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Ray Burns was a British singer, active in the 1950s, who had a top five hit single in 1955.

Early life

Burns was born of Russian ancestry as Reuben Klot in the east end of London in 1923. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force.

Singing career

Burns entered showbusiness when a friend of the comedian Issy Bonn heard him singing in a barber shop; Bonn took Burns on as a dresser, taught him singing techniques, and had him perform a song during his stage shows. Burns' career took a step forward in 1949, when the orchestra leader Ambrose heard him sing at a London club and offered him a job.

Burns was a regular singer with the BBC Show Band, under the leadership of Cyril Stapleton, in the 1950s, and recorded a number of singles for Columbia Records between 1953 and 1958, two of which made any of the UK singles charts. The bigger hit, a cover of the Bob Holt/David Wells song "Mobile" (with the Eric Jupp Orchestra), which had been a hit in the United States for Julius La Rosa, reached number 4 in both the New Musical Express and Record Mirror charts in March 1955. The second, "That's How A Love Song Was Born" (with The Coronets), reached number 14 of the NME charts later in the year; at the time Record Mirror only had a top 10 chart, expanding to a top 20 in October 1955, just as the single dropped out of the NME top 20.

Burns' career turned to cabaret and smaller scale performances as the musical scene changed, but he made one final television appearance on Barrymore in the 1990s.

Personal life

Burns and his wife Tilly had two children, Larry and Gillian. Gillian performed with her father in a double act in the 1970s, and won an episode of New Faces in 1977.

References

1. Larkin, Colin (2008). Encyclopaedia of Popular Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. "Ray's bouncing back to the big time". Manchester Evening News: 3. 20 November 1965.
3. "Midland entertainments". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 2. 17 September 1946.
4. "Ray Burns". The Stage: 11. 21 December 2000.
5. "Festival of dance music". Coatbridge Leader: 1. 29 January 1955.
6. Jasper, Tony (1976). 20 Years of The British Record Charts 1955-1975. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 5.
7. "Ray Burns". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
8. "Ray Burns family interview with Michael Barrymore". youtube. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
9. "29 Jan 1977 – Series Five (21)". You're a star, superstar. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.

• 1923 births
• Singers from London
• 2000 deaths
• Columbia Records artists