Ray Kennedy -

Raymond Louis Kennedy (Nov. 26, 1946 — Feb. 16, 2014) was an American vocalist and songwriter from Philadelphia who first recorded two albums with the psych-rock band Group Therapy. In 1976, he recorded two albums for MCA with the blues-rock supergroup KGB.

As a solo artist, Kennedy released a 1970 self-titled album under his full name on Cream Records, followed in 1980 by a second eponymous album for ARC/Columbia under the abbreviated name Ray Kennedy. As a songwriter, he co-wrote hits for the Beach Boys (“Sail On, Sailor”) and The Babys (“Isn’t It Time”).

Background

Ray Kennedy was born Raymond Louis Kennedy on November 26, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in New Jersey. He took up saxophone at age nine and sang with a cappella groups in both communities. Kennedy became a regular dancer on American Bandstand in 1960, when the program still broadcast from Philadelphia. Host Dick Clark paid Kennedy to mime saxophone behind performances by the Platters and the Drifters, among other touring acts.

Kennedy entered professional jazz work as a tenor saxophonist while still in his teens. He played with Gerry Mulligan and worked dates with Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson, and Buddy Rich. Kennedy joined the Gene Krupa Jazz Group in 1962 for touring dates. He followed the Krupa stint with engagements alongside Brenda Lee and Little Richard. Kennedy also played one-nighters with Jerry Lee Lewis, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. Redding encouraged Kennedy to work as a singer, and Kennedy moved in 1963 to New York City.

Ahmet Ertegun signed Kennedy and Jon Misland to Atlantic Records as Jon and Ray. Phil Spector produced part of the duo’s unreleased album, while Kennedy and Misland cut additional sessions under Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Arif Mardin. Kennedy followed the Atlantic project with the 1965 Guyden single “Number 5 Gemini,” a Kenneth Gamble–Jimmy Bishop composition.

Kennedy formed Group Therapy in New York in 1966 with vocalist Tommy Burns, guitarist Art Del Gudico, organist Jerry Guida, and drummer Michael Lamont. Group Therapy recorded the RCA Victor debut People Get Ready for Group Therapy for a 1968 release. The band toured Britain with Moby Grape that year and relocated to Los Angeles. Group Therapy recorded the 1969 Philips follow-up 37 Minutes of Group Therapy under producer Lou Reizner.

Kennedy left Group Therapy after the Philips album and signed with Cream Records under the name Raymond Louis Kennedy. Dallas Smith produced most of the solo material with engineer Bruce Ellison. Kennedy produced “Miss Goody Two Shoes” and “(You Gotta) Know Where You’re Going” himself, while Henry Lewy remixed and mastered the album at A&M Studios.

Discography: