Ray Pillow - People Music (1969)

Ray Pillow was a singer and songwriter best known as a prominent publisher renowned for his rare gift of matching performers with high-quality songs that were just right for their style. Pillow was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and first learned to play the guitar while bedridden as a teen. He graduated from high school in 1954 and joined the Navy. Following his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree in business and made his professional and personal singing debut playing with his uncle's band, the Stardusters. Later, he became their leader and remained with the band for several years. In 1961, Pillow won second place at the regional National Pet Milk talent contest in Nashville. Though he needed to go back to Lynchburg, he accepted an invitation to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. He soon returned to Nashville and looked up Joe Taylor, the head of promotion with the Martha White Company, who had promised to help him after hearing him perform. Taylor was true to his word and Pillow signed a personal management contract with the company. In 1963 he released his first two singles but didn't have much chart success until 1965's Top 50 "Take Your Hands Off My Heart," and his first Top 20 hit, "Thank You Ma'am." In 1966, he had two Top 40 hits and a Top Ten duet with Jean Shepherd, "I'll Take the Dog." He later joined the Opry and remained there for over two decades. He continued with a steady stream of hits through 1970, but fell off the charts until 1972, when he had minor hits with "Since Then" and "She's Doing It to Me Again." Pillow's involvement in the administrative end of the business began the mid-'60s, when he joined Taylor in Joe Taylor Artist Management, Shoji Music Publications, and Ming Music, Inc. In the early '80s, Pillow teamed with Larry McFaden and they began Sycamore. In the late '80s, he began working with the A&R team at Capitol and later became an independent record consultant. Ray Pillow died in Nashville, Tennessee on March 26, 2023; he was 85 years of age.