DOUG WRAY
Douglas Leon Wray was the youngest of the Wray Brothers, born on July 4, 1933 in Dunn North Carolina. As with the rest of the family, Doug moved to Portsmouth in 1943 and was soon drumming in the Wray Brothers band, backing many of the top cowboy acts of the day, playing live radio shows and area honky tonks and nightclubs.
In 1955 the Wray family moved to Washington DC and became an instrumental part of the music scene. In a very short time, they were regulars at many local DC area nightclubs.
When Link fell ill and Vernon began his recording work, Doug became the drummer for Jimmy Dean. In 1957, Elvis was slated to appear on the Jimmy Dean Show. It was during this time that Doug brought Elvis to the hospital to see Link, who was recovering from his bout with TB.
(In 1957 Elvis performed in DC aboard a cruise ship. The ship was so overloaded that it had to stay in port. I can only wonder if Doug was there at this show...)
Once Link was out of the hospital, Doug and Shorty joined him as the Wraymen and performed as such for many years. Doug recorded on his own as well. One such release was the rockabilly shaker "Goosebumps" on Epic.
Doug appeared on Link's BULLSHOT LP, and sat in with Link a time or two in the late 1970s during Link's appearances in the area. Doug was also a regular act at Howard's Restaurant in Waldorf playing country music. A bootleg tape of a show featuring Link and possibly older brother Vernon exists.
Doug continued his interest in music throughout his life. He was working with Wrayman John Van Horn on a record right up until his death in 1984.
