Robert Ray Whitley (November 22, 1943 – May 5, 2013) was an American beach music composer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for composing hit songs recorded by The Tams and Guy Darrell, and he also released 14 of his own singles between 1961 and 1970.
Biography
Whitely was born in Columbus, Georgia on November 22, 1943 to Robert S. and Willie Bell Whitley. Whitley was 14 when he formed his first band in his hometown. Producer Felton Jarvis soon discovered him in an Atlanta High School. Jarvis introduced Whitley to Atlanta music producer Bill Lowery, who saw Whitley's potential and signed him to a contract.
Whitley's songwriting credits include "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (which reached #9 on the Billboard charts), "I've Been Hurt", "Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me", "You Lied to Your Daddy", and "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (co-written with J.R. Cobb of the Atlanta Rhythm Section) for The Tams. His compositions were also recorded by Billy Joe Royal, Tommy Roe, Guy Darrell, The Swinging Medallions, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Mylon LeFevre and Sonia Evans.
Whitley toured nationally as a singer and performer, in addition to his work as a songwriter. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1991.
Later in his life, Whitley struggled with alcoholism and homelessness; as of 2011, he was living in a shelter in Gainesville, Georgia. Whitley died on May 5, 2013, after several months of illness.
Discography as a recording artist 1961 - I Wasn't Sure / There Goes A Teardrop - Vee Jay USA VJ 414 1962 - Yessiree-Yessiree / A Love We Can Have And Hold - Vee Jay USA VJ 433 1962 - It Hurts / Deeper In Love - Vee Jay USA VJ 448 1963 - Teenage Crush / Young Heartaches - Vee Jay USA VJ 521 1964 - Walking Back To You / Weep Little Girl Weep - Vee Jay USA VJ 591 1965 - I've Been Hurt / There Is One Boy - Dunhill USA D-201 1965 - Runaway / I'll Tell The Robin - Apt USA 45-25086 1966 - The End Of My World / Just A Boy In Love - Columbia USA 4-43607 1967 - Take Back Your Mind / Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - Columbia USA 4-43980 1968 - 1983 / Gotta Go There - TRX USA 45-T-5007 1969 - Don't Throw Your Love To The Wind / Underdose Of Faith - 123 USA 1707 1970 - Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me / Everybody - Attarack USA ATT 103
Selected songs written by Ray Whitley Date Performer Title Peak chart positions Notes US US AC US Country US R&B UK 12/1963 The Tams What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) 9 1 ABC-Paramount 10502. 03/1964 The Tams You Lied to Your Daddy 70 27 ABC-Paramount 10533. 07/1964 The Tams Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me 41 10 ABC-Paramount 10573. 10/1966 Bryan Hyland Run, Run, Look, and See 25 Philips 40405. Written by Martin Cooper & Ray Whitley. 04/1967 The Swingin' Medallions I Found a Rainbow 107 Smash 2084. 05/1968 December's Children Backwards and Forwards 123 World Pacific 77887. 09/1968 The Tams Trouble Maker 118 ABC 11128. 04/1969 Bill Deal & the Rhondels I've Been Hurt 35 Heritage 812. 08/1969 Bill Deal & the Rhondels What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am 23 Heritage 817. 07/1971 The Tams Hey Girl Don't Bother Me 1 08/1973 Guy Darrell I've Been Hurt 12 1976 Larry Jon Wilson Think I Feel a Hitchhike Coming On 47 74 Monument 8692. 1978 Eddie Middleton What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) 44 08/1991 Sonia Evans Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy 13 22 I.Q./RCA 62246. Written by James Cobb & Ray Whitley.
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Further reading