Don Raye

Don Raye

Don Raye (born Donald MacRae Wilhoite Jr., March 16, 1909 – January 29, 1985) was an American songwriter, best known for his songs for The Andrews Sisters such as "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", "The House of Blue Lights", "Just for a Thrill" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." The latter was co-written with Hughie Prince. While known for such wordy novelty numbers, he also wrote the lyrics to "You Don't Know What Love Is," a simple, poetic lament of unusual power. He also composed the song "(That Place) Down the Road a Piece," one of his boogie woogie songs, which has a medium bright boogie tempo. It was written for the Will Bradley Orchestra, who recorded it in 1940, but the song was destined to become a rock and roll standard, recorded by The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Foghat, Amos Milburn, Harry Gibson, and countless others. In 1940, he wrote the lyrics for the patriotic song "This Is My Country". In 1985, Don Raye was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 16, 1909 (Washington, D.C.), Died January 29, 1985

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-98364	10-in.	12/9/1935	(If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes	Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-98497	10-in.	1/6/1936	(If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes	Little Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-035782	10-in.	4/24/1939	Why begin again (Pastel blue)	Three Reasons ; Dick Todd	Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band	lyricist
Victor	BS-036840	10-in.	5/1/1939	Why begin again?	Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-037137	10-in.	5/22/1939	Well all right! (Tonight's the night)	Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-037636	10-in.	6/13/1939	The shoemaker's holiday	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-037637	10-in.	6/13/1939	Well all right (Tonight's the night)	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-037638	10-in.	6/13/1939	Danger! Men blasting	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-040692	10-in.	8/29/1939	The monkeys have no tails in Pago Pago	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-041148	10-in.	7/31/1939	Just for a thrill	Bob Chester Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-041530	10-in.	8/10/1939	It's the tune that counts	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-041591	10-in.	8/21/1939	Just for a thrill	Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-044312	10-in.	12/4/1939	Yodelin' jive	Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-044636	10-in.	1/18/1940	I love you much too much	Delta Rhythm Band ; Evelyn Poe ; Bob Zurke	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-047727	10-in.	2/29/1940	Let's have another one	Tony Pastor Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-048677	10-in.	4/9/1940	I love you much too much	Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	PBS-049582	10-in.	3/28/1940	Sadie Hawkins' Day	Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey	Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-050536	10-in.	5/8/1940	Rhumboogie	Delta Rhythm Band ; Evelyn Poe ; Bob Zurke	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-051843	10-in.	7/11/1940	Rhumboogie	Bob Chester Orchestra ; Al Stuart	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-056107	10-in.	9/12/1940	Beat me Daddy, eight to a bar	Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Jack Lathrop	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-056161	10-in.	9/23/1940	Ready, get set, jump	Tony Pastor Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-058210	10-in.	12/3/1940	Scrub me mama, with a boogie beat	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-058892	10-in.	1/20/1941	Boogie woogie bugle boy	Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Tommy Taylor	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-058894	10-in.	1/20/1941	You're a lucky fellow, Mr.Smith	Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Mary Ann Mercer ; Tommy Taylor	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-060437	10-in.	1/21/1941	Do you call that a buddy	Larry Clinton Orchestra ; Butch Stone	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	PBS-061630	10-in.	9/11/1941	You were there	Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	PBS-061712	10-in.	10/5/1941	I'll remember April	Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-062791	10-in.	3/31/1941	Music makers	Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-063841	10-in.	5/2/1941	Music makers	Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey ; Rhythm Reys	Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	lyricist
Victor	BS-067759	10-in.	9/8/1941	Watch the birdie	Harriet Clark ; Sonny Dunham Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-068371	10-in.	11/27/1941	You dont know what love is	Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters	Jazz/dance band, with vocal	songwriter
Victor	BS-068379	10-in.	12/1/1941	Pig foot Pete	Dawn Patrol Boys ; Dolly Dawn	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-068400	10-in.	11/17/1941	The boy with the wistful eyes	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Madeline Green ; Earl Hines ; Three Varieties	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio	songwriter
Victor	BS-068403	10-in.	11/17/1941	You don't know what love is	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-068442	10-in.	11/28/1941	The boy with the wistful eyes	Mitchell Ayres ; Meredith Blake ; Fashions-in-Music	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	PBS-072560	10-in.	7/30/1942	(Nobody knows better than I) He's my guy	Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-074717	10-in.	6/30/1942	(Nobody knows better than I) He's my guy	Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-075401	10-in.	7/1/1942	He's my guy (Nobody knows better than I)	Jo Stafford ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	D9VB-715	10-in.	8/19/1949	Cuddled in your arms	Fran Warren	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	songwriter
Victor	E1VB-0055	10-in.	1/9/1951	I love you too much	Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra ; Fran Warren	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	lyricist
Victor	E1VB-1786	10-in.	4/16/1951	Sidewalk shuffle	Steve Gibson ; Original Red Caps (Steve Gibson)	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental quintet	songwriter
Victor	D4AB-0069	10-in.	3/22/1944	Milkman, keep those bottles quiet	Four King Sisters	Female vocal quartet, with male vocal solo and	songwriter
Victor	D5VB-1149	10-in.	11/12/1945	I'm not having any (this year)	Russ Case Orchestra ; David Street	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1082	10-in.	10/16/1947	A song was born	Louis Armstrong ; Louis Armstrong All-Stars ; Jack Teagarden	Male vocal duet, with jazz sextet	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-1808	10-in.	10/22/1947	Daddy-o (I'm gonna teach you some blues)	Lillian Lane ; Page Cavanaugh Trio	Female vocal solo, with male vocal trio, guitar, bass, and piano	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-2126	10-in.	11/26/1947	It's watcha do with watcha got	Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Glenn Hughes ; Martin Men	Male vocal solo, with male vocal group and instrumental ensemble	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-2169	10-in.	12/8/1947	Your red wagon	Count Basie Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	lyricist
Victor	D7VB-2594	10-in.	12/5/1947	Love that boy!	Cathy Allen ; Louis Prima Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	D8VB-3740	10-in.	5/11/1948	Judaline	Stuart Foster ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra	Dub from film: Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Decca	67615	10-in.	4/23/1940	Hit the road	Vic Schoen Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	67616	10-in.	4/23/1940	Serenade to the stars	Vic Schoen Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	67617	10-in.	4/23/1940	Of maestro and men	Vic Schoen Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	67618	10-in.	4/23/1940	Arabian nights	Vic Schoen Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	DLA 2470	10-in.	6/27/1941	Pig foot Pete	Freddie Slack and his Eight Beats		vocalist
Decca	DLA 2471	10-in.	6/27/1941	That place down the road a-piece	Freddie Slack and his Eight Beats		vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Raye, Don," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106090.

Raye, Don. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106090.

"Raye, Don." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.