Ray Sawyer

Ray Sawyer
Birth name Ray Sawyer
Born (1937-02-01) February 1, 1937
Chickasaw, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1988–2015 (in Dr. Hook featuring Ray Sawyer)

Ray "Eye Patch" Sawyer (born February 1, 1937, Chickasaw, Alabama, United States) is a singer best known as a vocalist with the 1970s' rock band, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.[1] Though primarily a backing vocalist and occasional percussionist on congas or maracas, he sang lead on their hit song "The Cover of Rolling Stone" and was a recognisable presence in the band due to the eyepatch and cowboy hat he wore.

Personal life

Sawyer lost his right eye in a 1967 automobile accident. He said the following about his life around the time of his accident: "I must have played all the clubs from Houston to Charleston until I decided I was going insane from too much beans and music, and I gave it up. I saw a John Wayne movie and proceeded to Portland, Oregon, to be a logger complete with plaid shirt, caulk boots, and pike pole. On the way my car slipped on the road and the accident left me with the eye patch I now wear. When I recovered I ran straight back to the beans and music and vowed, 'here I'll stay'."[2] He had many hit singles such as "Sylvia's Mother", "Cover of a Rolling Stone", "A Little Bit More", "Only Sixteen", "Walk Right In","Sharing the Night Together", "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman", "Better Love Next Time", "Sexy Eyes", "Girl can Do It", and "Baby Makes Her Bluejeans Talk".

From 1988 to October 2015, Sawyer toured the nostalgia circuit as "Dr. Hook featuring Ray Sawyer," under license from bandmate Dennis Locorriere, who tours separately and owns the Dr. Hook trademark.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Fuqua, C. S. (2011-09-15). Alabama Musicians: Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie. The History Press. pp. 164–. ISBN 9781609491574. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  2. ↑ ”Ray Sawyer”, The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music, St. Martin's Press New York, 1984
  3. ↑ "INTERVIEW: DENNIS LOCORRIERE, DR HOOK – September 2015". 15 October 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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