Cry: Johnnie Ray Story

Thank you for having this at a great price, terrific condition and sending quickly. Great seller.

This is a very good read, the book was in amazing condition. I don't think it had ever been read.

After finishing the book I felt dizzy from all that was going on in Johnnie Ray's life. Yes, the book has its flaws: at times, you're not sure who is being quoted as saying what, and, at other times, you're not so convinced of the veracity of what the author is stating because he seems to claim to be reading Johnnie Ray's mind or the minds of others (so you just have to take what he writes with a boulder of salt), and, other times, he quotes people who are just only one source as to whether such and such a thing happened. Reading some paragraphs, I thought the author would have been more comfortable writing a novel about Johnnie Ray.Still, despite all of this, there are enough facts going around to stun you about what had been going on in Ray's life: his childhood, his background, his vocal influences, his drunken escapades, his actual bisexualty though still leaning toward homosexuality and how these tendencies influenced his interpretations of songs, the retinue of leeches (some who had very bad influences on him especially concerning alcohol) who were a drain on his finances and energy.Great lessons can be gleaned from this book for any aspiring singer/performer.Speakiing aurally, I have to admit that I have a hard time listening to a whole album of his at one time. His sometimes bizarre vocal antics do not wear too well; this is probably a reason why he is becoming a forgotten chapter in musical history.

Every rock and roll fan should know the Johnnie Ray story (as well as the Rose Maddox story, for that matter - also written by Jonny Whiteside).

a great read,tells the ups and downs of a very talented singer