Ray Stevens
Overview
Ray Stevens is an American
country music
, pop
singer-songwriter
who has become known for his novelty songs.
He was born in Clarkdale, Georgia
, a small town west of Atlanta
. Stevens' recording career began in the mid-1950s with two singles released on Prep Records. He then signed a contract with Capitol Records
with the help of Atlanta, Georgia
music maven Bill Lowery
. In 1958, Stevens joined Lowery's National Recording Corporation
(NRC), playing numerous instruments, arranging music, and performing background vocals for its band.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who has become known for his novelty songs.
He was born in Clarkdale, Georgia
Clarkdale, Georgia
Clarkdale is a small community west-northwest of Atlanta, Georgia in southwestern Cobb County, between Powder Springs and Austell. It is the hometown of comedian and singer Ray Stevens....
, a small town west of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Stevens' recording career began in the mid-1950s with two singles released on Prep Records. He then signed a contract with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
with the help of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
music maven Bill Lowery
Bill Lowery
Bill Lowery was an American music entrepreneur.-Early successes:Lowery was born in Leesville, Louisiana. He studied radio dramatics at Taft Junior College and went on to a number of radio-announcing jobs...
. In 1958, Stevens joined Lowery's National Recording Corporation
National Recording Corporation
-Early years:National Recording Corporation was incorporated in Atlanta in 1958. Founders were Bill Lowery, at the time the number one Country Music disc jockey and already a successful music publisher, and Boots Woodall, whose band recorded for Capitol, King, and Bullet Records and performed on...
(NRC), playing numerous instruments, arranging music, and performing background vocals for its band.
