LITTLE WHITE CLOUD THAT
CRIED
JOHNNIE RAY & THE FOUR
LADS
SONGWRITER: JOHNNIE RAY
COUNTRY: U.S.A.
ALBUM: THE LITTLE WHITE
CLOUD THAT CRIED
LABEL: COLUMBIA
GENRE: JAZZ
YEAR: 1964
John
Alvin "Johnnie" Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an
American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Extremely popular for most of the
1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor of what would become rock and roll,
for his jazz and blues-influenced
music and his animated stage personality. Tony
Bennett credits Ray as being the true father
of rock and roll.
British Hit Singles & Albums noted that Ray was "a sensation in the 1950s, the
heart-wrenching vocal delivery of 'Cry' ... influenced many acts including Elvis and was the prime target for teen hysteria in the pre-Presley
days."
In 1952, Ray rose very quickly
from obscurity to stardom in the United States. He became
a major star in the United Kingdom by performing and releasing recordings there in 1953 and shared
billing there with many acts including Frank
Holder. He matched these achievements in Australia the following year. His career in his native United States began to
decline in the late 1950s, and his American record label dropped him in 1960. He
never regained a strong following there and very rarely appeared on American
television after 1973. His fan base in other countries, however, remained
strong until his last year of performing, which was 1989. His recordings never
stopped selling outside the United States.
I went walkin' down by the river
Feeling very sad inside
When all at once I saw in the sky
The little white cloud that cried
He told me he was very lonesome
And no one cared if he lived or died
Make all little clouds hide
He said "Have faith in all kinds of weather"
"For the sun will always shine"
"Do your best and always remember"
"The dark clouds pass with time"
He asked if I'd tell all my world
Just how hard those little clouds try
That's how I know I'll always remember
The little white cloud that sat right down and cried
(The little white cloud that cried).
Postagens
