Ray Burns was a British singer, active in the 1950s, who had a top five hit single in 1955.
Reuben Klot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 April 1923 London |
| Died | 9 December 2000 |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1940s-50s |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
Early life
editBurns was born of Russian ancestry as Reuben Klot in the east end of London in 1923.[1] During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force.
Singing career
editBurns entered showbusiness when a friend of the comedian Issy Bonn heard him singing in a barber shop;[2] Bonn took Burns on as a dresser, taught him singing techniques, and had him perform a song during his stage shows.[3] Burns' career took a step forward in 1949, when the orchestra leader Ambrose heard him sing at a London club and offered him a job.[4]
Burns was a regular singer with the BBC Show Band, under the leadership of Cyril Stapleton, in the 1950s,[5] and recorded a number of singles for Columbia Records between 1953 and 1958, two of which made any of the UK singles charts. The bigger hit, a cover of the Bob Holt/David Wells song "Mobile" (with the Eric Jupp Orchestra), which had been a hit in the United States for Julius La Rosa, reached number 4 in both the New Musical Express and Record Mirror[6] charts in March 1955. The second, "That's How A Love Song Was Born" (with The Coronets), reached number 14 of the NME charts later in the year; at the time Record Mirror only had a top 10 chart, expanding to a top 20 in October 1955, just as the single dropped out of the NME top 20.[7]
Burns' career turned to cabaret and smaller scale performances as the musical scene changed, but he made one final television appearance on Barrymore in the 1990s.[8]
Personal life
editBurns and his wife Tilly had two children, Larry and Gillian. Gillian performed with her father in a double act in the 1970s, and won an episode of New Faces in 1977.[9]
References
edit- ^ Larkin, Colin (2008). Encyclopaedia of Popular Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ^ "Ray's bouncing back to the big time". Manchester Evening News: 3. 20 November 1965.
- ^ "Midland entertainments". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 2. 17 September 1946.
- ^ "Ray Burns". The Stage: 11. 21 December 2000.
- ^ "Festival of dance music". Coatbridge Leader: 1. 29 January 1955.
- ^ Jasper, Tony (1976). 20 Years of The British Record Charts 1955-1975. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 5.
- ^ "Ray Burns". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Ray Burns family interview with Michael Barrymore". youtube. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "29 Jan 1977 – Series Five (21)". You're a star, superstar. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.