Susan Raye
Susan Raye |
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Susan Raye (born October 8, 1944 in Eugene, Oregon) is an American Country Music Singer. She was the protegee of Buck Owens, and landed a couple hit duets with him in the late 70s. In late 1970, she became a solo star, having a series of hits throughout much of the early 70s, before more or less retiring from the music business in the late 70s.
Early Life & Rise to Fame
Oregon-native Susan raye, first gained national fame cutting a series of duets with singer/guitarist Buck Owens in the late 1960s, while also gaining attention on the television program Hee Haw. In 1971, she embarked on a solo career, gaining success as a solo artist through much of the early 1970s. In addition her good looks didn't hurt either, when it came to winning over audiences and fans.
Susan Raye was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1944. In high school, Raye sung with a Rock band. Soon however, the band called it quits, and Raye decided to try to make it on her own. She auditioned for a local radio station. Not only did she find work at the radio station, but she also landed a job as a disc jockey. She started performing on a Portland, Oregon, television show called Hoedown, and eventually became the host of the show. During this time, she also worked at local clubs. It was at one of these local clubs, Raye met the manager of Buck Owens, Jack McFadden. He liked what he heard and persuaded Raye to come audition and meet the Country star at his home in Bakersfield, California, the home of the Bakerfield Sound, which Owens helped develop. Owens too liked her, and offered her a slot on his upcoming tour. Raye accepted and soon moved out to Bakersfield, California.
Recording Career With Buck Owens
In 1968, after accepting Owens' offer to move down to California, she began touring with Owens. The two soon decided to become a duet act and started recording together in 1968. Although both of them began recording together in the late 60s, they didn't actually gain a hit record until 1970. In 1970, the pair released a series of singles to the Country charts. All three of the singles were hits for them. Among their biggest hits together was the song "The Great White Horse", which was a Top Ten Country hit in 1970, giving Raye a name for herself, with the help of Buck Owens of course.
In 1970, Owens and Raye had two other hits together called "We're Gonna Get Together" and "Togetherness". Although these songs were not Top Ten hits, they were Top 20 hits for the pair. That year, Raye was one the road with Owens and they toured together. During this time, Raye also performed on the Country telivison program, Hee Haw. She remained on the show for nine years.
Height of Her Career As a Solo Act In the 70s
The same year Susan charted three duet hits with Buck Owens,she also decided to embark on a solo career, leaving her duet days behind her. The first single she released on her own was a cover of Jackie DeShannon's hit "Put a Little Love In Your Heart". The song made the Country Top 30 that year, and got her name noticed as a solo act. She released another single that made the Country Top 40 that year called "One Night Stand". It was not until 1971 though that Raye's solo career took off. That year, a song written by Buck Owens called "L.A. Internation Airport", went to the Top Ten of the Country charts and turned Raye into a solo star. The song also made it to the low ends of the Pop charts, becoming her only Pop Music entry. That year, Raye also had two other big hits with "Willy Jones" and "Pitty, Pitty, Patter". All three of these songs were compositions written by Buck Owens, and other songs would also be written by Owens that Raye would record throughout her career. Raye was never much of a songwriter herself, and stayed away from much of the decision-making process when it came to recording sessions.
In 1972, Raye had her biggest hit on the Country charts with "(I've Got a) Happy Heart", which went all the way to the Top 5 on the Country charts in 1972. She also cut her last Top 10 that year with "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own". Although this was her last Top 10 on the charts for awhile, Raye remained intact on the Country charts, with a string of Top 20 hits between 1972 and 1974. Other hits from this time include "Wheel of Fortune" (1972), "Cheating Game" (1973), "Love Sure Feels Good In My Heart" (1973), and a remake of "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)" in 1974. Susan raye has also been nominated by the Academy of Country Music three times as "Top Female Vocalist". During this period she also married Owens' drummer, Jerry Wiggins. They have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of six children. In 1975, she had her first Top ten hit since 1972 with the song "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Dog Like That". Although it was a Top 10 for her, it was also Raye's last major hit on the Country charts.
Later Career & Life Today
In 1977, Raye released a self-titled album, however, the album garnered no attention. Raye's career had plenty of life still in it, when she retired from the business toi raise her and her family's six children, citing her faith as also one of her reasons. Susan raye has also remained an avid Christian through much of her life. She went to college to persue a degree in psychology. She made a small comeback in 1985, recording two albums as well as one charting single called "I Just Can't Take the Leaving Anymore", but by that time, her hit-making days were over. During this period she also returned to college and earned a degree in psychology. She continued her studies rather than build on her chart return and became a successful Christian psychologist. She has maintianed a very low profile since then.
Raye made a very rare public appearance August 6, 2003 when she was a guest of honor at the 75th anniversary of the Los Angeles International Airport where she took to the stage and performed her now classic hit of the same name [1] . Today, Susan Raye today, is stil a mother of six children, as well as a child counselor.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | U.S. Country Singles | U.S. Pop Singles | Album | |
| 1970 | "The Great White Horse" (with Buck Owens) | #8 | - | The Great White Horse | |
| 1970 | "Togetherness" (with Buck Owens) | #12 | - | We're Gonna Get Together | |
| 1970 | "We're Gonna Get Together" (with Buck Owens) | #13 | - | We're Gonna Get Together | |
| 1970 | "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" | #30 | - | One Night Stand | |
| 1970 | "One Night Stand" | #35 | - | One Night Stand | |
| 1971 | "L.A. International Airport" | #9 | #54 | Willy Jones | |
| 1971 | "Willy Jones" | #10 | - | Willy Jones | |
| 1971 | "Pitty, Pitty, Patter" | #6 | - | Pitty, Pitty, Patter | |
| 1972 | "(I've Got a) Happy Heart" | #3 | - | Pitty, Pitty, Patter | |
| 1972 | "My Heart Has a Mind Of Its Own" | #10 | - | My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own | |
| 1972 | "Wheel of Fortune" | #16 | - | Wheel of Fortune | |
| 1972 | "A Song to Sing" | #44 | - | My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own | |
| 1973 | "Cheating Game" | #18 | - | Cheating Game | |
| 1973 | "Love Sure Feels Good In My Heart" | #17 | - | Love Sure Feels Good In My Heart | |
| 1973 | "Plastic Trains, Paper Planes" | #23 | - | Plastic Trains, Paer Plains | |
| 1974 | "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)" | #18 | - | Singing Susan Raye | |
| 1974 | "When You Get Back From Nashville" | #57 | - | Cheating Game | |
| 1974 | "You Can Sure See It From Here" | #49 | - | Singing Susan Raye | |
| 1975 | "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Dog Like That" | #9 | - | 16 Greatest Hits |