Alec Blackman (in Coventry, for BBC News) writes about the outpouring of tributes following the death of Ray King. King, whose real name was Vibert Cornwall, was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; he moved to the United Kingdom in 1961.
Tributes have been paid to Ray King, one of the most influential singers in the ska and 2 Tone music genres, following the announcement of his death.
Born Vibert Cornwall in St Vincent and the Grenadines, he came to the UK in 1961 and arrived in Northampton, before moving to Coventry two years later, after being told it was the place to become a singer.
Pete Chambers, the founder of the Coventry Music Museum, said King had a stage presence “like James Brown”. “He was the kind of guy who controlled the stage with just one look, one little movement of the arm or whatever. He was a real professional and such a lovely guy and an influential guy.”
In an interview with the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in 2010, King said his musical influences as a young man and performer ranged from Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, and Elvis Presley to Pat Boone and Doris Day.
He formed the Ray King Soul Band and performed throughout Coventry, with their first gig at The Walsgrave Club in the city.
The reputation of the band’s professionalism and popularity led to a six-month residency at the Playboy Club in London, with the likes of Jimmy Hendrix and Paul McCartney joining the band on stage on an ad-hoc basis. [. . .]
In 2012, King was honoured with a plaque dedicated to him on the Wall of Fame at 2 Tone village in Coventry, part of the Coventry Music Museum, recognising the role he played in bringing musicians together to form bands that would become household names. [. . .]
For full article, see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7mg4ev8vko
Also see https://www.stvincenttimes.com/ray-king-vincentian-soul-singer-dies-in-the-uk/
[Shown above, photo from the Coventry Music Museum: “Ray King and the Ray King Soul Band influenced bands like The Specials and The Selecter.”]
Alec Blackman (in Coventry, for BBC News) writes about the outpouring of tributes following the death of Ray King. King, whose real name was Vibert Cornwall, was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; he moved to the United Kingdom in 1961. Tributes have been paid to Ray King, one of the most influential singers
