ROOTS of Country Music
Antioch, TN 37013
Edenton, Ray
The Professional Work of Ray Edenton
(b. Nov. 3, 1926)
If there were only two words to honor the work of renowned Nashville studio guitarist Ray Edenton, they would be, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. However, it is necessary to elaborate, because studio musicians are often overlooked. During his career that spanned four decades, Ray Edenton recorded with Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Bob Wills to name a few. Self-taught and skilled on several instruments, Edenton worked on recording sessions from 1953, until his retirement in 1991. Although he is skilled on many instruments, rhythm guitar is his specialty.
Ray Edenton was born in Mineral, Virginia into a musical family. His two brothers played guitar and fiddle and his mother played piano. Edenton's first instrument was a fiddle and from there went to a four string tenor banjo tuned to guitar pitch. Edenton began honing his skills by working local square dances.
In 1946, Edenton joined the Rodeo Rangers on WMBG Radio in Richmond. Later he and two of the other Rodeo Rangers broke from the group and formed a trio. They worked gigs along the east coast. In 1948 the trio went to work for Joe Maphis and The Corn Crackers on the Old Dominion Barn Dance on WRVA Richmond, Virginia. In 1949 Edenton moved to The Mid Day Merry Go Round Radio show on WNOX, Knoxville, Tennessee, working with The Carter Family, Chet Atkins, Homer and Jethro, Archie Campbell, Bill Carlisle, Carl Smith and Don Gibson. Ray Edenton's first record sessions were in 1949, in Morristown, Tennessee, on Red Kirk's recording of "Lovesick Blues" for Mercury.
In 1952, Edenton moved to Nashville and the following year Chet Atkins started using him on demo sessions for Acuff Rose Music. His first studio session was on Hank Snow's album, Old Doc Brown & Other Narrations, RCA, LMP-1156 (1955). Edenton played on the Grand Ole Opry on a regular basis, while working on the road. Edenton was a member of the original touring bands of both Webb Pierce and Marty Robbins and he worked with other road bands, including Hank Williams, Ray Price, Cowboy Copas, George Morgan, and many others.
Edenton has worked on numerous jingles, movie soundtracks and TV shows, such as "Austin City Limits" "Nashville on The Road" and "The Jimmy Dean Show. Edenton is a member of The Studio musicians Hall of Fame in RCA Studio B. He received National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences awards for the most valuable player for rhythm guitar in 1977, 1978, and 1979.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Artists who Ray Edenton backed on their recording sessions, Partial List:
- Barbara Mandrell
- Bill Anderson
- Billy Walker
- Billy Jo Spears
- Bobby Bare
- Brenda Lee
- Buck Owens
- Cal Smith
- Carl Smith
- Charley Pride
- Charlie Rich
- Charlie Walker
- Claude King
- Connie Smith
- Conway Twitty
- Dave Dudley
- Del Reeves
- Dolly Parton
- Don Gibson
- Don Williams
- Dottie West
- Eddy Arnold
- Eddie Rabbitt
- Eddy Raven
- Elvis Presley
- Ernest Tubb
- Faron Young
- Ferlin Husky
- Gary Stewart
- Gene Watson
- George Jones
- George Morgan
- Hank Locklin
- Hank Snow
- Hank Williams Jr.
- Jack Greene
- Jean Shepard
- Jeanne Pruett
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Jim Ed Brown
- Jim Reeves
- Jimmy Dean
- Jimmy Dickens
- Jimmy Newman
- Joe Stampley
- Johnny Cash
- Johnny Horton
- Johnny Paycheck
- Johnny Rodriguez
- Johnny Russell
- Kitty Wells
- Lefty Frizzell
- Leroy Van Dyke
- Loretta Lynn
- Marty Robbins
- Mel Tillis
- Merle Haggard
- Moe Bandy
- Ned Miller
- Oak Ridge Boys
- Patsy Cline
- Porter Wagoner
- Ray Price
- Red Foley
- Ronnie Milsap
- Roy Acuff
- Roy Clark
- Roger Miller
- Roy Drusky
- Skeeter Davis
- Sonny James
- Statler Brothers
- Stonewall Jackson
- Susan Raye
- Tammy Wynette
- T.G. Sheppard
- Tom T Hall
- Tommy Overstreet
- Vern Gosdin
- Webb Pierce
- Wilburn Brothers
- Willie Nelson
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Don Gibson Recording Session
Apr. 21, 1967
RCA Victor Studio; 806 17 Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee
Producers: Chester B. Atkins
Session Personnel: Don Gibson (vocal, guitar, leader), Chester B. Atkins (guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Thomas Grady Martin (electric guitar), Weldon Myrick(steel guitar), Roy Huskey Jr. (bass guitar), Jerry Carrigan (drums), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano), Ray Ragsdale (vibes), The Joaranaires (Hoyt H. Hawkins, Neal matthews Jr., Hugh Gordon Stoker, Raymond C. Walker) vocal chorus
- No Doubt About It
- All My Love
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Loretta Lynn Recording Sessions
Nov. 11, 1965
Columbia Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA
Session Personnel: Loretta Lynn, Jordanaires (vocals), Harold Brasdley (6-stribg electric bass guitar), David Briggs (piano), Ray Edenton (acoustic guitar), Murrey "Buddy" Harman Jr. (drums), Harold Rugg (steel guitar), Thomas Grady Martin (electric guitar), Joe Zinkan (bass guitar)
- Dear Uncle Sam -1966
- You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man
Apr. 20, 1967
Bradley Barn; Mt. Juliet, Tennessee USA
Session Personnel: Loretta Lynn, Jordanaires (vocals), Harold Brasdley (6-stribg electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (acoustic guitar), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano), Murrey "Buddy" Harman Jr. (drums), Thomas Grady Martin (electric guitar), Harold Rugg (steel guitar), Roy Huskey Jr. (bass guitar)
What Kind Of Girl (Do You Think I Am?)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by: Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, May 22, 2011
Antioch, TN 37013
