Having the natural ability to write music is certainly a great gift, especially when this talent is in the heart of Ray Gay, a native Clevelander. In the year 1950, one of his first tunes recorded was "Are You The Girl" and immediately it became a top seller. Numerous recordings followed, but his writing career came to a halt when in July 1952, he was inducted into the U.S. Army.

This was not a loss in his career, but an asset. For while stationed in Japan and Korea, he became affiliated with Kobe's Radio Station J.O.C.R. where he became the first American to introduce the Japanese people to the American polka.

While serving as a M.P., he also organized a musical group and variety act know and the "Gil-Rays". Featured musicians were Ray Gay on accordion, Abe Kapana on guitar; Andy Gilbert, tap dancer; and "Ingy" Ingales on drums. (The latter played drums with Louis Prima and his Orchestra). This group was fortunate to win second place in a Far East contest, losing out to a group known as the Thunderbirds. The Gil-Rays had been scheduled for an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show around May or June of 1954. However, their respective tours of duty were just about over and in order to fulfill the TV commitment, a re-enlistment would have been necessary. The Gil-Rays did play the Ernie Pyle Theatre in Tokyo, however, performing with "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenblum.

After his tour of duty was completed in July 1954, Ray Gay returned safely to his home in Cleveland where once again he resumed his writing and numerous recordings followed. Ray has always felt that in order for the polkas and waltzes to progress and be accepted, new innovations, styles, and sounds have to be incorporated to make this possible.

During the 1950's, Ray tried his hand at writing popular music. Louise Barber, an aspiring pop singer from Cleveland, cut "He's the Most to Say the Least" and "My Life, My All", released on Piper Records in 1955. In looking back to those days, Ray recently remarked, "I tried my hand at popular music, using my own label, musicians and money, but without the right contacts and knowing the right people, my new venture was short lived."

In 1956, he released a tune called "Polka-Re, Polka-Ra" on Q-Cue Records. In two weeks it hit the top ten in the Cleveland area. The record created some interest across the country and RCA Victor's VIK label division or subsidiary bought the right to the record and released in nationally. Ray enjoyed a fair measure of success on this hit single, but it was all short-lived due to the devastating bombs that hit the music and recording field back then--PAYOLA! The payola scandal was far-reaching menace to the record industry and the seriousness of the situation was pointed out this way by Ray..."No one, and I mean no one could get a record played unless you were a Perry Como or Frank Sinatra."

In 1960, Ray tried his hand at writing church music. A negative attitude to Ray's ecclesiastical efforts prevailed and the Bishop turned "Thumbs down" on his ideas. Although the church music was rooted in an ethnic background, it was considered "too modernistic," or he was told. In retrospect, with the popularity of the polka mass today, perhaps it can be said that Ray was ten to fifteen years ahead of time with his church music ideas.

In 1966, Ray became affiliated with Delta International Records, Inc. where numerous albums were released by John Gayer, President.

In 1969, an album of Ray Gay's music was released entitled, "Polka-Re, Polka-Ra." Numerous singles followed and again in 1970, another album was released on Ray's Normandy Records label, entitled, "The Vadnals and Ray Gay's Music."

In 1972, Ray, in search for new horizons, traveled to Nashville. There, with a select group of studio musicians, produced and supervised a session of four tunes. One song was released on Parklane Records as a 45 single featuring country vocalist, Windy Blevins. The other tunes were never released.

In 1978, Ray tried his hand at writing various songs for the NFL teams. His song "Stand Up and Cheer" (a Cleveland Browns song) had many TV/Radio plays and through today, it continues to be played. A new release of the "Brown's Song" has been cut but until the Browns became a winning team, the song will sit on the radio/TV shelves.

Ray Gay has also written a piano concerto and is also available for recording.

Through the 80's and still continuing in the 90's, Ray has traveled down the road to Nashville to record numerous country songs and patiently waits for that genuine stroke of luck in having one of his tunes done by a famous artist.

In 1993, Ray met his latest co-writer, Joe Ziemnik. Together they have become another Rogers and Hart. The ideas and lyrics that Joe presents to Ray are such that any composer would leap to get Joe to be his lyricist.

Some of the songs they have written together are: Blue Jeans and White Spanish Lace, Dial a Polka 911, The Devil You Say, Steppin On Your Heart, Falling Free, Free Falling, Garage Sale of Memories, Is This Possible?, Love Is On My Side (This Time), What Happened To Our Tomorrows That You Promised Me Yesterday?, Your Memory Gave Me A Hug Today, Home Brew Love, Ooh La La My Cajun Queen, and Where Do The Memories Go When Love Dies?

Presently, they have a CD and Cassette available for sale on SABRE Records out of San Antonio, Texas. The album title is "New Beginnings," Volume 3. Their song "Your Memory Gave Me A Hug Today" made it into the charts (Top 50) during the week of March 22-28, 1994 on Radio Station WJJC in Commerce, Georgia.

Another tune on the album "Mama Don't Dance, Papa Don't Dance, But I Do" music and lyrics by Ray Gay, is heard almost weekly on WKYC-Channel 3 on the program "Today in Cleveland" at 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, featuring Tom Haley and Del Donahoo.

Other songs played by WKYC are: Dial A Polka 911, Ooh La La My Cajun Queen, and an instrumental Ray Gay tune, The Freeway Polka.

Publishing contracts are being given to Ray and Joe. The wait has now begun for publishers to find the right artist for their material. Soon, maybe soon.

Ray has rode the crescent of the waves in Cleveland and will continue with persistence until his dreams become a reality, not only in his hometown, but all over the world.

His previous demos on "You Had To Be An Angel", "Thank God For Tennessee", "Perfect Strangers", and "It Only Happens In the Movies", are truly hit potential.