April 2, 2020

Ray Stevens: The Passing of John Ragsdale...

Hello all...a couple of hours ago Ray Stevens released the news that his brother, John Ragsdale, passed away unexpectedly as a result from a fall. The information released on Ray's social media sites say that John suffered a fall at his house on the Island of Popa Loma in the Bocas del Toro region of Panama. I did some more research and discovered a publication called The Bocas Breeze. Although I didn't find out much from the publication's website I did find their Facebook page. It is there where I came across something of an obituary for John and it was posted March 29th. I have no idea if he'll be buried on the island or in Panama or if he'll be flown back to the U.S. and buried in Georgia alongside their parents. You can read The Bocas Breeze Facebook article about John by clicking HERE.

As far as I know Ray recorded two songs that are credited to his brother. One of those is a 1970 recording, "Talking", found on Ray's Unreal album. Another recording is "Let Our Love Be a Light Unto the People" which Ray recorded in 1972 for his Turn Your Radio On album. He re-recorded the album in 2016 and titled it Love Lifted Me...he kept the same 1970s arrangements but the vocals were newly recorded. However, "Let Our Love Be a Light Unto the People" was not re-recorded and so among the newly recorded vocals on Love Lifted Me is the original 1972 recording of that song. Here's the 1972 audio track from the 2016 gospel release...



Ray posted a video clip featuring John on the set of the Get Serious! VHS movie from 1995. It's footage from the documentary, Ray Stevens Made a Movie?? Get Serious!!, and along with clips of John in character in several roles there's also footage of him discussing the importance of learning and how education is important. John played the gorilla in the movie and other roles. He also played the gorilla during Ray's years in Branson, Missouri anytime Ray sang "Gitarzan". John can be seen in the VHS tapes Ray Stevens Live! and More Ray Stevens Live!. His appearances are more frequent in the latter VHS...and since he happened to be the Master of Ceremonies at the Branson theater he appeared on stage along side Ray's French Fried Far Out Legion Band during warm-up and intermission. The band is featured on several performances in More Ray Stevens Live! which is why there's more footage of John in that release. The YouTube clip below features a screen cap of John right after the gorilla mask was removed from his face on the set of Get Serious!. In the photo underneath he's seen wearing a CabaRay hat.



John Ragsdale: June 30, 1944 - March 29, 2020

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