Ray Whitley (songwriter)

Robert Ray Whitley (November 22, 1943 – May 5, 2013) was an American beach music composer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for composing hit songs recorded by The Tams and Guy Darrell, and he also released 14 of his own singles between 1961 and 1970.

Biography
Whitely was born in Columbus, Georgia on November 22, 1943 to Robert S. and Willie Bell Whitley. Whitley was 14 when he formed his first band in his hometown. Producer Felton Jarvis soon discovered him in an Atlanta High School. Jarvis introduced Whitley to Atlanta music producer Bill Lowery, who saw Whitley's potential and signed him to a contract.

Whitley's songwriting credits include "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (which reached #9 on the Billboard charts), "I've Been Hurt", "Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me", "You Lied to Your Daddy", and "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (co-written with J.R. Cobb of the Atlanta Rhythm Section) for The Tams. His compositions were also recorded by Billy Joe Royal, Tommy Roe, Guy Darrell, The Swinging Medallions, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Mylon LeFevre and Sonia Evans.

Whitley toured nationally as a singer and performer, in addition to his work as a songwriter. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1991.

Later in his life, Whitley struggled with alcoholism and homelessness; as of 2011, he was living in a shelter in Gainesville, Georgia. Whitley died on May 5, 2013, after several months of illness. Ray had one child, Christopher.

Discography as a recording artist

 * 1961 - I Wasn't Sure / There Goes A Teardrop - Vee Jay USA	VJ 414
 * 1962 - Yessiree-Yessiree / A Love We Can Have And Hold - Vee Jay USA	VJ 433
 * 1962 - It Hurts / Deeper In Love - Vee Jay USA	VJ 448
 * 1963 - Teenage Crush / Young Heartaches - Vee Jay USA	VJ 521
 * 1964 - Walking Back To You / Weep Little Girl Weep - Vee Jay USA	VJ 591
 * 1965 - I've Been Hurt / There Is One Boy - Dunhill USA	D-201
 * 1965 - Runaway / I'll Tell The Robin - Apt USA	45-25086
 * 1966 - The End Of My World / Just A Boy In Love - Columbia USA	4-43607
 * 1967 - Take Back Your Mind / Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - Columbia USA	4-43980
 * 1968 - 1983 / Gotta Go There - TRX USA	45-T-5007
 * 1969 - Don't Throw Your Love To The Wind / Underdose Of Faith - 123 USA 1707
 * 1970 - Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me / Everybody - Attarack USA	ATT 103