Ray Stevens

This article is about the singer. For other persons of the same name, see Ray Stevens (disambiguation).
Ray Stevens
Stevens on The Johnny Cash Show, c. 1971
Stevens on The Johnny Cash Show, c. 1971
Background information
Birth nameHarold Ray Ragsdale
Born (1939-01-24) January 24, 1939 (age 85)
Clarkdale, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • arranger
  • comedian
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • trumpet
Years active1957–present
Labels
Spouse
Penny Jackson
​
​
(m. 1961; died 2021)​

Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939),[1] known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country[2] and pop singer-songwriter and comedian.[3][4] He is best known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "Misty", as well as novelty hits such as "Gitarzan" and "The Streak". Stevens has received gold albums for his music sales and has worked as a producer, music arranger, and television host. He is also an inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

  1. ^ "Ray Stevens just thinks funny". Ray Stevens. January 8, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  2. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (October 10, 2009). "Shelby Singleton, Nashville Producer, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "Ray Stevens Comes Streaking Back With Immigration Song". The New York Times. June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Roy, Don (1998). "Ray Stevens". In Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 507. ISBN 978-0195116717 – via Internet Archive.