Ray Pillow

Ray Pillow
Birth nameHerbert Raymond Pillow
Born(1937-07-04)July 4, 1937[1][2]
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 2023(2023-03-26) (aged 85)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1963–2018
LabelsCapitol, ABC, Plantation, Mega, Dot, MCA, First Generation[3]

Herbert Raymond Pillow (July 4, 1937 – March 26, 2023) was an American country music singer, music publisher, and artists and repertoire (A&R) representative. In his career, he had 18 singles on the Billboard country songs chart, with his highest-peaking song being the number 9 single "I'll Take the Dog", a duet with Jean Shepard.[1] After charting for the last time in 1981, Pillow founded Sycamore Records with Larry McFadden,[1] and later worked in the A&R department of Capitol Records.

Pillow continued to perform as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and on popular classic country television programs such as Country's Family Reunion, which airs regularly in the United States on RFD-TV network.

Through his record label, Pillow released two albums, Ray Pillow Live and Country Class, the latter of which contained new material. Pillow retired in 2018.

Pillow was a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1966.[4][5]

Pillow died in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 26, 2023, at the age of 85.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Sandra Brennan. "Ray Pillow biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  2. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1960. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 326. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  4. ^ "Ray Pillow". Grand Ole Opry. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Opry Member List PDF" (PDF). April 23, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Ray Pillow Obituary". legacy.com. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.