Ray Peterson
Ray Peterson (born April 23, 1939 in Denton , Texas , † January 25, 2005 in Smyrna , Tennessee ) was an American rock 'n' roll singer.
life and career
Ray Peterson started his singing career while singing to fellow patients in the hospital. He got his first record deal in 1958 with RCA Records . In 1959, his first single, The Wonder Of You , was released and hit the charts ( Elvis Presley later published a famous cover of The Wonder of You ). In 1960 he had two top 10 successes in the USA with Tell Laura I Love Her and Corinna, Corinna . The latter also became a hit in Germany. After 1964 he had no more successes worth mentioning, as his "plaintive ballads" went out of fashion with teenagers. Peterson was a full-time singer until the 1970s, after which he became pastor of a Baptist church . Nevertheless, until his death he appeared again and again with his old hits.
Ray Peterson died of cancer in 2005 at the age of 65. He left behind his wife Claudia and seven children.
Discography
Singles
| year | Title music label |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1959 | The Wonder of You RCA Victor |
- |
UK23 (1 week) UK |
US25 (19 weeks) US |
|
|
Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams) RCA Victor |
- | - |
US64 (6 weeks) US |
||
| Come and Get It RCA Victor |
- | - | - | ||
| 1960 | Tell Laura I Love Her RCA Victor |
- | - |
US7 (14 weeks) US |
|
| Answer Me, My Love RCA Victor |
- |
UK47 (1 week) UK |
- | ||
| Corinna, Corinna ( Corrine, Corrina in UK) Dunes |
DE6 (44 weeks) DE |
UK41 (7 weeks) UK |
US9 (15 weeks) US |
||
| 1961 | Sweet Little Kathy Dunes |
- | - |
US100 (1 week) US |
|
| Missing You Dunes |
- | - |
US29 (15 weeks) US |
||
| I Could Have Loved You so Well Dunes |
- | - |
US57 (8 weeks) US |
||
| 1963 | Give Us Your Blessing Dunes |
- | - |
US70 (6 weeks) US |
|
More singles
- 1965: Across The Street (Is a Million Miles Away)
- 1970: Oklahoma City Times
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Obituary in the Guardian
- ^ Obituary in the Guardian
- ↑ Chart sources Singles: Charts DE Charts UK Charts US
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Peterson, Ray |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American rock and roll singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 23, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Denton , Texas , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 25, 2005 |
| Place of death | Smyrna , Tennessee, USA |