Ray Sharpe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Sharpe
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| Birth name | Edward Ray Sharpe |
| Born | February 8, 1938 Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1956–present |
Edward Ray Sharpe (born February 8, 1938) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit song "Linda Lu". Ray Sharpe was known for his unique musical style.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Ray Sharpe was born in Fort Worth, Texas. As he grew up, he loved both country music and blues music. He learned to play the guitar. He was inspired by the music of Chuck Berry.
In 1956, Ray Sharpe started his own music group. It was called Ray Sharpe and the Blues Whalers. The group included Raydell Reese on piano and Cornelius Bell on drums. They became very popular playing rock and roll music in clubs in Fort Worth.
Ray Sharpe began recording his music in April 1958. This happened in Phoenix, Arizona. A producer named Lee Hazlewood helped him record his first song. It was a single with two songs: "That's the Way I Feel" and "Oh, My Baby's Gone".
The Hit Song "Linda Lu"
Ray Sharpe's second record was a big success. It featured the songs "Linda Lu" and "Monkey's Uncle". Ray Sharpe wrote both of these songs himself. Lee Hazlewood also produced this record.
Famous guitarists Duane Eddy and Ray Sharpe played guitar on the record. Al Casey played rhythm guitar. The song "Linda Lu" was recorded in May 1959. It became very popular. It reached number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart that year.
After "Linda Lu" became a hit, Ray Sharpe appeared on American Bandstand. This was a popular TV show. He also went on tour with a Dick Clark rock and roll show. Other famous musicians on the tour included LaVern Baker, Duane Eddy, and The Coasters. Many other artists have since sung "Linda Lu". These include the Rolling Stones, The Kingsmen, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Tom Jones.
Later Music Work
Ray Sharpe released more songs on different record labels. These included Lee Hazlewood's own Trey label. However, these later songs were not as successful.
In 1966, he made some recordings with King Curtis. The famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix played guitar on these songs. Ray Sharpe's songs have been recorded by many other acts. These include Roy Head and the Traits, Neil Young, and J. B. Hutto. Ray Sharpe has continued to release records. He also performs regularly in the Fort Worth area.
