Baby Ray

A soul and R&B singer, born Ray Welton Eddlemon in Columbia, TN.

History

Ray played at the Derby Club on 8th Avenue for several years in the mid 60s and released a single LP on Imperial in 1967 that included no pictures of the performer, with a vocal sound modelled on black performers, yet versatile in country, soul, and pop. The arrangement included frequent collaborator Charlie McCoy of The Escorts. A single on the album went to 56 on the Billboard 100. One witness recalls that when he was discovered to be white, his career suffered. In Nashville, Ray married Terri Prim Zephyrhills, who became Terri Eddlemon. Together they co-wrote songs with the famous World War II hero and actor, Audie Murphy. One song in particular "Was It All Worth Losing You" was recorded by Charlie Pride.

His final 45 was produced iby local radio DJ Dan Hoffman.

Ray later moved to Las Vegas to perform in clubs out there, where he had a fatal altercation with a lover, resulting in his imprisonment until his death in 2000.

Releases

1966ː

There's Something On Your Mind / The House On Soul Hill (7", 45), Imperial, cat# 66216

1967ː

Where Soul Lives (LP), Imperial, cat# LP-9335 (mono), cat# LP-12335 (stereo)

There's Something On Your Mind / The House On Soul Hill (7", 45)

Elvira / Just Becuase (7", 45), Imperial, cat# 66232

1972( ?)ː

Just A Dime / My Love's The One Thing (You Can't Take From Me) (7", Single, Mono), Moneta Records, cat# 313 (possibly Ray's own label)

External References

https://www.45cat.com/artist/baby-ray

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1624258-Baby-Ray-2 as Perfomer

https://www.discogs.com/artist/2625881-Ray-Eddlemon as songwriter

https://www.discogs.com/artist/3717437-Terri-Eddlemon co-writer and wife Terri

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105753877/ray-welton-eddlemon

https://jp1000.livejournal.com/9908.html

(Anonymous) on January 8th, 2014 02:07 am (UTC), BABY RAY

BABY RAY PLAYED AT THE DERBY CLUB ON 8TH AVE. IN NASHVILLE,TN FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS. "WAYNE JACKSON" A LONG TIME FRIEND OF MINE PLAYED BASS, A FELLOW NAMED "MIKE" PLAYED DRUMMS, "WILLIE RAINSFORD" PLAYED KEYBOARD. "BABY RAY" PLAYED GUITAR AND HARMONICA. CHARLIE McCOY LEARNED TO PLAY FROM LISTENING TO RAY. RAY KEPT HIS HARMONICAS IN A MUG OF BEER TO KEEP THE REEDS WET AND READY TO PLAY. HE WOULD PICK THE HARP FROM THE MUG, SHAKE OUT EXCESS BEER AND START PLAYING. RAY WAS A SHOWMAN. HE WOULD PLAY HIS FENDER TELE BEHIND HIS NECK,HE WOULD PICK IT WITH HIS TEETH!! THERE'S SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND WENT TO 56 IN BILLBOARD, BLACK PEOPLE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS WHITE AND HIS CAREER IMEDIATELY DIED.

(Anonymous) on June 29th, 2016 09:02 pm (UTC) BABY RAY EDDLEMON

It's very funny reading this account of Ray Welton Eddlemon, I was was marriage to this man for four and a half years and have three children by him. His first wife and he had four children but no David (might have been a grandson), my sister has a son by him and i have two son's by him none David.

Baby ray went to Prison for murder he shot a young girl Robin for not taking him back.

We all just try to remember how great of a singer he was and not dwell of the bad things he did to all of us that loved him. Cindy

(Anonymous) on February 17th, 2018 06:35 pm (UTC) I knew Baby Ray

I've played some music with Baby Ray in the past...around 1973....He had a lot of soul in him... Gary Bolin (Franklin, Tn.)

(Anonymous) on January 12th, 2019 11:17 pm (UTC)

We knew Baby Ray in the 60's he became friends with my daddy Chester Armes we shared many good times with Ray and his 1st wife Terri and their kids. Many visits on Cumberland river on our boat and at each others homes. Both our families lived in East Nashville back in the day. Have pictures of them and some old home movies on reel to reel that are now been misplaced over the years.They moved away and we lost contact until he went to prison and he called my daddy and then they would write each other. They quit writing each other thru the years and my daddy would always share the Lord with Baby Ray and daddy always wondered if Ray ever excepted the Lord as his Savior. That always concerned my daddy because he loved him and cared about him a lot. When we were kids we always played the album he gave us on our turn table stereo over and over, knew all the words by heart. He was a awesome artist of soul and sung from his heart. I can see him now with a big smile on his face, loved to hear him sing or just talk he had one of those voices that you loved to hear. If things could have been different for him I am sure he would have put out many records because he sure had the talent.

(Anonymous) on July 7th, 2019 05:59 am (UTC) BABY RAY EDDLEMAN

I have often through the years wondered what happen to Bay Ray since the 1980's after he went to Nevada State Prison. I knew him, for a brief time & dated for a couple weeks. Ray was a charmer for sure and loved the ladies all of them, loll. Ray wasn't tall in statue, small built and wore his cowboy hat a lot for he was damn near bald. He was a hell of a performer though, and musically inclined. There was a country western bar called The Long Branch Saloon, located in North Las Vegas Nevada. Ray was performing there after my band and I left and went on to another engagement.

Ray began seeing a blond little cocktail waitress working there, cute as a button she was. She was quit a bit younger then he was, and she adored him & he was crazy about her. And forgive me for to this day I do not remember her name. But she was a looker for sure.

Why I don't know but after a time and them two being together, Ray murdered his sweetheart that cute little cocktail waitress. She was found in the truck of his car from what was told in the papers & around town. He was prosecuted and sent to prison. Now this has been several years ago. Knowing he passed away within the prison walls, well it's sad for he was an entertainer, and talented. Love & jealousy can kill someone, and it killed his sweetheart as it killed him in the end for it took away a talented entertainer & man. Now if you care to post this it's alright with me, if not I understand. I am sure that the facts can be found within the Las Vegas News Papers.

(Anonymous) on July 9th, 2019 09:17 pm (UTC) Re: BABY RAY EDDLEMON

Good afternoon :)

This is David Michael Eddlemon, son of Michael Ray Eddlemon, son of Ray Eddlemon (all 1st borns!). I'd first like to say hello to my aunt and uncle who I didn't realize posted in here, Cheryl and Terry, who are the children that came from Ray's first marriage to Terri Eddlemon.

Sorry for the confusion that was made earlier in this LJ some years back, as I am his grandson, not his son. It's nice to read a lot of these encounters that were had with him and all the stories of his life that I never knew. I'd only met him once and it was during his time in Prison (to which he taught me "The Great Jasper Trick" (card trick :) ).

I was the unfortunate one to receive the call from the prison informing us of his passing which were due to physical complications. However, many of you may not know, but through frequent conversations over the phone made between him and my father, as well as other influences in his life that I'm sure he must've had, he came to know our Lord and Savior and was a repentant believer in Christ prior to passing.

Delving back into his past, I hadn't realized that he had several marriages after my grandmother but it makes sense. I see so man others posting as his children or grandchildren that I've never heard of, like miss Cindy and her children for instance. I hope that you guys have fond memories of your times spent with him!

My grandmother actually had his album converted to digital format and written to CDs which she distributed to the rest of us in the family as more of a keepsake than anything. Regrettably, I cannot remember exactly where I put my copy, but I'm sure it's tucked away safely somewhere and I can always get another copy form her if I need it.

As has often been said, many believed him to be a black singer as he sang with much soul. He knew this as well and was somewhat tickled by it if recollection serves me right.

One time while in Prison, he was performing live with a guitar and some other inmates and when people heard him singing, they thought it was music being played on a radio or a record or something. They were shocked to find that it was an inmate singing and with much soul, and that he was white! I'm a bit fuzzy on those details, but that's the best I can remember of this story.

That's pretty much all I've got for now. Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. -David