Raymond Donnez (September 9, 1942 – March 7, 2019), or Don Ray, was a French disco producer, arranger and performer.
Early life
A cult hero among fans of Eurodisco, Don Ray played keyboards on Cerrone's records "Love in C Minor", "IV", "VI", and "VIII" and released one solo album, Garden of Love, which featured his successful single "Got to Have Loving", [1] cowritten with Cerrone, who drummed on the track. He also produced Santa Esmeralda's hit cover of " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and their third LP, " House of the Rising Sun". His single "Got To Have Loving" had cross-over success on pop radio, and reached #44 in the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1978. [2]
Also, was conductor in the Eurovision Song Contest in three years, 1974 (for the Monegasque entry " Celui qui reste et celui qui s'en va"), 1976 (for the Monegasque entry " Toi, la musique et moi") and 1977 (the winner of this year, the French " L'oiseau et l'enfant"). [3]
Don Ray was a musician with Alec Costandinos and his name appears on many of Alec's albums and jazz-funk classic singles "Standing in the Rain" and the slower "My Desire". The disco stomper "Midnight Madness" is only available on UK 12inch. [4]
Donnez died on 7 March, 2019. [5]
Albums
The Garden Of Love (1978) [6]
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References
- ^ Aletti, Vince (April 2009). The disco files 1973–78: New York's underground, week by week. DJhistory.com. pp. 397–. ISBN 978-0-9561896-0-8. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Hits 1955–1990 Compiled from Billboard
- ^ Raymond Donnez, Andtheconductoris.com
- ^ Discogs – Don Ray Discography
- ^ "Don Ray : disparition d'une légende française – ChronicleFred" (in French). 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Don Ray - the Garden of Love".
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