Razzy Bailey

Today, Razzy Bailey is enjoying a resurgence of fan appreciation. People around the world want to hear and see in person this legendary man who crosses all borders and whose music is timeless.
"Razzy Unwrapped" is a gifted collection of Razzy songs on his SOA Record Label, with stellar guest performers such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Mickey Gilley and Randy Van Warmer. Anyone without this CD in their collection cannot claim to be true country music or rhythm and blues fans.

Today Razzy lives in Nashville with his beautiful wife, Faye Bright-Bailey, who is also his manager. He was born in Hugley, Alabama and raised on a farm in Lafayette, Alabama, although the state of Georgia has since claimed him as their own.

It was in Georgia where Razzy began his musical career. His first guitar was a second hand guitar he received from his father, Rasie, who played guitar and banjo, and later co-wrote songs with Razzy. The guitar neck was so warped that Razzy recalls, "it looked like a bow and arrow." By the age of 19, Razzy was recording for a small company called B & K Records.

In 1966 Razzy wrote a song called, "9,999,999 Tears," which he took along with some other songs to Atlantic Records. The label liked what they heard, especially that song, and arranged a recording session with studio musicians such as Freddy Weller, Billy Joe Royal, Emory Gordy, Jr., and Joe South. That song provided Razzy with lift-off to a skyrocketing career. In 1976, Dickey Lee recorded "9,999,999 Tears" and it exploded to number #1. In 1977, Dickie Lee recorded yet another Razzy song, "Peanut Butter," which went to number #12.

Among the career milestones that Razzy considers his most memorable is the day when three major labels offered him recording deals within a twenty minute period of time! Although he would later sign with MCA, he chose to call RCA his Music Row home. RCA was then the home for two of his heroes, Jimmie Rodgers and Waylon Jennings. Razzy stayed with RCA for six years. For a historic four months, Razzy's top #10 hit "What Time Do You Have to Be Back in Heaven" stayed on the charts. This was followed up with "Tonight She's Gonna Love Me (Like There's No Tomorrow)," again a top #10 smash. History was being made. Two more top #10's followed: "If Love Had a Face," and "I Ain't Got No Business Doin' Business Today," but they were outdone by his top #5, "I Can't Get Enough of You."

Razzy was on a roll and his success carried through into the 80's with six #1's, all of them back-to-back from three double-sided releases, "Loving up a Storm," "I Keep Coming Back/True Life Country Music," "Friends/Anywhere There's a Jukebox," and "Midnight Hauler." This accomplishment was never before and never again, achieved by any other artist. "Scratch My back (and Whisper in My Ear)," flipside to "Midnight Hauler," also scored a top #10 place on the charts. The year 1981 ended with another of Razzy's songs sitting on the top of the charts, "She Left Love all over me."

With a total of nine #1 hits in a row, it is no surprise that Razzy was named Billboard's Country Singles Artist for that year.

Top #10 hits followed Razzy around like a little puppy dog follows his master. The next year he enjoyed even more top #10 hits, including "Everywhere You Cross My Mind (You Break my Heart)," and "Love's Gonna Fall Here Tonight"

Thirteen #1 hits and 30 top #10 hits have permanently etched a place for Razzy in the history of American music. He received so many awards and honors that no complete list of them currently exists. He has, however, recently been inducted into the Atlanta, Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame. Razzy memorabilia is currently seen in two separate exhibits at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon - one exhibit is in the hot country music division along with Travis Tritt while the other is in the R & B division with Otis Redding.

Just as Razzy's songs are always thoughtful and thought provoking, his vocal style is as individual and soulful as anyone you would care to name, from Al Green to Frank Sinatra. His voice is leathery and raw, and seasoned with scars to prove it. He has knocked down barriers between country, pop, rock, and blues, and he breached country music's isolation so that it could speak to the entire world.

Razzy has spent much of his time on the road during his career. He performed to more than one million people in Washington DC, a crowd even larger than Garth Brooks' now legendary Central Park audience. Razzy has performed his songs everywhere - from Texas honkytonks to the Cotton Bowl, from state fairs to the House of Blues, and from Australia to the Hard Rock Cafe in Croatia.

The list of television shows and special concerts on which Razzy has appeared is long. They include "Solid Gold," "Austin City Limits," "PM Magazine," "Crook and Chase," "Farm Aid 94," "CMA Awards," "Wembley Festival" on BBC in London, and appearance with Bob Hope and Danny Thomas.