Biography
Hailing from North Carolina, Johnny Ray Daniels sings sacred soul and gospel while also serving as a guitarist and pianist. Blessed with a rich, stirring baritone, he taught himself both instruments. After cutting sides in the 1960s with the regionally successful Soul Twisters, he turned to gospel in the early 1970s and has remained the Glorifying Vines Sisters’ pianist for decades. He simultaneously fronts Little Willie & the Fantastic Spiritualaires, whose lineup draws from his brothers, son, and friends. His initial solo appearance came on Music Makers’ 2020 compilation Hanging Tree Guitars, followed by another track on the 2021 set Sacred Soul of North Carolina. Bible & Tire Recording Company released his debut solo album, Whatever You Need, in 2022.
Born in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1946 as one of seven siblings, Daniels grew up with six brothers who all displayed vocal promise. The boys regularly performed gospel quartet standards in church and vocal-group hits at home. The family worked as tenant farmers until their father obtained daytime employment at a tobacco factory in nearby Farmville; their mother later took a night-shift position at the same plant. Daniels’ father played guitar, and the boy absorbed the instrument by observing and listening. His ear developed so acutely that he could master a radio song after hearing it once.
At age twenty he joined friends to form the R&B group the Soul Twisters. Their regional popularity led to backing national acts and later to their own tours, including dates as far north as New York. The band issued a single 45, 1967’s “Swinging (On a Grape Vine)”/“Soul Fever,” on North Carolina’s Romat Records.
One evening while performing at a nightclub in Wilson, North Carolina, Daniels surveyed the audience and experienced a divinely inspired revelation—what he describes as a “vision” in which God informed him he belonged elsewhere. He fulfilled his remaining engagements with the Soul Twisters before departing the group and leaving his equipment behind.
Thereafter Daniels resumed performing, this time within church settings. He joined the choir and operated a carpet-and-tile installation business during the week. He eventually met and married Dorothy Vines of the Glorifying Vines Sisters, began attending their church, and played guitar in support of the group. The sisters urged him to attempt piano, an instrument he had never played. Trusting in faith, he began with two fingers and prayed for the ability to perform capably, pledging to serve the Lord on the instrument if granted the gift. In Daniels’ words, God granted his request: “My fingers opened up and I’ve been playing ever since.” He scored every song the Glorifying Vines Sisters performed as the ensemble established itself among North Carolina’s premier gospel acts. Daniels also chauffeured the group on lengthy national tours, often returning home for only four hours of sleep before his workday and then resuming the road.
Johnny Ray and Dorothy are the parents of Anthony Daniels, leader and co-founder of Dedicated Men of Zion. After fifty-four years, the elder Daniels transferred his business to his descendants, who soon balanced ordinary employment with a gospel career.
Daniels’ guitar work appeared on the track “Somewhere to Lay My Head” from Music Makers’ internationally acclaimed 2020 compilation Hanging Tree Guitars, which spotlighted players using instruments crafted by renowned luthier, blues guitarist, and philosopher Freeman Vines, Daniels’ brother-in-law. Through that exposure and his longstanding accompaniment of the Glorifying Vines Sisters, he attracted the notice of Bruce Watson of Fat Possum and the Bible & Tire Recording Company. He subsequently contributed a solo performance to the widely praised Sacred Soul of North Carolina compilation in 2021.
Daniels tracked Whatever You Need, his first solo album, at Delta-Sonic Sound studio in Memphis, Tennessee, with co-production from Bruce Watson and Will Sexton. Veteran house band the Sacred Soul Sound Section supplied backing, featuring guitarists Sexton and Matt Ross-Spang, bassist Mark Edgar Stuart, organist Rick Steff, and drummer Will McCarley. Vocal harmonies came from son Anthony and granddaughter KeAmber Daniels. The album appeared in April 2022.
Born in Greenville, North Carolina, in 1946 as one of seven siblings, Daniels grew up with six brothers who all displayed vocal promise. The boys regularly performed gospel quartet standards in church and vocal-group hits at home. The family worked as tenant farmers until their father obtained daytime employment at a tobacco factory in nearby Farmville; their mother later took a night-shift position at the same plant. Daniels’ father played guitar, and the boy absorbed the instrument by observing and listening. His ear developed so acutely that he could master a radio song after hearing it once.
At age twenty he joined friends to form the R&B group the Soul Twisters. Their regional popularity led to backing national acts and later to their own tours, including dates as far north as New York. The band issued a single 45, 1967’s “Swinging (On a Grape Vine)”/“Soul Fever,” on North Carolina’s Romat Records.
One evening while performing at a nightclub in Wilson, North Carolina, Daniels surveyed the audience and experienced a divinely inspired revelation—what he describes as a “vision” in which God informed him he belonged elsewhere. He fulfilled his remaining engagements with the Soul Twisters before departing the group and leaving his equipment behind.
Thereafter Daniels resumed performing, this time within church settings. He joined the choir and operated a carpet-and-tile installation business during the week. He eventually met and married Dorothy Vines of the Glorifying Vines Sisters, began attending their church, and played guitar in support of the group. The sisters urged him to attempt piano, an instrument he had never played. Trusting in faith, he began with two fingers and prayed for the ability to perform capably, pledging to serve the Lord on the instrument if granted the gift. In Daniels’ words, God granted his request: “My fingers opened up and I’ve been playing ever since.” He scored every song the Glorifying Vines Sisters performed as the ensemble established itself among North Carolina’s premier gospel acts. Daniels also chauffeured the group on lengthy national tours, often returning home for only four hours of sleep before his workday and then resuming the road.
Johnny Ray and Dorothy are the parents of Anthony Daniels, leader and co-founder of Dedicated Men of Zion. After fifty-four years, the elder Daniels transferred his business to his descendants, who soon balanced ordinary employment with a gospel career.
Daniels’ guitar work appeared on the track “Somewhere to Lay My Head” from Music Makers’ internationally acclaimed 2020 compilation Hanging Tree Guitars, which spotlighted players using instruments crafted by renowned luthier, blues guitarist, and philosopher Freeman Vines, Daniels’ brother-in-law. Through that exposure and his longstanding accompaniment of the Glorifying Vines Sisters, he attracted the notice of Bruce Watson of Fat Possum and the Bible & Tire Recording Company. He subsequently contributed a solo performance to the widely praised Sacred Soul of North Carolina compilation in 2021.
Daniels tracked Whatever You Need, his first solo album, at Delta-Sonic Sound studio in Memphis, Tennessee, with co-production from Bruce Watson and Will Sexton. Veteran house band the Sacred Soul Sound Section supplied backing, featuring guitarists Sexton and Matt Ross-Spang, bassist Mark Edgar Stuart, organist Rick Steff, and drummer Will McCarley. Vocal harmonies came from son Anthony and granddaughter KeAmber Daniels. The album appeared in April 2022.
Albums
Singles
