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Barrie J. Wilson Tim Hardin Ever-Popular World-Wide, Corvallis, Oregon Resident Born in Eugene, Oregon eventually became "rock ARTIST SNAPSHOTS Yet Little-Known At Home 'n' roll,‘ Ray was seen as a by Roy Widing, Contributing Writer cutting edge artist. Timothy J. Hardin Johnny Ray died in 1990 World-class celebrities losing battle with drug ad- from liver disease and is Born: with a Willamette Valley diction. It would bring his buried in nearby Hopewell December, 1941 connection? Believe it. life to an end at only 39 Cemetery. Died: Though Oregon is hardly years of age. December, 1980 Procol Harum recorded a show biz haven, some Save my love through tunes which remain peren- seriously successful Interesting Fact: loneliness, nial radio favorites, includ- celebs have called this Hardin played at the Save my love through ing the symphonic region home. Woodstock music festi- sorrow, ”Conquistador.‘ However, val. If I were a carpenter, I give you my only-ness their best known song re- and you were a lady Give me your tomorrow. mains the 1967 mega-

Would you marry me smash, ”A Lighter Shade of Barrie James Wilson Tim Hardin is buried in anyway? Pale.‘ Teaming with Twin Oaks Cemetery on Would you have my famed guitarist Robin Tro- Born: the outskirts of Turner, baby? wer, future Oregonian March, 1947 Oregon, a few minutes Barrie ”B.J.‘ Wilson Died: In 1966, the popular south of Salem. drummed for the group October, 1990 song ”If I Were A Car- during some of the band‘s penter‘ was a top ten hit Tim Hardin is not the only most popular years. Brit- Interesting Fact: for singer Bobby Darin. famous musical celebrity ish-born in 1947, the Ore- Wilson sat very low be- Later, it was in the rep- with a link to our region. gon émigré was well- hind his drum kit and ertoire of others, includ- A different Oregon native respected for his synco- was once referred to as ing Robert Plant, Bob pated style. ”The Octopus in a Bath- Seger, Johnny Cash, Admired by Bob Dylan tub.‘ Joan Baez, Willie Nelson & Tony Bennett Drummer In Demand and Cheryl Crow. Yet few realize the one pen- has been described by Johnnie Ray Wilson eventually left Pro- ning the tune sported music legend Bob Dylan as col Harum and later gig- Willamette Valley roots. ”…the first singer whose Born: ged as both a session man voice and style I totally January, 1927 and touring musician with fell in love with‘ and ”…the Died: No ”One Hit‘ Wonder vocalist and fellow native father of rock n' roll‘ by hit February, 1990 Englishman Joe Cocker. vocalist Tony Bennett. Tim Hardin was born in In addition to performing They were both talking Interesting Fact: Eugene, Oregon in 1941. on some of Cocker‘s best- about Oregon‘s Johnnie Johnnie Ray was wildly After a stint in the US known recordings, Wilson Ray. John Alvin Ray was popular in England. Her Marine Corps, he pur- worked with big names born near Hopewell, Ore- Majesty Queen Elizabeth sued music. A capable like Supertramp, AC/DC gon in 1927. Later reportedly announced her singer and guitar player, and Tom Petty. BJ Wilson dubbed ”the Nabob of Sob‘ sorrow upon Johnnie songwriting was another passed away in 1990 after and ”the Prince of Wails,‘ Ray‘s death, recalling of Hardin‘s strengths. In a long illness and is buried Ray was partially deaf due that Johnnie had taken time, he gained a loyal in Corvallis at Oak Lawn to an injury sustained at following, even playing Memorial Park Cemetery. British airwaves by storm the age of 13. That didn‘t at Woodstock. Hardin in 1951 with his #1 hit slow down this much- These gifted artists called was also no ”one hit —Cry.‘“ acclaimed singer, song- Oregon ”home.‘ Yet upon wonder.‘ That‘s because writer and pianist. Some their homecoming from along with writing ”If I consider Ray to be the the heights of worldwide Were A Carpenter,‘ he ”missing link‘ between musical achievement, they enjoyed success with smooth vocalists of the big each encountered a diffi- other melodies, including bands and later rock and cult, final act. Yet to- ”Reason To Believe,‘ a roll performers. That‘s be- gether they leave behind a signature song for Rod cause Ray bridged styles legacy, not merely geo- Stewart. between early crooners graphical. The remarkable Along with his music, like Frank Sinatra and the recorded talents of these Tim Hardin‘s life was re- modern Elvis Presley. fellow Oregonians is evi- plete with other success- dence of gifts transcend- Ray sang 1951‘s number ful high notes, including ing earthly existence. For one smash, ”Cry‘ and re- marriage and the birth of each time we hear their corded plenty of other hits a son. Yet Hardin suf- artistic efforts today, it‘s too, including ”Just Walkin‘ fered through a variety as if their final curtain has In The Rain‘ and ”Yes To- of sour notes as well. been raised for yet an- night, Josephine.‘ Since other encore. John Alvin Ray Hardin‘s challenges later his rhythm-based ap- Born near Hopewell, Oregon included divorce and a proach was close to what F