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Ray Dalton
Ray Dalton 02 (cropped).jpg
Dalton in 2010
Background information
Birth name Raymond Adrien Dalton
Born (1990-05-10) May 10, 1990 (age 34)
San Bernardino, California, U.S.
Origin Seattle, Washington
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active 2009–present
Associated acts

Raymond Adrien Dalton (born May 10, 1990) is an American singer based in Seattle, Washington. He began his career as a gospel and R&B singer. Dalton gained prominence as the featured artist on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 2011 song "Can't Hold Us", which gained popularity between 2012 and 2013, eventually topping the charts in multiple countries including the Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified platinum in the U.S. in April 2013. He has won two MTV Video Music Awards.

Life and career

Dalton's mother is Mexican American and his father is African American. He began singing at the age of 6 on the advice of his music teacher, joining the Seattle Children's Choir. He continued to sing through high school. He has described himself as a fan of Fleetwood Mac. Dalton spent his senior year in high school listening to Missy Elliott, Amy Winehouse, and Kanye West, according to an interview with MTV News.

Aside from music, Dalton is a tennis player who has worked as a tennis instructor. He gave up teaching tennis following the success of "Can't Hold Us" to pursue a full-time career as a musician. Dalton sings in the Total Experience Gospel Choir of Seattle as of 2013.

Dalton's work drew the attention of producer Ryan Lewis, who had heard Dalton's singing on a song for another artist. Lewis reached out to Dalton via Facebook. Dalton soon began collaborating with Lewis and Macklemore in the studio. The first song the trio worked on together was Macklemore and Lewis' 2011 single, "Wings".

In June 2012, Dalton released his first single, "So Emotional", which was mixed by Lewis. He also announced he was working on his "own project" to be called The Dalton Show.

Dalton, Lewis, and Macklemore created the hook for "Can't Hold Us" in one day. Dalton shot his scenes for the single's music video while on tour in New Zealand in March 2013.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected certifications
Title Details Certifications
Thee Unknown
  • ZPAV: Gold

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUT
BEL
(Fl)

BEL
(Wa)

CRO
Int.
Air.
CZE
Air.
EST
Air.
GER
POL
Air.
SVK
Air.
SWI
"So Emotional" 2012 * non-album single
"If You Fall" 2017
"Bass Down" 2018
"In My Bones" 2020 13 44 26 2 2 2
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • SNEP: Platinum
  • ZPAV: Platinum
Thee Unknown
"Good Times Hard Times" non-album single
"If You're Tired"
(with Connor Duermit)
"Don't Make Me Miss You" 2021 15
"Melody"
(with Vinai)
"Manila"
(with Álvaro Soler)
15 23 37 1 19
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
"The Best Is Yet to Come" 2022
"Call It Love"
(with Felix Jaehn)
19 22 12 4 12 18 3 18 17
  • ZPAV: 2× Platinum
Thee Unknown
"Do It Again" 2023 38 58 9 2 1
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • MAHASZ: Platinum
  • ZPAV: Platinum
"All We Got" 2024 51 17 12
  • ZPAV: Gold
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
"*" denotes the chart did not exist at that time.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
AUS
BEL
(Fl)

BEL
(Wa)

DEN
FRA
NOR
NZ
SWE
SWI
UK
"Kingdom Come"
(Dyno Jamz featuring Ray Dalton)
2010 Dyno Jamz
"Can't Hold Us"
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton)
2011 1 1 2 2 4 3 4 4 1 4 3
  • RIAA: 6× Platinum
  • ARIA: 13× Platinum
  • BEA: 2× Platinum
  • IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum
  • SNEP: Gold
  • RMNZ: 2× Platinum
  • GLF: 2× Platinum
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum
  • BPI: 5× Platinum
The Heist
"Whisper"
(Camila Recchio featuring Ray Dalton)
Non-album singles
"Need Your Love"
(Sol featuring Ray Dalton)
2012
"Visceral"
(John Mark McMillan featuring Ray Dalton)
2014 The Borderland Sessions
"Don't Worry"
(Madcon featuring Ray Dalton)
2015 82 10 15 5 2 4 28 14 8 54
  • BEA: Gold
  • BPI: Silver
  • IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum
  • IFPI NOR: 4× Platinum
  • RMNZ: Gold
  • GLF: Platinum
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum
Non-album singles
"Stronger"
(Arty featuring Ray Dalton)
2016 Glorious
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Believe" 2018 Alex Aldea, Camila Recchio The First Mrs. Claus

See also

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