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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKENNEDY, Ray(b 13 May '54, Buffalo NY) Country singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, sitar, drums, keyboard), producer, engineer and arranger. Father was manager for Sears and conceptualized the Discover credit card; his work meant the family moved around. Ray took up music in early teens, playing clubs around Iowa, later moving to Oregon. Landed in Nashville '80 and made his mark as a songwriter, John Anderson, Charley Pride, David Allan Coe recording his songs; signed to Atlantic Records '89 he wrote, produced, sang, played all the instruments and engineered his first album What A Way To Go in his own Skyline studios, the title song a top ten country hit. He had further country hits '91--4 but his rock- star image and heavy yet distinctive style didn't sit easily within mainstream country: he's worked since mainly in the background on songwriting and producing. Other albums incl. Guitar Man '92 on Atlantic. |