Ray Agee

about

Raymond Clinton "Ray" Agee (April 10, 1921 – April 15, 1989) was an American rhythm & blues singer and songwriter. Agee was born in Dixons Mills, Alabama, in 1921 according to most official records, though some sources give 1930. He was the eighth child out of 17 in the family. By the age of four, he developed polio, which left him with a permanent disability. He moved to Los Angeles with his parents and family in the 1930s, and with his brothers formed a gospel singing group, the Agee Brothers, who performed in local churches. By the early 1950s, Agee had started performing secular R&B music, often in the relaxed style of Charles Brown. He made his first recordings as vocalist with the Richard Brown Orchestra, on the R.K. label, in 1952. He recorded in the early and mid-1950s for a variety of labels in Los Angeles, including Modern, Aladdin, Elko, Spark and Ebb, with musicians including Maxwell Davis and Chuck Norris. In 1960 he recorded with guitarist Johnny Heartsman on Shirley Records, one of his best-remembered tracks being a version of "Tin Pan Alley", a song written by Bob Geddins and first recorded in 1953 by Jimmy Wilson. Most of Agee's songs were self-written. As a writer, his songs included "I've Been Wrong So Long", recorded by Bobby Bland in 1960; "I Say I Love You", co-written with Johnny Otis and recorded by Johnny "Guitar" Watson in 1963; "Let's Talk About Love", a song recorded by Agee in 1963 which became the title track of Lurrie Bell's 2007 album; and

top songs

albums

Black Night is Gone

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All Night Soul Stomp! Dancefloor Boogaloo Romp!

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The Platters & The Doo Wop Sound

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Romark Records - Kent Harris' Soul Sides

Texas Guitar: From Dallas To L.A.

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Boppin Rhytm And Blues

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Shattered Dreams - Funky Blues 1967-1978

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All Night Soul Stomp!

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I Was a Mod Before You Were a Mod Vol. 6

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Leave Me Alone / From Now On

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Shirley 111

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Hard To Explain - More Shattered Dreams: Funky Blues 1968-1984

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