Ray Crumley - Was He Blue Eyed Or Black ?

[Sunnysoul]

Have seen numerous references over the years to Ray Crumley as a blue eyed soul man.

 

However this is the only photo I can find of him. It is the Ray Crumley who sang lead on the rare and much sought after modern soul LP by the Solid Gold Revue and presumably the Ray Crumley who had the 7" releases on Alarm.

 

So, does anyone have any more information on Ray?

Edited April 29, 2014 by sunnysoul

[Steve G]

where is the photo from, the south?

 

we were told (wrongly) that Chuck Cockerham and Detroit Sounds of Friction were blue eyes.....they ain't.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Steve G

[Sunnysoul]

It's from the back of the Solid Gold Revue LP on which all the musicians are black save for 1 latino member.

 

Also the same photo is referenced here on the Indiana University web site:  

 

https://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/images/item.htm?id=https://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/photos/VAC2427/PA003633

 

AAAMC > AAAMC Black Radio Collections

 

Accession Number SC 14 Title Ray Crumley Collection Name Jack Gibson Collection Date Taken circa 1970-1979 Publisher Theodore Arthur & Associates Photographer Unknown Personal Name Crumley, Ray Subject Publicity photographs, Musicians, Soul musicians, Funk musicians, African Americans, Portrait photographs Country United States Print Type Black and white Physical Description 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.

Edited April 29, 2014 by sunnysoul

[Sunnysoul]

Just discovered another interesting article on Ray Crumley and the Solid Gold Revue

 

https://blog.al.com/entertainment-press-register/2010/06/loves_traffic_emerges_from_obs.html

 

which suggests that Ray Crumley was once the lead vocalist of the group Merging Traffic who released the well known northern record "Aint No Need" on My Records out of Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

Merging Traffic are noted on the Solid Gold Revue LP as the instrumentalists of the Revue. That connection is interesting in itself as Merging Traffic have often been referred to as being as a blue eyed soul group.

 

No mention in the article of Ray Crumley recording for Alarm though ...   

Edited April 29, 2014 by sunnysoul

[Sunnysoul]

 

Here is a photo of Merging Traffic. None of the information I have found on this group mentions that any members were black ... not sure how to reconcile this with the Merging Traffic connected to Solid Gold Revue ...

Edited April 29, 2014 by sunnysoul

[Sunnysoul]

This link would appear to be conclusive evidence that Ray Crumley of Alarm Records was indeed black ... it includes 2 photos of him ....

 

https://www.northernsoulpriceguide.com/guide_detail.php?item=250690660869

 

Genre:Northern / Crossover SoulFORMAT: 45RPMARTIST: Ray CrumleyTITLE: Uncanny / All The way in Love With YouLABEL: AlarmNUMBER:115LABEL DESCRIPTION:White w/ BlackPrintingGRADE&DESCRIPTION (COVER): no coverGRADE&DESCRIPTION (RECORD): EXAdditional Notes:RARE glimpse into the Texas soul scene. Ray Crumley PROMO 45 mailed to his address in Texas. Along with 2 photos of him performing, signed on the back"To Debra From Ray". Includes original mailing envelop from Alarm Records, Shreveport, La.

 

Edited April 29, 2014 by sunnysoul

[Jordirip]

I don't know how there can possibly be any doubt about Ray's colour. When you listen to this, it's fairly obvious.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysb7XHgYYWY

[Sunnysoul]

I don't know how there can possibly be any doubt about Ray's colour. When you listen to this, it's fairly obvious.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysb7XHgYYWY

 

 

Totally agree except for the fact that on more than a few occasions previously Ray Crumley been referred to as being blue eyed, even recently apparently by Tony Rounce in the liner notes to the Kent release "Sam Dees : One In A Million".  Tony it seems hasn't been active on here for a while , would be great if we could hear from him on this.

[John Benson]

Without digging through old copies of Blues & Soul, I seem to think there must be an article in one of them which also ought to confirm it for certain.

sometime around the release on Magnet of "It's uncanny" I would think.

Failing that surely Dave Godin would have said something as the single was one he wrote about at the time?