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Year of birth: 1943

City of birth: Columbus, Ga.

Born in Columbus, Ga., Ray Whitley was only 14 years old when he formed his first band. Famed producer Felton Jarvis discovered him and introduced him to music publisher Bill Lowery, who took Whitley on when he was 17 years old. His first song, “Deeper in Love,” was released on Vee Jay in 1962. Whitley was not only a performer, but a talented songwriter who penned hits for other artists in the Lowery stable, including “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” “What Kind of Fool” and “Hey Girl” for The Tams, “Everything Turned Blue” for Billy Joe Royal, co-wrote “Nighttime” and “Leave Her” Tommy Roe, the Swinging Medallions.

Whitley is often confused with another Georgia-born artist with the same name. The other Ray Whitley, born in Atlanta in 1901, had great success in Hollywood in the 30’s as a performer and songwriter and co-wrote “Back in the Saddle Again” with Gene Autry. He died in 1979.

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