "attrac- his wedding, too. Now he has bought tion" that would make show- business Mom and Dad a farm, near Salem, Oregon. history when he saw and heard it, signed And is planning to set his sister up in busi- Johnnie Ray. And so Johnnie, who, for ness in a little record shop. Planning, too, eight tough but never discouraged years, for the farm he and Marilyn will some day had kept his eager eyes turned toward `.. ,' make their home: "A farm where I can mecca, reached his goal. í have my million dogs, and where the Never in the annals of the Copa's I Makes / children Baby and hope to have will crowded clientele had it been as crowded grow up, as I grew up, with fields and as, its owners say, Johnnie Ray crowded fiozeo streams and woods for their playgrounds, it. For which, at the end of his sensa- Desserts R animals of all descriptions for their play- tional engagement, the appreciative Copa SERVINGS M mates and God in their blue heaven, as management gifted John with a Cadillac He was mine." convertible ( "A Cad convertible was, for "KOOL.AID" IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF PERKINS PRODUCTS CO. ©1952 PERKINS PRODUCTS CO. Dç SLII l CDJ, w11C1I II llUtllly 1.' UiIC YCáiJ, says JOIlIlIUC. 011e OI my tall .

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