– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
Ray Stevens Returns To Branson!
(Branson, Missouri) – Multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter, two-time Grammy winner and Branson legend Ray Stevens returns to the town he helped put on the map, with the show that audiences have been clamoring for! Ray returns for a special celebration of 50 years in the music business with a six week run at The Welk Resort Theatre from September 15th thru October 23rd. With over 14 million singles, albums and videos sold in his career, Ray Stevens brings all of his hits to the Welk Resort stage: from the hilarious “Ahab the Arab”, “It’s Me Again Margaret”, “Mississippi Squirrel” and “The Streak” to his new hit “We The People” and the classic “Everything Is Beautiful”.
Born in Clarkdale, Georgia, Ray Stevens started playing the piano at 6 years old. He knew then that music would be his life and he pursued a career that has spanned the entertainment world. In 1962, he recorded “Ahab The Arab” his first Top 5 hit. At the same time, he was living in Nashville, singing and playing on recordings for Elvis Presley, and working with the great Chet Atkins, as well as recording for numerous Pop and Country artists of the day. After recording hits including “Harry the Hairy Ape” and “Santa Claus is Watching You”, Ray was also busy producing other artists, including a young Country singer named Dolly Parton.
In 1970, Ray appeared on The Andy Williams Show, and was asked to be the host for Williams’ summer replacement show on NBC. Ray knew he needed a hit song for the show, and the end result of three days spent in his basement writing was “Everything Is Beautiful”, his first #1 hit on the Pop charts, and the song that won him his first Grammy for Male Vocalist of The Year.
In 1974, while flying to Los Angeles, Ray read an article about a new fad among college students called “streaking”. Inspired, he jotted down a few notes and when he got home, he wrote “The Streak”, Ray’s second #1 hit on the Pop Charts. For the next 10 years, Ray would record chart-topping hits, including “Shriners Convention”, “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” and “It’s Me Again Margaret”.
1991 brought the opening of his two thousand seat Ray Stevens Theatre in Branson, Missouri. Considered one of the pioneers of the “Branson Boom”, Ray performed 12 shows a week during the season to over 1.6 million fans. During the next two years, Ray would include his Branson show in his video releases, selling millions of videos worldwide. After 1993, Ray decided to take his show on the road, but still owned his theatre in Branson, and leased it to other productions. In 2004, he returned to Branson and reopened his show for two more seasons, finally closing at the end of 2005.
For years, Branson audiences have asked, “When will Ray be back?” Now, after 5 years, Ray Stevens returns to Branson with all of his hits, all of his laughs and what he promises will be his best show yet.
The Ray Stevens Show schedule covers six weeks; September 15th through October 23rd. Performance times: 2 and 8pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 8pm Friday and Saturday. Prices range from $44.00 (elite seating + tax) to $39.00 (adults + tax) and $19.00 for children and are available by phone at 800-505-9355 or on-line at WelkResortBranson.com.
