egroj world: Ray Campi • The Eager Beaver Boy

Monday, January 27, 2025

Ray Campi • The Eager Beaver Boy - Rockabilly Lives

Biography
by Steve Huey
Rockabilly wildman Ray Campi recorded several classic singles during the music's prime era, and later staged a comeback that earned him a substantial cult audience over the '70s and '80s. Campi was born in New York in 1934 and moved with his family to Austin, TX, at age ten. He started listening to country music, learned the guitar, and formed his first band in high school, which played on local radio stations. Campi made his first recordings in 1951, but it wasn't until 1956, when he cut the single "Caterpillar" b/w "Play It Cool" for the small TNT label, that any of them were released. He went on to record for Domino ("Screamin' Mimi") and Dot ("The Ballad of Donna & Peggy Sue"), and moved to Los Angeles in 1959, where he signed with Colpix and recorded "Hear What I Wanna Hear." During the early '60s, Campi lived in New York and spent two and a half years as a staff writer at Aaron Schroeder's publishing firm, but was never allowed to record any of the songs he'd written. He returned to Austin in 1967 and recorded "Civil Disobedience" for the Sonobeat label, but nothing came of it, and he settled in Los Angeles and became a junior-high school teacher. Around 1973, Campi hooked up with Ronny Weiser's revivalist Rollin' Rock label and started making new recordings in the classic, high-energy rockabilly style. A steady stream of albums followed into the '80s, which also brought a couple of sets for Rounder, 1980's Rockin' at the Ritz and 1986's Gone, Gone, Gone!. Campi continued to record into the new millennium, releasing occasional albums on his own label.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-campi-mn0000406668/biography

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Biografía
por Steve Huey
El salvaje rockabilly Ray Campi grabó varios singles clásicos durante la época de esplendor de la música, y más tarde protagonizó un regreso que le granjeó un importante público de culto durante los años 70 y 80. Campi nació en Nueva York en 1934 y se trasladó con su familia a Austin (Texas) a los diez años. Empezó a escuchar música country, aprendió a tocar la guitarra y formó su primera banda en el instituto, que tocaba en emisoras de radio locales. Campi hizo sus primeras grabaciones en 1951, pero no fue hasta 1956, cuando grabó el sencillo "Caterpillar" b/w "Play It Cool" para el pequeño sello TNT, que se publicó alguno de ellos. Pasó a grabar para Domino ("Screamin' Mimi") y Dot ("The Ballad of Donna & Peggy Sue"), y se trasladó a Los Ángeles en 1959, donde firmó con Colpix y grabó "Hear What I Wanna Hear". A principios de los 60, Campi vivió en Nueva York y pasó dos años y medio como escritor en la editorial de Aaron Schroeder, pero nunca se le permitió grabar ninguna de las canciones que había escrito. Regresó a Austin en 1967 y grabó "Civil Disobedience" para el sello Sonobeat, pero no consiguió nada. Se instaló en Los Ángeles y se convirtió en profesor de secundaria. Alrededor de 1973, Campi se unió al sello Rollin' Rock de Ronny Weiser y empezó a hacer nuevas grabaciones en el estilo clásico y enérgico del rockabilly. En la década de los 80, Campi grabó un par de álbumes para Rounder, Rockin' at the Ritz (1980) y Gone, Gone, Gone (1986). Campi siguió grabando en el nuevo milenio, publicando álbumes ocasionales en su propio sello.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-campi-mn0000406668/biography

Tracks:
1. Hot Dog
2. All The Time
3. Boogie Boogie Boo
4. Rock It
5. The Thought Of Losing You
6. Waffle Stompin' Mama
7. Blue Ranger
8. Ballin' Keen
9. Let 'Er Roll
10. Dobro Daddio From Del Rio
11. Born To Be Wild
12. How Low Can You Feel
13. Where My Sweet Baby Goes
14. Tribute To 'You Know Who'
15. Eager B-B-Beaver Boy
16. Pretty Mama
17. One Part Stops Where The Other Begins
18. Pinball Millionaire
19. When Two Ends Meet
20. Good Time Woman
21. It Ain't Me (Piano Version) (1957)
22. Chug-A-Lug
23. Parts Unknown
24. Wicked Wicked Woman
25. Shelby County Penal Farm
26. Don't Give Your Heart To A Rambler
27. Play Anything
28. Major Label Blues

1994