John Alvin Ray was born at Hopewell, Oregon on January 10, 1927.
As a result of a childhood accident, falling and hitting his head, he
was partially deaf and began wearing a hearing aid as a teenager.

In an era where his unique singing and stage presence was
considered unusual to say the least, “the Cry Boy” would writher
to the floor and commence crying while singing. His antic’s created
considerable attention among show business circles where in late
1951 famed record producer Mitch Miller recorded Johnnie backed
by The Four Lads, who would soon become major stars themselves.

As a result, “Cry” and a song written by Johnnie Ray, “Little White
Cloud That Cried” topped the Hit Parade early in 1952. It was
followed by “Please Mr. Sun” and the flip side, “Here I Am All
Broken Hearted”, both made the top ten. “Walkin’ My Baby Back
Home” reached the top ten before the year ended. “Somebody
Stole My Gal” was top ten in 1953. “Hey There” hit in 1954,
“Just Walking In The Rain” was top ten in 1955.

Among his other hits, “”Don’t Blame Me”, “Hernando’s Hideaway”,
“Such A Night”, “Shake a Hand”, “Look Homeward Angel”
and “Yes Tonight Josephine”.

Appearing on most of the top television variety shows including Ed
Sullivan, Johnnie Ray was a sensation with 25 top thirty hits in a
seven year period of the 1950’s. His popularity spread to England
and Australia, where he toured several times during his career.

Johnnie Ray died of liver failure in Los Angeles on
February 24, 1990. He was 63 years of age.