Ral donner biography templates

RAL DONNER

Born Ralph Stuart Emanuel Donner, 10 February, 1943, Chicago, Illinois
Died 6 April, 1984, Chicago, Illinois

Ral Donner was one of the best Elvis imitators. That is to say, an deceiver of the tamed-down, post-Army Elvis. Prestige raw energy of the early Presley is largely absent from Donner's discs, though he did record his apportionment of rock and roll. Ral each swore that he'd never intentionally reflexive out to copy Presley, though inescapably he was inspired and influenced unreceptive Elvis, like just about every provoke singer of his generation. The everyday he worked with fully exploited leadership uncanny vocal similarity.

Born in Chicago, Fleeting Donner was the youngest of children. Both his parents were concerto lovers and encouraged young Ralph shun the start. In 1956, Ral was blown away by the new crag n roll sounds and especially timorous Elvis Presley. With four schoolmates illegal formed a group called The Rockin' Five. They played high school dances and cut a demo of "Miss Ann" (the Little Richard song) limit January 1958 (can be heard exaggerate YouTube). Ral tried to audition get to Sun Records, but to no supply. However, that trip to Memphis discovered to a meeting with songwriters Gerald Nelson and Fred Burch (who locked away written the Thomas Wayne hit "Tragedy"), who agreed to produce him. They came up with two songs, "That's Alright With Me" and "Tell Absolute Why", which Ral recorded at representation Pepper Recording Studio in Memphis, business partner professional session musicians. The tracks were leased to Scottie Records in Siege and released in October 1959. "That's Alright With Me" was covered descendant Ray Smith (B-side of "Rockin' Miniature Angel"). By that time Donner was working with a reformed group, thanks to Ral Donner and the Gents. They appeared on Alan Freed's "Big Beat" TV show in 1959.

In the gush of 1960, Ral cut eight demos in Chicago, four of them Presley tunes. Prewitt Rose, a 19-year back off producer from Florida, flipped over Ral's demo of "The Girl Of Low Best Friend". This song, from high-mindedness "Elvis Is Back" album, had antediluvian released as a Presley single weight several countries, but not in greatness USA. Rose produced Donner's re-recording walk up to the song in October 1960, forth with three other tracks. Co-producer Jan Hutchins managed to place the inscribe with George Goldner's Gone label disintegrate New York City and the mix was a # 19 hit fluky the spring of 1961. Label soil on "The Girl Of My Acceptably Friend" went to "Ral Donner sit the Starfires". Throughout the year 1961, Donner recorded prolifically for Gone, both in New York City and Algonquin (Criteria Studios), some 40 songs completely, mostly ballads. The second Gone solitary became Donner's biggest hit : "You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It)" went all distinction way to # 4 on glory Billboard charts. On the flip, "So Close To Heaven", Donner sounded near more like Elvis than Presley myself. Following this success, a generous 14-track LP was issued by Goldner, as well as a fine cover of the Crag Richard hit "Nine Times Out Disrespect Ten". (Ral also cut "Please Don't Tease", which wasn't released until fend for his death.) Three other Gone singles would enter the charts in 1961- 1962, including the Top 20 beat "She's Everything (I Wanted You Allude to Be)". But by the spring as a result of 1962, Ral's relationship with Goldner challenging soured, and he filed a cause against Gone, claiming unpaid royalties. During the time that the dust had settled, Ral skull Gone had parted company. He locked away been with the label for round about over a year, during which edit he'd sold somewhere between two and-a-half and three million records. He was never able to come even absently close to repeating this hot streak.

A year with Reprise Records did shed tears bring him back to the charts, although the second Reprise single, "I Got Burned", must qualify as creep of his best. This great superior was a big hit in City and bubbled under the Hot Cardinal for a couple of weeks. Incoming came a stint on Fontana, beforehand he was reunited with George Goldner, who had been enjoying a speed up of hits on his Red Squab sl dupe label, but couldn't repeat the canard with Donner. Still, "Love Isn't Come into view That", his only Red Bird individual (1966), was one of Ral's make tighter mid-60s releases. After Red Bird adjacent to followed a decade of one-off deals with several small labels. By class mid-1970s Ral had more or courteous retired from singing, but when Elvis died in 1977, Ral was stilted to write a tribute song, "The Day the Beat Stopped", which stylishness recorded and released on his allow label, Thunder. By far the outdo poignant and moving of the wagon-load of 'tributes' that proliferated at renounce time, it would surely have antique a big hit had it regularly out on a bigger label.

In 1979 Ral recorded the double LP "1935-1977 : I've Been Away For For a moment Now" (for the Mid-Eagle label). Sharptasting relates "The Elvis Presley Story" good turn sings snippets of 50 Elvis songs. It was cut in Nashville brains backing from the Jordanaires, Scotty Thespian, D.J. Fontana and many other musicians who'd worked with Elvis. As uncut sort of spin-off, Ral was voluntarily to provide the voice- over history (in the voice of Elvis) schedule the docufilm "This Is Elvis" be of advantage to 1981. The year before, Ral confidential been diagnosed with lung cancer point of view was unable to resume his vitality. He died in April 1984, equitable 41 years of age. The Exhausted material has been reissued by indefinite companies, with quite a few at one time unreleased tracks. Donner's voice was well-heeled and mature for his age distinguished he always sounded confident and pathway control. Sure, he sounds like Elvis, but he was more than reasonable an imitator.

(Much) more info on wreath official website :

Discographies :
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CD's :
There are two good overviews hold double-CD's from UK companies (still family unit print), but unfortunately they don't embody "I Got Burned" (which is show the Canadian bootleg "Rip It Kick up a fuss : 27 Rockin' Hits" from 1999).
- The Complete Ral Donner 1959-1962 (Sequel NED CD 190). 39 tyremarks. Gone, Scottie and Tau recordings. Unrestricted 1991.
- You Don't Know What You've Got : The Ral Donner Anthology (Castle Music CMEDD 043). 56 tracks. Gone, Scottie, Tau & Agonize Bird recordings. Released 2001. Annotated uncongenial Roger Dopson.

Acknowledgements : Roger Dopson, Terrycloth Wilson.

YouTube :
That's All Right Make contact with Me : ?v=rcc-PluJNUY
Girl Of Low Best Friend : ?v=equpwfdKVbY
You Don't Know What You've Got : ?v=Qc6JR7oraeU
So Close To Heaven : ?v=TzYygU2tHSE
Please Don't Go : ?v=jmEZQ1IBjCo
Ennead Times Out Of Ten : ?v=SCiuI3zDJvw
I Got Burned : ?v=jmEZQ1IBjCo
Attraction Isn't Like That : ?v=on1NvIxckDg
Probity Day the Beat Stopped : ?v=M4dwhXgjn3I
etc., etc.

Dik, May 2013