Ray Singleton
Encyclopedia
Ray Mayberry Liles Gordy Singleton (born March 8, 1937) is an American
R&B
producer, songwriter
and vocalist
, best known for her association with ex-husband Berry Gordy
during the early days of Motown.
, he did well enough to purchase a house on Detroit’s Blaine Street in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
In the mid-1950s, Raynoma met and married Charles Liles, an aspiring musician. The union produced a son, Cliff Liles, born in December 1955. Burdened by financial pressures, the marriage soon folded.
. Sensing that Gordy was not excited about their singing, Raynoma told him that she could also write and arrange music. Before long, she was doing just that, becoming a vital part of his budding operation.
Later, Gordy had her put together a backup vocal group, which was composed of singers that had been hanging around the studio. Gordy, who loved contractions
, decided to call the group the Rayber Voices after their given names, Raynoma and Berry. In addition to Ray, the singers in the group were Brian Holland
, Robert Bateman, Sonny Sanders and later, Gwendolyn Murray and Louvain Demps. Together, Ray and Berry also formed a music producing and publishing firm, Rayber Music Writing Company.
to start his own record company. Ray located a two-story house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard as the headquarters for the new enterprise. Gordy placed her in charge of the company's publishing operations (now known as Jobete) with the assistance of her brother, Mike Ossman, and Janie Bradford
, the company's first receptionist.
After the birth of their child, Kerry
, and his divorce from his previous wife was final, Ray and Berry Gordy were married. Not long after the marriage, Gordy began having an affair with Margaret Norton, which he once described as "the most beautiful woman in Detroit." However, by the time he finally decided to end the affair, his marriage with Ray was over.
As the details of their separation were being worked out, Ray indicated that she still wanted to work for Motown. Gordy accepted her proposal to establish an office of Jobete in New York City.
However, with the cost of living being much higher in New York than Detroit, Ray struggled to get proper funding to maintain her office. After repeated attempts to obtain additional funding had failed, Ray decided to take desperate measures. Against the advice of Eddie Singleton (her partner and future husband) she arranged to bootleg
five thousand copies of the Motown single, "My Guy
" by Mary Wells
to keep the office open.
When Berry Gordy found out what happened, he was furious. He did not however, press charges. After their divorce was finalized, they remained on amicable terms. So much so that after Ray married Eddie Singleton, Gordy loaned the couple money so that they could start their own record label in Washington, DC.
, which was based in Washington, DC. When the label proved unsuccessful, Ray returned to Motown in 1968.
’s Top 10 album, Somebody’s Watching Me
, in which she served as executive producer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
producer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, best known for her association with ex-husband Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
during the early days of Motown.
Early life
Raynoma Mayberry was born on March 8, 1937 in Detroit. She was her mother Lucille’s eighth child, but her first by her marriage to Ashby Mayberry. Although her father worked as a janitor for CadillacCadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, he did well enough to purchase a house on Detroit’s Blaine Street in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
In the mid-1950s, Raynoma met and married Charles Liles, an aspiring musician. The union produced a son, Cliff Liles, born in December 1955. Burdened by financial pressures, the marriage soon folded.
Early Association with Berry Gordy
In 1958, Raynoma and her younger sister, Alice, auditioned as a duo for a young songwriter named Berry GordyBerry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
. Sensing that Gordy was not excited about their singing, Raynoma told him that she could also write and arrange music. Before long, she was doing just that, becoming a vital part of his budding operation.
Later, Gordy had her put together a backup vocal group, which was composed of singers that had been hanging around the studio. Gordy, who loved contractions
Contraction (grammar)
A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters....
, decided to call the group the Rayber Voices after their given names, Raynoma and Berry. In addition to Ray, the singers in the group were Brian Holland
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
, Robert Bateman, Sonny Sanders and later, Gwendolyn Murray and Louvain Demps. Together, Ray and Berry also formed a music producing and publishing firm, Rayber Music Writing Company.
Motown
Tired of the paltry royalty checks that he was receiving, Gordy was encouraged by Ray and Smokey RobinsonSmokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
to start his own record company. Ray located a two-story house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard as the headquarters for the new enterprise. Gordy placed her in charge of the company's publishing operations (now known as Jobete) with the assistance of her brother, Mike Ossman, and Janie Bradford
Janie Bradford
Janie Bradford is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money ", originally recorded by Barrett Strong and used by The Beatles on their second album With The Beatles...
, the company's first receptionist.
After the birth of their child, Kerry
Kerry Gordy
Kerry Ashby Gordy is a career music executive who is now the CEO of Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC and Nu Vintage, LLC. .-Early years:...
, and his divorce from his previous wife was final, Ray and Berry Gordy were married. Not long after the marriage, Gordy began having an affair with Margaret Norton, which he once described as "the most beautiful woman in Detroit." However, by the time he finally decided to end the affair, his marriage with Ray was over.
As the details of their separation were being worked out, Ray indicated that she still wanted to work for Motown. Gordy accepted her proposal to establish an office of Jobete in New York City.
However, with the cost of living being much higher in New York than Detroit, Ray struggled to get proper funding to maintain her office. After repeated attempts to obtain additional funding had failed, Ray decided to take desperate measures. Against the advice of Eddie Singleton (her partner and future husband) she arranged to bootleg
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
five thousand copies of the Motown single, "My Guy
My Guy
"My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's dedication to the goodness of her man .The single became the biggest hit ever for Wells, Motown's first female star, and reached the...
" by Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
to keep the office open.
When Berry Gordy found out what happened, he was furious. He did not however, press charges. After their divorce was finalized, they remained on amicable terms. So much so that after Ray married Eddie Singleton, Gordy loaned the couple money so that they could start their own record label in Washington, DC.
Shrine Records
Ray and Eddie Singleton formed a record label, ShrineShrine Records
Shrine Records was an American soul and R&B record label based in Washington, D.C. The label was cofounded in 1964 by the label's primary songwriter Eddie Singleton along with wife, Raynoma Gordy Singleton...
, which was based in Washington, DC. When the label proved unsuccessful, Ray returned to Motown in 1968.
Super Three
Raynoma formed a partnership with Motown under the Super Three banner. One of the most successful projects under that arrangement was RockwellRockwell (musician)
Rockwell is an R&B performer who was signed to the Motown label.-Biography:...
’s Top 10 album, Somebody’s Watching Me
Somebody's Watching Me (album)
-Track listing:#"-Track listing:#"-Track listing:#"[[Somebody's Watching Me]" 4:59#"Obscene Phone Caller" 3:29#"[[Taxman]]" 3:59#"Change Your Ways" 4:25...
, in which she served as executive producer.
Personal life
Ray Singleton has been married three times and has four children.- Charles Liles. This union produced a son, musician Cliff Liles. Cliff has recorded for Motown under two different groups. First ApolloApollo (quintet)Apollo was an American R&B/disco group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy.-History:...
, then later Kagny and the Dirty Rats. - Berry GordyBerry GordyBerry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
from 1960–1964. This union also produced a son, entertainment executive Kerry GordyKerry GordyKerry Ashby Gordy is a career music executive who is now the CEO of Kerry Gordy Enterprises, LLC and Nu Vintage, LLC. .-Early years:...
. Kerry was also a member of the group, ApolloApollo (quintet)Apollo was an American R&B/disco group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy.-History:...
. - Eddie Singleton from 1966-1970. There are two children from this union: William Edward Singleton, Jr. and a daughter, Rya Singleton, who is a recording artist.
Producing
| Release Date | Album | Artist(s) or Group | Capacity(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Apollo | Apollo Apollo (quintet) Apollo was an American R&B/disco group that recorded for Motown in the late 1970s. They are best known as the band of future music executives Benny Medina and Kerry Gordy.-History:... |
Producer |
| 1984 | Somebody's Watching Me Somebody's Watching Me (album) -Track listing:#"-Track listing:#"-Track listing:#"[[Somebody's Watching Me]" 4:59#"Obscene Phone Caller" 3:29#"[[Taxman]]" 3:59#"Change Your Ways" 4:25... |
Rockwell Rockwell (musician) Rockwell is an R&B performer who was signed to the Motown label.-Biography:... |
Executive Producer |
| 1985 | Captured Captured (Rockwell album) -Track listing:#"Peeping Tom" #"He's a Cobra" #"T.V. Psychology" #"We Live in a Jungle"... |
Rockwell Rockwell (musician) Rockwell is an R&B performer who was signed to the Motown label.-Biography:... |
Executive Producer |