He was born in Dallas, Oregon, of American Indian origin, and grew up in Portland. He became deaf in his right ear at age 12. Ray, whose performing style earned him the nickname "Mr. Emotion," had his initial success with "Cry" (1951), which reached the top of the U.S. charts and made him a teenage idol. More hits followed, including "Just Walkin' in the Rain" (1956). He was even more popular in the U.K than in the U.S. His career declined in the 1960s but was revived in the 1970s. He died of liver failure in Los Angeles.
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