Ray Singer (record producer)

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Ray Singer (born 4 July 1946) is a British record producer and owner of Singer Records. Singer was instrumental in launching the careers of Peter Sarstedt,^[1] David Sylvian, Japan, and Ana Silvera.

Early years: 1960s–1970s

Ray Singer was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England, and raised in Brighton. His secondary education was at Carmel College, Oxfordshire. He first became involved in music by forming a skiffle group as a student in Brighton, and in 1964 made his first records as a singer under the wing of Jeffrey Kruger, who signed him to his independent record label, Ember Records, after seeing him sing in a charity show. Ember Records released Singer's "Tell Me Now" in 1964.^[2]

He appeared on

As a songwriter he had success with Françoise Hardy, whose version of "Tiny Goddess" ("Je Ne Sais Pas Ce Que Veux") went to number one in the French charts. Singer also went on to write and produce for the French singer Michel Polnareff.

Singer/Sarstedt collaboration

Whilst working in Paris he discovered a busker from London, the singer-songwriter Peter Sarstedt. Singer took him into the studios for Island and recorded Peter Sarstedt, an album of his compositions. From these sessions came the million selling "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?"^[3] Sarstedt hits that followed included "Frozen Orange Juice" and "I'm A Cathedral".

1980s–1990s

Singer was eventually to settle in London, becoming best known for his work with British singer-songwriters, including Peter Sarstedt, Joan Armatrading and Ana Silvera. Some of this work was produced by his own production company, Rocking Horse Productions, which he co-founded with Simon Napier-Bell.^[4]

He then went to New York where he was signed to make albums for

Singer set up his own recording studio in London and his own label, Singer Records. The success of the Wes Anderson movie, The Darjeeling Limited, with Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Anjelica Huston, which featured Peter Sarstedt's "Where Do You Go To, My Lovely", led to Singer Records releasing The Lost Album by Peter Sarstedt, which has become an iTunes best seller.

Other artists featured on Singer Records are

He worked on singer-songwriter Ana Silvera's album, The Aviary,^[5] co-produced alongside Brad Albetta.

See also

• List of people from Tonbridge

References