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Raymond Louis Kennedy

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Name
  
Raymond Kennedy


Role
  
Singer-songwriter

Raymond Louis Kennedy image2findagravecomphotos250photos201450125

Died
  
February 16, 2014, Los Angeles, California, United States

Albums
  
Rock Will Never Die, BBC Radio One Live in Concert

Music group
  
Michael Schenker Group (1984)

Similar People
  
Andy Nye, Tandyn Almer, Jack Rieley, Carmine Appice, Gary Barden

Raymond louis kennedy inside of me there s a dream


Raymond Louis "Ray" Kennedy (November 26, 1946 – February 16, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer, based in Los Angeles. His works span multiple genres including R&B, pop, rock, jazz, fusion, acid rock, country and many others. He co-wrote "Sail On, Sailor", one of The Beach Boys' mid-career hits as well as two hits for The Babys: "Everytime I Think of You" and "Isn't It Time".

Contents

Raymond Louis Kennedy RAYMOND LOUIS KENNEDY 7 vinyl records amp CDs found on CDandLP

Biography

Raymond Louis Kennedy B

Born in Philadelphia, Kennedy began playing saxophone at age nine; he sang in a cappella groups in New Jersey and Philadelphia before becoming a dancing regular on American Bandstand in 1960. Dick Clark eventually offered to pay him to pantomime playing saxophone with groups such as The Platters, The Drifters, Chubby Checker, Little Richard, and many more.

In 1965, Kennedy recorded his first single as vocalist with then-unknown Kenny Gamble, "Number 5 Gemini" on Guyden Records. That year Kennedy also auditioned for and received a gig playing tenor sax with Gerry Mulligan, one of the top baritone jazz saxophonists in the world. That led to Kennedy leaving his home in New Jersey, playing various jazz clubs and making his way south.

Raymond Louis Kennedy Raymond Louis Kennedy

With drummer Jay David, Kennedy eventually left the tour to play various gigs with Dizzy Gillespie, J. J. Johnson, Buddy Rich and the Gene Krupa Jazz Group, until he decided in 1962 that the lifestyle of a jazz musician was simply not for him.

Raymond Louis Kennedy Singersongwriter Ray Kennedy dead at 67 Celebrity News Showbiz

Kennedy went to Paducah, Kentucky to play a few gigs with Brenda Lee; one-nighters with Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wilson Pickett, and many others followed. Encouraged by friend Otis Redding, Kennedy shifted his focus back to singing and moved to New York in 1963. He was signed by Ahmet Ertegun to Atlantic Records, recording as "Jon and Ray" and touring with Jon Mislan, AKA ( Johnny Angel ). In 1966, he formed another band called "Group Therapy" and recorded two albums before deciding to move to Los Angeles with them in 1968.

Raymond Louis Kennedy Passings Ray Kennedy MultiTalented SingerSongwriter 1946 2014

Kennedy's first solo album, "Raymond Louis Kennedy", was released in 1970. That year he befriended Dave Mason of Traffic, and toured with him in support of Mason's solo album, "Alone Together", also collaborating on a song "Seasons" that ended up on a future Mason solo album, "Let It Flow". During this period, Kennedy also co-wrote the Beach Boys hit, "Sail On, Sailor".

Raymond Louis Kennedy Musician Ray Kennedy Dies at 67

He was featured on the soundtrack to the Brian DePalma cult film sensation Phantom of the Paradise. Kennedy sang "Life at Last" and a version of "The Phantom's Theme". In the movie, the song was lip-synched by Gerrit Graham as the character Beef, who performed the song as a Frankenstein-type flamboyant rocker constructed by the members of The Undead during a Dr. Caligari-esque.

Raymond Louis Kennedy Raymond Louis Kennedy

In 1980, Kennedy released a second self-titled solo album, Ray Kennedy. This album featured the minor hit single "Just for the Moment", which would become Kennedy's only Billboard Hot 100 hit under his own name.

In addition to this solo album, Kennedy spent the next several decades writing, recording and touring with and for musicians including Sly and the Family Stone, Brian Wilson, Dave Mason, Jeff Beck, Barry Goldberg, Maurice White, Aerosmith, Michael Schenker, Engelbert Humperdinck, Wayne Newton, Tanya Tucker, Bill Champlin, Willie Nelson, Mick Fleetwood and many others.

He died in his home on February 16, 2014 of unknown causes. A private funeral service was held on March 1, 2014.

References

Raymond Louis Kennedy Wikipedia


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