Who is Ray Stevens? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Harold Ray Ragsdale

Age: 85 Years, 85 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Penny Jackson

father: Willis Harold Ragsdale

mother: Frances Stephens Ragsdale

siblings: John Ragsdale

children: Suzi Ragsdale, Timi Jones

Born Country: United States

Comedians Musicians

U.S. State: Georgia

More Facts

education: Georgia State University, South Cobb High School, Druid Hills High School, Albany High School

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Childhood & Early Life

Ray Stevens was born as Harold Ray Ragsdale in Clarkdale, Georgia, on 24 January 1939. Not much is known regarding his family.

He formed his first band while he was still in high school. It was named The Barons. After his graduation, he studied at Georgia State University, where he majored in music.

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Career

At the age of eighteen, Ray Stevens signed to Capitol Records’ Prep Records division. He produced the single ‘Silver Bracelet’ and a cover of ‘Rang Tang Ding Dong’. A few years later, he signed with Mercury Records. He had several hits, such as ‘Harry the Hairy Ape’ and ‘Funny Man’.

In 1962, he released his debut album named ‘1,837 Seconds of Humor’. It stood at the 135th position on the US Billboard 200. The song ‘Ahab the Arab’ reached the 5th position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the 9th position on the Billboard R&B Singles.

His album, ‘This Is Ray Stevens,’ was released in 1963. It included singles such as ‘The Great Sebastian’ and ‘Loved and Lost’.

His next studio albums were ‘Even Stevens’ and ‘Gitarzan’, in 1968, and ‘Have a Little Talk with Myself’ in 1969.

In 1970, he composed, wrote and performed the single ‘Everything is Beautiful’. The song was a huge hit and topped the ‘Canadian Top RPM Singles Chart’ and ‘US Billboard Hot 100’ chart. Stevens was nominated for several Grammy Awards, out of which he won one in the ‘Male Contemporary Vocalist’ category.

To capitalize on the success of the single ‘Everything is Beautiful’, his next album was named after it. It charted at the 35th position on the US Billboard 200. His next hit single was ‘Misty’ (1975), which also won a Grammy Award, and topped several charts. As for the album of the same name, it charted at the 106th position on the US Billboard 200.

In the ensuing years, he released the studio albums ‘Just for the Record’, ‘Feel the Music’, and ‘Be Your Own Best Friend’.

After joining RCA Records in 1980, he released the album ‘Shriner’s Convention’, which stood at the 132nd position on the US Billboard 200. It included singles such as ‘Shriner’s Convention,’ ‘The Last Song’, and ‘Hey There’.

He released the albums ‘Me’ (1983), ‘He Thinks He’s Ray Stevens’ (1984), ‘Crackin’ Up!’ (1987) and ‘Hum It’ (1997) in the following years.

In 2002, he released the song ‘Osama—Yo’ Mama’, which was a hit, reaching the top 5 on the country single sales chart. In the ensuing years, he put out the albums ‘New Orleans Moon’ (2007), ‘One for the Road Christmas’, (2009), ‘We the People’ (2010), ‘Bozo’s Back Again’ (2011) and ‘Here We Go Again’ (2015).

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Major Works

The song ‘Everything is Beautiful,’ which was written, composed, and performed by Ray Stevens, is one of his career’s most significant works. It earned Grammy Award nominations in five categories: ‘Best Contemporary Male Vocalist’, ‘Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist’, ‘Contemporary Song,’ ‘Record of the Year’, and ‘Song of the Year’. Ray Stevens won the award in the first category.

Another one of his successful songs is the 1975 single ‘Misty’, which stood at the 14th position on the US Billboard 100. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards, in the categories ‘Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist’ and ‘Best Country Vocal Performance- Male’. It won the award in the first category.

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Family & Personal Life

Ray Stevens is married to Penny Jackson. His daughter is Suzi Ragsdale, a musician.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and he recovered after a successful surgery.

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1976	Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)	Winner
1976	BEST ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST	Winner
1971	Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male	Winner

Ray Stevens Biography