TV and Movies

[Oznell]

"Hot",  not in the Paris Hilton sense, but in the sense of authentic sizzle and talent, emotion that is not 'cool', but scorching.

Yay, some of Johnnie Ray's clips are back on youtube after a purge.  Johnnie Ray was the legendary, brilliant singer/pianist who, music historians say, among other things,was the transitional figure between Sinatra, and Elvis.  But he was all his own self, unique and raw. 

I'm celebrating the return of some of these performances with Johnnie doing "Cry".  Just go to the 29:04 minute spot in the video to hear his landmark "Cry".  Full screen is the only way to go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PdvMAPZeNo

Fast facts on Johnnie Ray:

1)  Lost hearing in one ear as a child, and it got worse as he got older.  Surgery as an adult resulted in loss of almost all hearing.  He's always with his hearing aid while performing.

2)  Playing the piano by age 3.  Early career playing African-American clubs in Detroit, signed with the so-called "race" record label Okeh.  Musical influences:  Billie Holiday, Kay Starr, LaVern Baker, Judy Garland.

3) Turbulent life, battled the bottle, sporadic arrests.  Female fans especially, driven to a frenzy by his emotive style.  Although not primarily interested in women (romantically), he nevertheless had a deeply felt, at least "emotional" liaison with married, famous reporter Dorothy Kilgallen, many years his senior, who was immersed in the Kennedy assassination investigation, and died mysteriously (and suspiciously?) of an overdose in her New York townhouse.  Johnnie was devastated.

4) It's not surprising that Garland was a big influence on him.  I remember seeing him on TV for the first time, in a somewhat schmaltzy, but big-name film,  "There's No Business Like Show Business".  Despite the presence of heavyweights like Dan Dailey, Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor, et al--  Johnnie's singing scenes stood out.  He has something of that piercing anguish of both Judy Garland and Billie Holiday.

5)  Yet, when not performing (or getting into trouble),  he had a sweet, quiet manner, with that trademark soft, gentle speaking voice.

Just a fascinating, charismatic character-- very much a raw-boned Oregon farm boy, but with that soul and ability to take over any stage with seething emotion.  Waving those large hands, snapping his fingers, he almost seemed to have too many teeth, he writhed, scowled, his hair either stood up in a mop or became plastered with perspiration.  But he mesmerized with his talent and unpredictable appeal!

Do yourself a favor, if nothing else, and listen and watch that performance of "Cry".

Oh, for those true crime enthusiasts, the period of his life that was spent with Dorothy Kilgallen has been deeply plumbed by investigative reporters interested in her life and tragic death.  A search on her brings up fascinating books and videos on the subject of Johnnie's affair with her, and also her dangerous investigation into Jack Ruby and others.

Dorothy Kilgallen and Johnnie Ray reportedly met when he guested on the TV show "What's My Line",  on which Dorothy was a panelist.  They became almost immediately inseparable.

Telling tidbit:  The video of Johnnie's appearace on "What's My Line" is on youtube, and at the very end, when the guest, Johnnie, goes over to shake hands with the panelists (Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Dorothy Kilgallen, etc) you can see how delighted Kilgallen seemed to be with Johnnie, right from the start...   

[Oznell]

Not that anyone else will be interested in this but me, but for fun I'm posting another version he did of "Cry".  The setting is funny-- it's 1966, and it's a stiff, sort of ballroom set, with flocked wallpaper and sedate, carefully dressed couples sitting around a circular stage....

Despite the confinement of the small stage with crowding tables, etc.,  Johnnie gives a somewhat looser performance.  It's not as unharnessed as others of his I've seen, but it's good.

You have to go to about the 18:40 point on this video to get to that song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuBcw4oOWMo

[drizzellla]

Thank you for the information about Johnnie Ray. I remember looking up information about him after I watched the movie "There's No Business Like Show Business". And was surprised to read that was the only movie that he appeared in. 

Sad to read he died at 63. 

Thanks for the interesting read. I did not know about him and Dorothy Kilgallen.

[Oznell]

If anyone would appreciate this stuff, it would be you, @drizzellla !

When he was asked why he didn't make other films, he responded simply, "I was never asked".   But at least one critic said something to the effect that his raw (I keep coming back to that word!) talent and appeal were more suited to live venues.

The Dorothy Kilgallen stuff was explosive, esp. given the suspicions that her probe into the Kennedy assassination was somehow connected to her "accidental" death.  It's fascinating to me when the worlds of show biz, crime, journalism and government all colllide....