Biography
Born on 3 September 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Danny Ray took up singing during his teenage years and gained early experience by appearing in neighborhood talent contests. In 1967 he departed the island for Britain, enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was stationed in Germany, where he assembled Danny Ray And The Vibrations. The group played numerous American airbases, securing airplay and television slots across Europe. After purchasing his discharge, Ray made a short visit to Jamaica in 1970 before returning to the UK, drawn by his prior success there. He assembled Danny Ray And The Falcons, secured an MCA contract and issued the debut single ‘The Scorpion’, becoming one of the earliest reggae acts to encounter the difficulties of major-label deals. The following year he moved to Trojan Records, which issued a string of well-received 45s including ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Playboy’, ‘Sister Big Stuff’, ‘I’m Gonna Get Married’, ‘Just Because’, ‘Your Eyes Are Dreaming’ and ‘Miss White And Wonderful, Miss Black And Beautiful’. He remained with the label until its mid-1970s collapse, after which he resurfaced on Saga.
In 1974 Ray appeared with Sharon Forrester in the British Film Institute production Moon Over The Alley, which examined the Jamaican community’s encounters with immigration officials. He collaborated with The Pioneers on their own imprint, overseeing releases such as Gregory Isaacs’ ‘Mr. Cop’ and Mexicano’s ‘Move Up Starsky’. Among his own successes were ‘Dip And Fall Back’, ‘Revolution Rock’ and a reading of Bob Marley’s ‘I’m Still Waiting’ that served as the rhythm track for Mexicano’s chart-topping single. Ray launched the Black Jack imprint, reissuing Christine Joy White’s ‘You’ll Lose A Good Thing’ and Pure Love alongside his own material, while also producing sessions for Dave Barker and Studio One veteran Winston Francis.
In 1982 he recorded the duet ‘Why Don’t You Spend The Night’ with then-unknown vocalist Shirley James; the track registered just beneath the UK pop chart and prompted an Arista deal that revived the single. A follow-up, ‘Right Time Of The Night’, proved less popular, yet the pair traveled to Jamaica to cut an album and a reggae adaptation of Paul Anka’s ‘Hey Paula’. Ray contributed a verse to the British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal single ‘Let’s Make Africa Green Again’, alongside the Chosen Few, Junior English and B.B. Seaton. By the mid-1980s he had returned to Jamaica to record Dandy Livingstone’s ‘No Love Today’. Throughout the 1990s he continued working in the sentimental lovers-rock idiom, revisiting ‘Playboy’, which became his signature song and a staple of the revival scene.
In 1974 Ray appeared with Sharon Forrester in the British Film Institute production Moon Over The Alley, which examined the Jamaican community’s encounters with immigration officials. He collaborated with The Pioneers on their own imprint, overseeing releases such as Gregory Isaacs’ ‘Mr. Cop’ and Mexicano’s ‘Move Up Starsky’. Among his own successes were ‘Dip And Fall Back’, ‘Revolution Rock’ and a reading of Bob Marley’s ‘I’m Still Waiting’ that served as the rhythm track for Mexicano’s chart-topping single. Ray launched the Black Jack imprint, reissuing Christine Joy White’s ‘You’ll Lose A Good Thing’ and Pure Love alongside his own material, while also producing sessions for Dave Barker and Studio One veteran Winston Francis.
In 1982 he recorded the duet ‘Why Don’t You Spend The Night’ with then-unknown vocalist Shirley James; the track registered just beneath the UK pop chart and prompted an Arista deal that revived the single. A follow-up, ‘Right Time Of The Night’, proved less popular, yet the pair traveled to Jamaica to cut an album and a reggae adaptation of Paul Anka’s ‘Hey Paula’. Ray contributed a verse to the British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal single ‘Let’s Make Africa Green Again’, alongside the Chosen Few, Junior English and B.B. Seaton. By the mid-1980s he had returned to Jamaica to record Dandy Livingstone’s ‘No Love Today’. Throughout the 1990s he continued working in the sentimental lovers-rock idiom, revisiting ‘Playboy’, which became his signature song and a staple of the revival scene.
Albums
We Are Not Going Back
2024
A Future Doesn't Exist
2023
Here's to Forever
2019
Planets
2017
Facebookville
2013
Jesus Is Calling Your Name
2012
House on Solid Rock
1997
Singles
