Ray Rush

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Ray Rush is an American songwriter and record producer. After early collaborations with Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, Rush moved into producing and promoting records of Texas musicians.

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Music career

Rush's music career began while a student at Odessa College, where he sang in a trio called the Roses, serving as a backup vocals on "Think It Over" by Buddy Holly in 1958. [1] [2] The Roses accompanied Holly and his band to New York in support of the song. [3] Rush and the Roses sang backup vocals on other Crickets songs, such as "Wild One", ( aka, ' Real Wild Child '), in 1958. [4] Rush was promotions manager of an early recording and publishing company formed by Holly, Prism Records. [5]

Rush introduced Roy Orbison to Joe Melson, one of Orbison's most important early collaborators. [6] [7] Rush co-wrote "Mama" in 1962 with Orbison. [8]

Rush was one of the founders of Zenith Productions. From 1966 to 1968, Zenith was in litigation with Scepter Records in a contractual dispute over B. J. Thomas. Zenith had recorded one of Thomas's early singles, and claimed contractual interference. [9] Zenith settled in 1968 for $7,500, and Thomas signed with Scepter. [10]

In 1968, Rush was hired by International Artists to revamp their operation. [11] Rush produced several psychedelic rock albums with International Artists in the late 1960s, including The Thirteenth Floor Elevators', Bull of the Woods , and songs by Bubble Puppy in 1969. [12] Rush produced records and also managed artists and repertoire with International. [13]

Singles discography

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References

  1. ↑ Ray Rush | LoneStarStomp bio
  2. ↑ Dean, Maury. Rock and Roll:Gold Rush. 2003. p. 64.
  3. ↑ Gerron, Peggy Sue. Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue? 2008. p. 279.
  4. ↑ Lergessner, James. Cloudland: Queen of the Dance Halls. 2013. p. 128.
  5. ↑ Amburn, Ellis. Buddy Holly: A Biography. 2014.
  6. ↑ Kruth, John. Rhapsody in Black. 2013.
  7. ↑ Escott, Colin. Good Rockin' Tonight. 2011.
  8. ↑ Lehman, Peter. Roy Orbison: Invention of an Alternative Rock Masculinity. 2010. p. 198.
  9. ↑ Billboard. "Legal Battle over Thomas". July 9, 1966. p. 3.
  10. ↑ Billboard. "Thomas Stays with Scepter". May 4, 1968. p. 71.
  11. ↑ Billboard. Int'l Artists Producing in New Expansion Moves. Mar. 15, 1969. p. 3.
  12. ↑ Billboard. May 24, 1969. p.76.
  13. ↑ Laurie Jasinski, ed. The Handbook of Texas Music. 2012.
  14. ↑ Ingman, John. A.O.K.: Record Labels of West Texas & New Mexico.
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