SINGER

Johnnie Ray

1927 - 1990

Photo of Johnnie Ray

Icon of person Johnnie Ray

John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Highly popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor to what became rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music, and his animated stage personality. Tony Bennett called Ray the "father of rock and roll", and historians have noted him as a pioneering figure in the development of the genre. Born and raised in Dallas, Oregon, Ray, who was partially deaf, began singing professionally at age 15 on Portland radio stations. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 19 different languages on Wikipedia. Johnnie Ray is the 2,177th most popular singer (down from 1,829th in 2024), the 11,957th most popular biography from United States (down from 9,766th in 2019) and the 605th most popular American Singer.

Memorability Metrics

Loading...

Page views of Johnnie Ray by language

Loading...

Among SINGERS

Among singers, Johnnie Ray ranks 2,179 out of 4,381. Before him are Doda, Jill Johnson, Enrique Bunbury, C. J. Ramone, Harry Chapin, Tommy Steele, Macklemore, and Sigrid. After him are Soraya, R. L. Burnside, Cássia Eller, and Fermín IV.

Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Contemporaries

Among people born in 1927, Johnnie Ray ranks 453. Before him are Kamini Kaushal, Abby Mann, Virginia Weidler, Ted Burgin, John Rhodes, and Tim O'Connor. After him are Alan Geldard, Archie Scott Brown, Leslie Claudius, Harry Gallatin, Guy Mitchell, and Prem Nazir. Among people deceased in 1990, Johnnie Ray ranks 298. Before him are Dries van der Lof, Joseph-Marie Trịnh Văn Căn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Ettore Giannini, June Christy, and Susan Oliver. After him are Ryan White, Fortune Gordien, Norman Malcolm, F. F. Bruce, Peter Doherty, and Luis Lucchetti.

Others Born in 1927

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Others Deceased in 1990

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

In United States

Among people born in United States, Johnnie Ray ranks 11,965 out of 20,380. Before him are James Branch Cabell (1879), Han Ye-seul (1981), Sam Hanks (1914), Aarthi Agarwal (1984), Samuel Brannan (1819), Leilani Sarelle (1966), Capri Anderson (1988), Marshmello (1992), Josephine Hutchinson (1903), Tom Thibodeau (1958), Richard Cushing (1895), and Blair Underwood (1964).

Others born in United States

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Among SINGERS In United States

Among singers born in United States, Johnnie Ray ranks 605. Before him are Rosanne Cash (1955), Bobbie Gentry (1942), Mississippi Fred McDowell (1906), C. J. Ramone (1965), Harry Chapin (1942), and Macklemore (1983). After him are Soraya (1969), R. L. Burnside (1926), Candi Staton (1940), Gary Cherone (1961), Juice Newton (1952), and Rockwell (1964).

American born Singers

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous