Ray Donnell, one of Arizona’s promising rock-and-roll voices, came up through Phoenix music impresario Jack Curtis’s empire. Ray gigged regularly at Curtis’s Stage 7 Teen Clubs, was featured in his “Stardust” Arizona Republic column, played the popular drive-in theater shows with AM powerhouse KRUX Radio, and was a regular on KPHO’s Teen Beat TV show. Donnell recorded his first single at Floyd Ramsey’s Audio Recorders of Arizona with Jack Curtis producing. Jack opted to release the single, “Tiger Love” b/w “Never Wear a Halo,” on Wallace and Ladmo TV personality Mike Condello’s Take 5 Records label over his own Mascot Records. (Condello had recently signed to Capitol Records as part of Hub Kapp and The Wheels, which originated as a musical spoof on Wallace and Ladmo that got so huge they inked a major label deal). The single became a regional favorite that has since become a sought-after collectible among garage rock crate diggers. Ray’s recordings remain an enduring snapshot of Arizona’s vibrant musical legacy, and an important and prized part of Fervor Records’ extensive catalogue of period recordings.
– Liner notes by Jacob Nathan
