Ray Singleton facts for kids

Raynoma Singleton (born Raynoma Mayberry) was an American music producer, songwriter, and singer. She was very important in the early days of Motown Records, especially with her former husband, Berry Gordy. Many people knew her as Miss Ray.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Raynoma Mayberry was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 8, 1937. Her father worked hard, and her family owned a house in Detroit.

In the mid-1950s, Raynoma married Charles Liles, who was also a musician. They had one son, Cliff Liles, born in 1955. Their marriage ended due to money problems.

Raynoma's Music Career

Working with Berry Gordy

In 1958, Raynoma and her younger sister, Alice, tried out for a songwriter named Berry Gordy. Raynoma quickly showed Gordy that she could write and arrange music. She became a key part of his growing music business.

Gordy asked Raynoma to create a backup singing group. This group was made up of singers who spent time at the studio. Gordy named the group the Rayber Voices, combining Raynoma and Berry. The group included Raynoma, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, Sonny Sanders, and later, Gwendolyn Murray and Louvain Demps. Raynoma and Berry also started a music company together called Rayber Music Writing Company.

Helping Build Motown Records

Berry Gordy was not happy with the small amount of money he received from his songs. Raynoma and Smokey Robinson encouraged him to start his own record company. Raynoma found a two-story house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard to be the main office for the new company.

Gordy put Raynoma in charge of the company's music publishing. This part of the company is now known as Jobete. Her brother, Mike Ossman, and Janie Bradford helped her.

Raynoma and Berry Gordy got married after their son, Kerry Gordy, was born. Later, their marriage ended.

Raynoma still wanted to work for Motown. Gordy agreed to let her open a Jobete office in New York City. However, New York was more expensive than Detroit. Raynoma found it hard to get enough money to keep her office running. To try and keep the office open, she made extra copies of the Motown song "My Guy" by Mary Wells.

When Berry Gordy found out, he was very upset. But he did not press charges against her. Even after their divorce, they remained friendly. Gordy even loaned Raynoma and her new husband, Eddie Singleton, money to start their own record label.

Shrine Records and Beyond

Raynoma and Eddie Singleton started a record label called Shrine in Washington, DC. When this label did not do well, Raynoma returned to Motown in 1968.

Raynoma later worked with Motown under the name Super Three. One of her most successful projects was the album Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell. This album became a Top 10 hit, and Raynoma was the executive producer.

Raynoma's Family Life

Ray Singleton was married three times and had three sons and one daughter.

Her first husband was Charles Liles. They had one son, Cliff Liles, who became a recording artist. Cliff recorded for Motown with two groups, Apollo and Kagny & The Dirty Rats.

From 1960 to 1964, she was married to her second husband, Berry Gordy. They had one son, Kerry Gordy, who is also a musician and entertainment executive. Kerry was part of the group Apollo with his brother, Cliff Liles.

From 1966 to 1970, Raynoma was married to her third husband, Eddie Singleton. They had a son, William Edward Singleton, Jr., and a daughter, Rya Singleton, who is also a recording artist.

Death

Raynoma Singleton passed away on November 11, 2016, from brain cancer. She died in Woodland Hills, California.

Credits

Producing Work