Razzy Bailey
A singer whose vocal style fused country with blue-eyed soul, Alabama-born Rasie Michael "Razzy" Bailey cut his first recordings in 1949 at the age of ten. By 15, he led a string band, sponsored by the local chapter of the Future Farmers of America, who came in second in a talent contest held at Auburn University.
Bailey married and had children immediately after graduating high school; as a result, his career as a performer was sporadic and unsuccessful for a number of years. In 1966, he contributed several songs to Atlantic Records' Bill Lowery, among them "9,999,999 Tears," which Lowery agreed to produce. While the single, on which Bailey was backed by a studio band featuring Billy Joel, Joe South, and Freddy Weller, failed to chart, it renewed the singer's interest in pursuing a recording career full-time. As a result, he formed the pop-oriented trio Daily Bread in 1968, releasing a pair of albums on small labels. Another group, the Aquarians, followed in 1972; in 1974, Bailey recorded the album I Hate Hate simply as Razzy.
After I Hate Hate failed to chart, Bailey again dropped out of music, but in 1976, singer Dickey Lee hit number three with a cover of "9,999,999 Tears"; after Lee hit the Top 20 with another of his songs, "Peanut Butter," Bailey signed a new recording contract of his own. In 1978, he released the single "What Time Do You Have to Be Back in Heaven," the first of five consecutive Top Ten hits.
Between August 1980 and December 1981, Bailey reached his commercial peak with a string of five number one hits -- "Loving Up a Storm," "I Keep Coming Back," "Friends," "Midnight Hauler," and "She Left Love All Over Me" -- and in 1981 was named Billboard magazine's Country Singles Artist of the Year. The albums Razzy (1980), Makin' Friends (1981), Feelin' Alright, and A Little More Razzy (both 1982) were also very successful.
By the mid-'80s, however, Bailey's hit-making days were largely over; his singles landed only in the lower rungs of the charts. In 1987, he began issuing his records through his own label, SOA (Sounds of America). In 1993, the release of the album Razzy Bailey: Fragile, Handle with Care was marred by the suicide of Bailey's wife, Sandra. Razzy Bailey died on August 4, 2021 at his home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee; he was 82 years old.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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I Still Hate Hate
House - Released by Lifted House on Sep 2, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Country Anthology
Country - Released by Westmill on Dec 14, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Razzy Bailey - The RCA Years
Country - Released by RCA - Legacy on Oct 28, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Damned Good Time
Country - Released by Sounds of America SOA on Jan 1, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Color My World
Country - Released by Vanilla OMP on Jun 16, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On the Razz
Country - Released by Good Time Records on Jul 26, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Razzy Bailley Live From Church Street Station (Live)
Country - Released by Eastmill on Nov 15, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Razzy Bailey - [The Dave Cash Collection]
Country - Released by The Dave Cash Collection - OMP on May 9, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Color My World
Country - Released by Jukebox Entertainment on Jun 16, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Razzy Bailey's If I Could Write A Song
Country - Released by Charly Records on Jun 24, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
HELPING HEART
Country - Released by 6050861 Records DK on Dec 29, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
WHITE CHRISTMAS
Christmas Music - Released by 6050861 Records DK on Nov 5, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
PEACE ON EARTH
Pop - Released by 6050861 Records DK on Oct 28, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BEST TO YOU AND TEXAS
Country - Released by 6050861 Records DK on Dec 18, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo