Raymond Eugene Smith, born on October 30, 1934 in Melber, Kentucky, was an American rockabilly singer. Growing up on a farm, he absorbed country influences from Eddy Arnold and Gene Autry, and his first public performances occurred during his service in the Air Force, where he won a unit contest with Hank Williams’ "Lovesick Blues". After leaving the military, he formed the Rock and Roll Boys in 1956 and toured southern and western nightclubs before securing a contract with Sam Phillips at Sun Records, Memphis. His debut single, "So Young", was released in 1958. Subsequent releases included Travelin' with Ray (1960), The Country Side (1979), and The Rocking Side (1980). Smith recorded under labels such as Judd, Infinity, Vee‑Jay, Warner Brothers, and BC Records, and collaborated with artists including Charlie Rich and Conway Twitty. He appeared on national television shows such as The Dick Clark Show and Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and toured Canada with Narvel Felts. Raymond Eugene Smith died by suicide on 29 November 1979 in Burlington, Ontario, leaving behind a wife and three children.
