James Ray

James Ray was an R&B singer born in Washington, D.C., in 1941 who relocated to New York City by the end of the 1950s. He recorded under the name Little Jimmy Ray before signing to Caprice Records and breaking through in 1961 with a soulful style that drew comparisons to Little Willie John. His career was brief, ending with his death from a drug overdose in 1965, but his recordings left a lasting mark, influencing artists including the Beatles.