The Rays

Formed in New York during 1955, the R&B quartet known as the Rays brought together Harold Miller, born 17 January 1931, tenor Walter Ford, born 5 September 1931, second tenor Davey Jones, born 1931, and baritone Harry James, born 1932. Miller and Jones, both former members of the Four Fellows celebrated for their recording of “Soldier Boy,” joined forces with Ford and James to launch the new ensemble. An initial session for Chess yielded no commercial traction, prompting a move in 1957 to Philadelphia’s Cameo imprint. There they scored their signature success, albeit as one-hit wonders, with the late-1957 release “Silhouettes,” which climbed to number 3 on both the R&B and pop charts. The energetic B-side “Daddy Cool,” driven by Ford’s lead, also attracted steady airplay and registered briefly on the charts. Although the Rays themselves faded from view, their two tracks have endured through countless reinterpretations. Herman’s Hermits returned “Silhouettes” to the charts in 1965, and Cliff Richard did likewise in 1990, while the British revivalist group Darts reached the UK Top 10 with “Daddy Cool” in 1977 and Boney M achieved the same feat the preceding year.