I have been entertaining people for over 50 years; I was a professional drummer for the first ten years. I played drums and toured with Bill Haley's Comets. For the last 40 years, I have been singing big band music, classic country, and the crooners of the '50s & '60s. I not only try to bring back old memories but also try to create new ones. I have co-written songs, with some great songwriters, over the years that I use in my shows, and I can even tailor songs for your special event. "Music is the soundtrack of our lives, and memories are how it plays." I would love to see how I can make your event memorable.
Ray has such a wonderful and warm personality and the residents at the assisted living home where my mother lives enjoyed Ray's show very much. Ray was very communicative and sent a list of the country and crooner songs in his repertoire in advance so that the group could choose their favorites for his performance. His quote for the performance was extremely reasonable. He will definitely be invited back!
Response from Ray Desmond:
This facility was very friendly and seemed to care about its residents genuinely. I would go back there any time.
Photos from this event
Price Range: $250.00 to $1000.00
Gig Length: 60 - 180 minutes
Languages: English
I do not pretend to imitate any of the great singers. But, I do love to keep this music alive. I have fun and try to engage the audience to be a part of my performances. I want to let everyone know that, in the Classic Country list, I do not sing any music past the mid-1990s; and those are usually Dwight Yoakum and George Strait songs.
I grew up in a small mining town in Southern Illinois listening to 78 and 45 rpm records of Pat Boone, Little Richard, The Everly Brother, Fats domino, and of course, Elvis Presley. At least as long as I can remember, I always dreamed of playing music for people and giving them the same feelings I felt when I heard it. But, because of a handicap, I had very little hope that my dream would come true. When I was 14, Shriners Hospital performed an operation that gave me 90% use of my right arm, and my best friend taught me to play the drums. It was hard work, but I loved it so much that within 6 months I was playing professionally. We played at Sock Hops, Teen towns, Roller Skating Rinks, Proms, and Homecomings. After high school, I played with the Blue Shadows, and then My dream came true I was asked to tour with Bill Haley's Comets. With hits like Rock Around the Clock, Shake Rattle and Roll, and See You Later Alligator. It was the highlight of my career. I also loved Big Band and Classic Country, but I did not feel I had the vocal maturity to do all of those styles. In 2002 I decided to put together a crooner thru the year's show and combined all of those genres. I performed at the Kansas State Fair for 9 years in a row. I was asked to be in a Broadway-style play called "Could It Be Love" with Jeannie Seely and Helen Cornelius on the stage of the famous Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. My influences are Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Jim Reeves, Ray Price, Eddie Arnold, Patsy Cline, Bobby Darin, Pat Boone, Brook Benton, Solomon Burke, and of course, Frank Sinatra. after 2011, large orchestras became very expensive to keep together, and musicians became very specialized. So all of my arrangements are on CD. They are very professionally done with full orchestra and background singers. I believe that music is the soundtrack to our lives, and memories are how it plays. I want to help you create a soundtrack to your event; I can even tailor songs to your event. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and hopefully, I can make your next event memorable. There is a page that contains my song lists; due to the number of songs that I have, I only included around 50 songs from each genre. I have over 550 songs for you to choose from. If you want to suggest a song, I will try to find an arrangement for it. I can E-Mail you a full list in any one of my genres or all of them if you need one. Thank you.
I would need to know if you have lighting or not?
You can choose certain songs that you absolutely want at your event. I also have 132 Christmas songs, of which 19 I have co-written.
BIG BAND PERFORMANCE LIST
01. I’M SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD - BOBBY DARIN
02. OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY - JACK JONES
03. MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME - MEL TORME
04. DREAM ON LITTLE DREAMER - PERRY COMO
05. ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU - DEAN MARTIN
06. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME - DEAN MARTIN
07. DREAM - DEAN MARTIN
08. SUCH A NIGHT - MICHAEL BUBLE
09. MY KIND OF GIRL - MATT MONROE
10. A REAL LIVE GIRL - MATT MONROE
11. DELILAH - TOM JONES (2021 VERSION)
12. NEVERTHELESS - MICHAEL BUBLE
13. I’VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE - HARRY JAMES
14. IT’S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME - HARRY JAMES
15. BUONA SERA - LOUIE PRIMA
16. I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS - JOE BROWN
17. SOMETHING STUPID - FRANK SINATRA
18. YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG - FRANK SINATRA
19. NICE ‘N’ EASY - FRANK SINATRA
20. LUCK BE A LADY - FRANK SINATRA
21. THE SUMMER WIND - FRANK SINATRA
22. TINY BUBBLES - DON HO
23. PEARLY SHELLS - BERL IVES
24. HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG - DON HO
25. OLD CAPE COD - PATTI PAGE
26. JUST IN TIME - DEAN MARTIN
27. ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE - DEAN MARTIN
28. I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR FACE - DEAN MARTIN
29. TILL THERE WAS YOU - ORIGINAL VERSION
30. BEGIN THE BEGUINE - JULIO IGESIAS
31. L-O-V-E - NAT KING COLE
32. LET THERE BE LOVE - NAT KING COLE
33. LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND - PEGGY LEE
34. TOO YOUNG - NAT KING COLE
35. WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME - NAT KING COLE
36. MONA LISA - NAT KING COLE
37. RAMBLIN ROSE - NAT KING COLE
38. UNFORGETTABLE - NAT KING COLE
39. UNFORGETTABLE - NAT KING COLE
40. ORANGE COLORED SKY - NAT KING COLE
41. FOREVER - RAY DESMOND
42. THE OLD LAMPLIGHTER - THE BROWNS
43. RED ROSES FOR A BLUE LADY - JACK JONES
44. A PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE - STEVE LAWRENCE
45. TILL THERE WAS YOU - PAUL McCARTNEY
46. YOU BELONG TO MY HEART - BING CROSBY
47. ALRIGHT, OKAY, YOU WIN - JOE WILLIAMS
48. UNCHAINED MELODY - AL HIBBLER
49. GOODY, GOODY - LITTLE ANTHONY
50. ROUND AND ROUND - PERRY COMO
CLASSIC COUNTRY LIST
01. I LOVE YOU BECAUSE - BOB WILLS
02. YOUR CHEATING HEART - HANK WILLIAMS
03. RIGHT OR WRONG - WANDA JACKSON
04. WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT - PATSY CLINE
05. MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU - RAY PRICE
06 NIGHTLIFE - RAY PRICE
07. JUST OUT OF REACH - RAY PRICE
08. RIGHT OR WRONG - GEORGE STRAIT
09. LITTLE SISTER - DWIGHT YOAKUM
10. CRAZY ARMS - RAY PRICE
11. FOR THE GOOD TIMES - RAY PRICE
12. I GOT MEXICO - EDDIE RAVEN
13 WORKING MAN BLUES - MERLE HAGGARD
14. PLEDGING MY LOVE - JERRY LEE LEWIS
15. BUT I DO - CHARLIE PRIDE
16. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME - RANDY TRAVIS
17. BLUES FOR DIXIE - MERLE HAGGARD
18. CLAUDETTE - DWIGHT YOAKUM
19. SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD - DAVE DUDLEY
20. THE GIRL ON THE BILLBOARD - DEL REEVES
21. BETWEEN BLUE EYES AND JEANS - CONWAY TWITTY
22. FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY - WILLIE NELSON
23. RUB IT IN - BILLIE (CRASH) CRADDUCK
24 STATUE OF A FOOL - JACK GREEN
25. WHY HAVEN’T I HEARD FROM YOU - REBA MCENTIRE
26. WHAT’S HE DOING IN MY WORLD - EDDY ARNOLD
27. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY - EDDY ARNOLD
28. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY - EDDY ARNOLD
29. WELCOME TO MY WORLD - EDDY ARNOLD
30. MY BABY’S COMING HOME - RAY DESMOND
31. YOU MEAN ALL THE WORLD TO ME - DAVID HOUSTON
32. YOU’RE THE ONLY WORLD I KNOW - SONNY JAMES
33. SINCE I MET YOU BABY - SONNY JAMES
34. DON’T BE CRUEL - THE MAVERICKS
35. HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER - GUY MITCHELL
36. ANITA YOUR DREAMING - WAYLON JENNINGS
37. JUST TO SATISFY YOU - WAYLON JENNINGS
38. DELIAH’S GONE - WAYLON JENNINGS
39. TONIGHT, THE BOTTLE LET ME DOWN - MERLE HAGGARD
40. TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART - HANK WILLIAMS
41. DANCE WITH ME JUST ONE MORE TIME - JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ
42. I WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU - GEORGE STRAIT
43. PLEASE, PLEASE BABY, BABY - DWIGHT YOAKUM
44. SOUTH OF THE BORDER - PATSY CLINE
45. WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME - PATSY CLINE
46. ALL I HAVE TO OFFER YOU IS ME - CHARLIE PRIDE
47. BACK IN BABY’S ARMS - PATSY CLINE
48. ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - RAUL MALO
49. IT KEEPS RIGHT ON-A HURTIN - JOHNNY TILLOTSON
50. BOUQUET OF ROSES - EDDY ARNOLD
The 1950s
01. LOST IN THE FIFTIES TONIGHT - RONNIE MILSAP
02. ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - BILL HALEY & COMETS
03. SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL - BILL HALEY & COMETS
04. JOHNNY B. GOODE - CHUCK BERRY
05. LUCILLE - LITTLE RICHARD
06. SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN - CHUCK BERRY
07. SEND ME SOME LOVIN - LITTLE RICHARD
08. ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - CHUCK BERRY
09. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE/WHOLE - JERRY LEE LEWIS
10. RIP IT UP - LITTLE RICHARD
11. OVER AND OVER - BOBBY DAY
12. HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS - TOMMY TUCKER
13. BLUEBERRY HILL - FATS DOMINO
14. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS HERE TO STAY - DANNY & THE JUNIORS
15. MARY LOU - RONNIE HAWKINS
16. CRY TO ME - SOLOMON BURKE
17. CORRINA, CORRINA - BIG JOE TURNER
18. IT’S ALL IN THE GAME - TOMMY EDWARDS
19. SEA CRUISE - FRANKIE FORD
20. YOU ARE MY DESTINY - PAUL ANKA
21. LITTLE DARLIN - THE DIAMONDS
22. THE STROLL - THE DIAMONDS
23. IT’S ONLY MAKE-BELIEVE - CONWAY TWITTY
24. QUEEN OF THE HOP - BOBBY DARIN
25. OH CAROL - NEIL SEDAKA
26. WE GOT LOVE - BOBBY RYDELL
27. SPLISH SPLASH - BOBBY DARIN
28. WITCH DOCTOR - DAVID SEVILLE
29. MR. SANDMAN - DICKIE VALENTINE
30. YOU BELONG TO ME - DEAN MARTIN
31. AT THE HOP - DANNY & THE JUNIORS
32. TRYIN TO GET TO YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY
33. SUGAR MOON - PAT BOONE
34. ALL SHOOK UP - ELVIS PRESLEY
35. BLUE SUEDE SHOES - CARL PERKINS
36. LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND - PAT BOONE
37. APRIL LOVE - PAT BOONE
38. POOR LITTLE FOOL - RICKY NELSON
39. NOW AND THEN THERE’S A FOOL - ELVIS PRESLEY
40. FRIENDLY PERSUASION - PAT BOONE
41. HELLO MARY LOU - RICKY NELSON
42. TEDDY BEAR - ELVIS PRESLEY
43. BERNADINE - PAT BOONE
44. LOVE ME TENDER - ELVIS PRESLEY
45. NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE - RICKY NELSON
46. LITTLE SISTER - ELVIS PRESLEY
47. SWEETER THAN YOU - RICKY NELSON
48. REMEMBER YOUR MINE - PAT BOONE
49. THAT’S ALL - RICKY NELSON
50. DREAM LOVER - BOBBY DARIN
THE 1960s
01. MACK THE KNIFE - BOBBY DARIN
02. THE TWIST - CHUBBY CHECKER
03. WHO PUT THE BOMP - BARRY MANN
04. LET’S TWIST AGAIN - CHUBBY CHECKER
05. I’M GONNA KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR - JOHNNY CRAWFORD
06. ROCKIN ROBIN - BOBBY DAY
07. SINCE I FELL FOR YOU - LENNY WELCH
08. PEPPERMINT TWIST - JOEY DEE &THE STARLIGHTERS
09 LOUIE, LOUIE - THE KINGSMAN
10. MEAN WOMAN BLUES - ROY ORBISON
11. WALK RIGHT BACK - THE EVERLY BRO.
12. YOU’RE THE REASON I’M LIVING - BOBBY DARIN
13. DREAMIN - JOHNNY BURNETTE
14. JUST A DREAM - JIMMY CLANTON
15. KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE - JIMMY ROGERS
16. KISSING ON THE PHONE - PAUL ANKA
17. BUT I DO - CLARENCE “FROGMAN” HENRY
18. MOON RIVER - ANDY WILLIAMS
19. ITSY, BITSY, TEENY, WEENY YELLOW - BRIAN HYLAND
20. WILD ONE - BOBBY RYDELL
21. POETRY IN MOTION - JOHNNY TILLOTSON
22. VENUS IN BLUE JEANS - JIMMY CLANTON
23. THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES - BOBBY VEE
24. BABY, YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES - BROOKE BENTON
25. TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY - BOBBY VEE
26. KIDDIO - BROOKE BENTON
27. RUN TO HIM - BOBBY VEE
28. HAUNTED HOUSE - “JUMPIN” GENE SIMMONS
29. RUNAWAY - DEL SHANNON
30. THINGS - BOBBY DARIN
31. LITTLE THINGS - BOBBY GOLDSBORO
32. CORRINA, CORRINA - RAY PETERSON
33. UNCHAIN MY HEART - RAY CHARLES
34. DON’T PLAY THAT SONG - BEN E. KING
35. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - RAY CHARLES
36. TREAT HER RIGHT - RON HEAD
37. HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDAH - ALAN SHERMAN
38. SUGAR SHACK - JIMMY GILMER & THE FIREBALLS
39. IT’S NOW OR NEVER - ELVIS PRESLEY
40. HELLO MARY LOU - RICKY NELSON
41. IF I DIDN’T HAVE A DIME - GENE PITNEY
42. FOOLS RUSH IN - RICKY NELSON
43. TOWN WITHOUT PITY - GENE PITNEY
44. ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - ELVIS PRESLEY
45. NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE - RICKY NELSON
46. I WANNA LOVE MY LIFE AWAY - GENE PITNEY
47. SURRENDER - ELVIS PRESLEY
48. ONLY THE LONELY - ROY ORBISON
49. TRAVELIN MAN - RICKY NELSON
50. BLUE BAYOU - ROY ORBISON
CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE LIST
TRADITIONAL & ORIGINALS SET
01. WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS - TRADITIONAL VERSION
02. IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - ANDY WILLIAMS
03. IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS AGAIN - MURRAY ROSS
04. I LOVE THE WINTER WEATHER-I’VE GOT MY LOVE - TONY BENNETT
05. WINTER WONDERLAND MEDLEY - THE CRIST FAMILY
06. DREAM ON LITTLE CHILDREN - RAY DESMOND
07. HAPPY HOLIDAYS / IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON - ANDY WILLIAMS
08. COOL YULE - BETTE MIDLER
09. LET IT SNOW - FRANK SINATRA
10. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - FRANK SINATRA
11. I’M LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW - RAY DESMOND
12. THE CHRISTMAS SONG - NAT KING COLE
13. IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS - BING CROSBY
14. SILVER BELLS - TRADITIONAL VERSION
15. IT’S A MARSHMALLOW WORLD - DEAN MARTIN
16. SANTA PLEASE HEAR MY CRY - RAY DESMOND
17. I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM - TONY BENNETT
18. HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS - BURL IVES
19. WHITE CHRISTMAS - MICHAEL BUBLE
20. BLUE CHRISTMAS - CELINE DION
21. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU - VINCE VANCE VERSION
22. FELIZ NAVIDAD - JOSE FALICIANO
23. FELIZ NAVIDAD - TONY ORLANDO
24. SLEIGH RIDE - HARRY CONNICK JR.
25. MISTLETOE AND HOLLY - FRANK SINATRA
26. JINGLE BELL ROCK - BOBBY HELMS
27. ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - BRENDA LEE
28. SANTA BUDDY - RAY DESMOND
29. I’D LIKE TO GET YOU IN A SLEIGH - RAY DESMOND
30. SANTA, I HOPE YOU DO ME RIGHT - RAY DESMOND
31. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - MICHAEL BUBLE
32. FROSTY THE BLUESMAN - RAY DESMOND
33. EVERYBODY’S WAITIN FOR THE MAN WITH THE BAG - KAY STARR
34. THE FRUITCAKE SONG - JONATHON WHITE
35. PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - THE EAGLES
36. CHRISTMAS BABY PLEASE COME HOME - DARLENE LOVE
37. CHRISTMAS MEMORIES - FRANK SINATRA
38. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - HARRY CONNICK JR.
39. J-I-N-G-L-E BELLS - FRANK SINATRA
40. HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS - SWING STYLE
41. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN - SWING STYLE
42. IT’S CHRISTMAS - RONNIE MILSAP
43. TRY TO REMEMBER - RAY DESMOND
44. WHITE CHRISTMAS - BING CROSBY
45. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - PERRY COMO
46. THERE’S NO CHRISTMAS LIKE A HOME CHRISTMAS - PERRY COMO
47. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - LINDA RONSTADT
48. THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER - DEAN MARTIN
49. CHRISTMAS WALTZ - FRANK SINATRA
50. MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING - THE CARPENTERS
Glenn Miller, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Bobby Darin, Pat Boone, Steve Lawrence, Louie Prima, Nat King Cole, Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Arnold, Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Michael Buble, and Solomon Burke.
I have my own set up that will cover up to 300 people
If your event is a night time performance then I do require lighting.
Nashville, TN 
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