206:
Ray Brown & the
Whispers were formed in 1964 in Sydney as a rock and pop band by Lawrie Barclay on rhythm guitar, Ray Brown on lead vocals, Pat Jeffrey on drums, John Manners on bass guitar and Bobbie Richardson on lead guitar. Barclay, Jeffrey, Manners and Richardson had been members of
211:-inspired instrumental group, the Nocturnes, formed in 1962. The Nocturnes had issued two instrumental singles, "Riptide" (1963) and "Sitting Pretty" (1964). Brown had been a clerk with the Customs Department prior to joining the Nocturnes, which changed their name to the Whispers.
230:
in 1963. By the time the single appeared
Richardson had been replaced by Al Jackson on lead guitar. Their talent manager was John Harrigan. "20 Miles" reached No. 1 in Sydney and Perth, No. 2 in Brisbane, No. 3 in Adelaide and No. 25 in Melbourne. According to
349:
in 1965) in March 1967, which reached No. 12. However, Brown had "lost time, focus, and some of his initial appeal to fans" due to his struggle with previous management. The group became Ray Brown Three in mid-year after
Russell left and Brown took up guitar.
313:
During 1966 Brown had "decided to take control of his career, and fought a management contract," consequently he left the group at the end of that year. The
Whispers continued with Bobby Thomas on lead vocals but broke up in 1967. Australian music journalist,
164:
band from 1964 to 1967. Led by singer Ray Brown (1945–1996), with Lawrie
Barclay on rhythm guitar, Al Jackson on lead guitar, Pat Jeffery on drums and John Manners on bass guitar. The group issued four albums,
197:
on backing vocals. Brown left the band before year's end and continued as both a solo artist and leader of new groups. The
Whispers broke up in 1967. Brown died of a heart attack on 16 August 1996, aged 51.
218:. Also in that year they played at the Bowl, a Sydney nightclub, doing covers of popular songs such as "Shakin All Over". Their debut single, "20 Miles", appeared in January 1965. It was co-written by
365:(October 1969), which provided "an esoteric blending of country, folk, psychedelia and Eastern influences." Other musicians on the album were John Carr on guitar and bass guitar, Pee Wee Clark on
318:, observed, "One of Australia's more legendary '60s groups, who used to attract more than 2000 fans to their shows at Surf City and the Beach House during the early to mid '60s."
829:
1137:
855:
1190:
767:
357:, in 1969. Upon return to Australia he formed Moonstone, with Mal Clarke on guitar (ex-Tony Worsley and the Fabulous Blue Jays) and
285:' "Strange" (1966) was released by Ray Brown & the Whispers as "Ain't It Strange" in September. They released two more albums,
270:, followed late in the year, which compiled their popular singles on one side and "five new, brass-laden songs" on the other side.
1322:
772:
353:
Brown relocated to the United States in late 1967 for two years. He was signed to
Capital Records, which issued his solo album,
1080:
885:
1327:
1288:
673:
1053:
1026:
999:
1154:
981:
789:
701:
687:
1256:
250:). Overall it reached No. 3 nationally. They followed with "Fool, Fool, Fool" in July, originally recorded by
1306:
334:
307:
932:
293:
both in 1966. Their final single for the year, "Too Late to Come Home" (October), featured backing vocals by
777:
282:
215:
242:
Their next single, "Pride" (April 1965), was a cover version of Brent
Edwards' 1963 song (also covered by
973:
378:
607:
342:
254:
in 1964. Ray Brown & the
Whispers' rendition reached No. 3 nationally. The group issued an
326:
258:
album in 1965, which reached No. 4 on the Kent Music Report's albums chart. A fifth single, "
1150:
1105:
963:
384:
Ray Brown (born 15 February 1945) died of a heart attack in Sydney on 16 August 1996, aged 51.
358:
862:(Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society)
832:. Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from
1332:
1083:. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Archived from
1056:. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Archived from
1029:. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Archived from
1002:. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Archived from
888:. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Archived from
558:
259:
186:
795:
8:
1198:
919:
366:
321:
Brown formed Ray Brown & the New
Whispers early in 1967 with Steve Hardy on drums,
1284:
977:
968:
785:
697:
683:
669:
515:
451:
232:
1115:
889:
781:
833:
570:
274:
243:
190:
161:
1084:
1057:
1030:
445:
263:
227:
88:
1224:
1003:
914:
1316:
1251:
1186:
763:
635:
182:
1139:
The place of Go-Set in rock and pop music culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974
1220:
330:
315:
278:
193:" (both 1966). Their last single for 1966, "Too Late to Come Home" had the
1111:
322:
251:
219:
208:
859:
369:, Russell Hinton on guitar, Ed Gaston on bass guitar, Eligio Sincic on
45:
297:. Ray Brown was listed at No. 10 on teenage pop music newspaper,
346:
214:
Late in 1964 the group took up residency at Surf City discotheque in
50:
1146:
1107:
294:
223:
194:
262:", appeared in October, which reached No. 4. Originally by
299:
255:
1054:"'In the Midnight Hour' – Ray Brown & the Whispers (1965)"
923:. Vol. 39, no. 11, 089. 25 February 1965. p. 21
374:
370:
1081:"'(Ain't It) Strange' – Ray Brown & the Whispers (1965)"
1027:"'Fool, Fool, Fool' – Ray Brown & the Whispers (1965)"
1272:
1225:"Music: New Release a Festival of Australian Memories"
988:
Note: Chart positions back calculated by Kent in 2005.
768:"Encyclopedia entry for 'Ray Brown and the Whispers'"
489:
Ray Brown & the Whispers: The Ultimate Collection
361:
on guitar (ex-Aesop's Fables). They issued an album,
239:(2005) this is equivalent to No. 11 nationally.
273:
In February 1966 they provided their rendition of "
886:"'20 Miles' – Ray Brown & the Whispers (1965)"
1314:
909:
907:
1281:Noel McGrath's Australian Eencyclopedia of Rock
1072:
1045:
1000:"'Pride' – Ray Brown & the Whispers (1965)"
879:
877:
856:"Song Catalogue Search Results for '20 Miles'"
666:Noel McGrath's Australian Encyclopedia of Rock
1278:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1175:
958:
956:
954:
952:
950:
948:
946:
944:
942:
904:
185:, "Pride" , "Fool, Fool, Fool" (both 1965), "
1231:. Vol. 62, no. 19, 228. p. 18
1106:Ray Brown and the Whispers (Musical group);
1099:
991:
874:
758:
756:
754:
752:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
1018:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
726:
724:
722:
720:
718:
1268:– via National Library of Australia.
1239:– via National Library of Australia.
1209:– via National Library of Australia.
1185:
1172:
1129:
939:
181:(1966). Their top 5 singles were the
848:
823:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
762:
583:"Ain't It Strange" / "I Can't Get Enough"
715:
1260:. Vol. 33, no. 33. p. 47
827:
773:Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop
1315:
802:
1249:
1243:
1219:
1213:
1136:Kent, David Martin (September 2002).
915:"A winning combination Top hit group"
476:
417:Bobbie Richardson – lead guitar
1135:
962:
644:
630:
399:Lawrie Barclay – rhythm guitar
1112:"Too Late to Come Home" / "Respect"
1078:
1051:
1024:
997:
883:
680:An Australian Discography 1960-1989
593:"Too Late to Come Home" / "Respect"
281:in 1948, which reached No. 4.
13:
1153:. pp. 255–264. Archived from
377:, and Jimmy Thompson on drums (ex-
266:in June 1965. Their second album,
34:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
14:
1344:
1300:
976:: Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd.
648:Ray Brown & the New Whispers.
341:(1967), it provided the single, "
333:) and Dave Russell on guitar (ex-
244:Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas
1250:Yates, Kerry (12 January 1966).
1158:(Portable Document Format (PDF))
694:The Who's Who of Australian Rock
411:John Manners – bass guitar
339:Same Old Song ... Brand New Beat
310:for Male Vocal in October 1966.
101:Ray Brown & the New Whispers
969:Australian Chart Book 1940–1969
546:"Fool Fool Fool" / "Go to Him"
335:Ray Columbus & the Invaders
237:Australian Chart Book 1940–1969
1323:New South Wales musical groups
1307:"Ray Brown & the Whispers"
830:"Ray Brown & the Whispers"
430:
423:Al Jackson – lead guitar
1:
1257:The Australian Women's Weekly
1252:"Who's Who on the Teen Scene"
933:National Library of Australia
652:
526:"20 Miles" / "Devoted to You"
1328:Australian rock music groups
619:
597:
587:
577:
563:
548:
540:
530:
442:Ray Brown & the Whispers
167:Ray Brown & the Whispers
158:Ray Brown & the Whispers
25:Ray Brown & the Whispers
7:
379:Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
10:
1349:
495:
387:
201:
602:
553:
522:
508:
505:
502:
435:
405:Pat Jeffery – drums
337:). They issued an album,
126:
122:
114:
107:Ray Brown & Moonstone
94:
84:
59:
38:
30:
23:
828:Kimball, Duncan (2002).
536:"Pride" / "Say It Again"
393:Ray Brown – vocals
696:– Moonlight Publishing
692:Spencer, Chris (1993),
678:Spencer, Chris (1990),
252:Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier
1279:McGrath, Noel (1978),
1151:University of Canberra
682:– Moonlight Publishers
664:McGrath, Noel (1978),
561:" / "Now Is the Time"
466:(1966) Aus: No. 4
1309:at Nostalgia Central.
1108:Bee Gees, (performer)
277:", first released by
1201:on 14 September 2009
615:/ "New Kind of Love"
573:" / "I Am What I Am"
571:Tennessee Waltz Song
559:In the Midnight Hour
275:Tennessee Waltz Song
260:In the Midnight Hour
191:Tennessee Waltz Song
187:In the Midnight Hour
16:Australian rock band
1160:on 4 September 2015
464:Heading for the Top
325:on bass guitar (ex-
287:Heading for the Top
175:Heading for the Top
1229:The Canberra Times
1087:on 31 October 2020
920:The Canberra Times
477:Compilation albums
367:pedal steel guitar
1290:978-0-86888-216-1
1283:, Outback Press,
782:Allen & Unwin
674:978-0-86888-216-1
668:– Outback Press,
624:
623:
617:
614:
612:
608:The Same Old Song
595:
585:
575:
538:
528:
518:
470:Dance Dance Dance
345:" (originally by
343:The Same Old Song
327:the Missing Links
291:Dance Dance Dance
289:(No. 4) and
233:Kent Music Report
179:Dance Dance Dance
155:
154:
146:Bobbie Richardson
1340:
1294:
1293:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1265:
1247:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1236:
1217:
1211:
1210:
1208:
1206:
1197:. Archived from
1183:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1159:
1144:
1133:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1122:
1103:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1092:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1060:on 15 March 2021
1049:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1033:on 15 March 2021
1022:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1006:on 15 March 2021
995:
989:
987:
960:
937:
936:
930:
928:
911:
902:
901:
899:
897:
892:on 26 March 2021
881:
872:
871:
869:
867:
852:
846:
845:
843:
841:
836:on 16 March 2010
825:
800:
799:
798:on 15 June 2004.
794:. Archived from
778:St Leonards, NSW
760:
647:
633:
616:
613:
611:
594:
584:
574:
537:
527:
514:
509:Chart positions
500:
499:
458:Hits & Brass
450:
426:
420:
414:
408:
402:
396:
305:
246:on their album,
235:'s retro-active
171:Hits & Brass
129:
80:
78:
72:
70:
62:
21:
20:
1348:
1347:
1343:
1342:
1341:
1339:
1338:
1337:
1313:
1312:
1303:
1298:
1297:
1291:
1277:
1273:
1263:
1261:
1248:
1244:
1234:
1232:
1223:(29 May 1988).
1218:
1214:
1204:
1202:
1184:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1157:
1142:
1134:
1130:
1120:
1118:
1104:
1100:
1090:
1088:
1077:
1073:
1063:
1061:
1050:
1046:
1036:
1034:
1023:
1019:
1009:
1007:
996:
992:
984:
974:Turramurra, NSW
961:
940:
926:
924:
913:
912:
905:
895:
893:
882:
875:
865:
863:
854:
853:
849:
839:
837:
826:
803:
792:
761:
716:
711:
655:
498:
479:
448:
438:
433:
424:
418:
412:
406:
400:
394:
390:
308:popularity poll
303:
204:
162:Australian rock
127:
110:
104:Ray Brown Three
76:
74:
68:
66:
60:
55:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1346:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1311:
1310:
1302:
1301:External links
1299:
1296:
1295:
1289:
1271:
1242:
1212:
1187:Nimmervoll, Ed
1171:
1128:
1098:
1079:Nuttall, Lyn.
1071:
1052:Nuttall, Lyn.
1044:
1025:Nuttall, Lyn.
1017:
998:Nuttall, Lyn.
990:
982:
938:
903:
884:Nuttall, Lyn.
873:
847:
801:
790:
764:McFarlane, Ian
713:
712:
710:
709:
705:
704:
690:
676:
661:
660:
656:
654:
651:
650:
649:
639:
622:
621:
618:
604:
600:
599:
596:
590:
589:
586:
580:
579:
576:
566:
565:
562:
555:
551:
550:
547:
543:
542:
539:
533:
532:
529:
524:
520:
519:
511:
510:
507:
504:
497:
494:
493:
492:
486:
478:
475:
474:
473:
467:
461:
455:
446:Leedon Records
444:(1965) –
437:
434:
432:
429:
428:
427:
421:
415:
409:
403:
397:
389:
386:
355:Just Ray Brown
268:Hits and Brass
264:Wilson Pickett
228:Chubby Checker
203:
200:
183:cover versions
153:
152:
151:
150:
147:
144:
141:
138:
137:Lawrie Barclay
135:
130:
124:
123:
120:
119:
116:
112:
111:
109:
108:
105:
102:
98:
96:
92:
91:
86:
82:
81:
63:
57:
56:
54:
53:
48:
42:
40:
36:
35:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1345:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1292:
1286:
1282:
1275:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1246:
1230:
1226:
1222:
1221:Coupe, Stuart
1216:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1156:
1152:
1148:
1141:
1140:
1132:
1117:
1113:
1109:
1102:
1086:
1082:
1075:
1059:
1055:
1048:
1032:
1028:
1021:
1005:
1001:
994:
985:
983:0-6464-4439-5
979:
975:
971:
970:
965:
959:
957:
955:
953:
951:
949:
947:
945:
943:
934:
922:
921:
916:
910:
908:
891:
887:
880:
878:
861:
857:
851:
835:
831:
824:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
797:
793:
791:1-86508-072-1
787:
783:
779:
775:
774:
769:
765:
759:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
714:
707:
706:
703:
702:0-86788-668-4
699:
695:
691:
689:
688:0-7316-8343-9
685:
681:
677:
675:
671:
667:
663:
662:
658:
657:
646:
643:
640:
637:
636:double A-side
634:Charted as a
632:
629:
626:
625:
609:
605:
601:
592:
591:
582:
581:
572:
568:
567:
560:
556:
552:
545:
544:
535:
534:
525:
521:
517:
513:
512:
501:
490:
487:
484:
483:Miles of Hits
481:
480:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
456:
453:
447:
443:
440:
439:
422:
416:
410:
404:
398:
392:
391:
385:
382:
380:
376:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
351:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
319:
317:
311:
309:
302:
301:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
271:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
240:
238:
234:
229:
225:
221:
217:
212:
210:
199:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
163:
159:
148:
145:
142:
139:
136:
133:
132:
131:
125:
121:
118:The Nocturnes
117:
113:
106:
103:
100:
99:
97:
93:
90:
87:
83:
64:
58:
52:
49:
47:
44:
43:
41:
37:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1280:
1274:
1262:. Retrieved
1255:
1245:
1233:. Retrieved
1228:
1215:
1203:. Retrieved
1199:the original
1194:
1162:. Retrieved
1155:the original
1138:
1131:
1119:. Retrieved
1101:
1089:. Retrieved
1085:the original
1074:
1062:. Retrieved
1058:the original
1047:
1035:. Retrieved
1031:the original
1020:
1008:. Retrieved
1004:the original
993:
967:
931:– via
925:. Retrieved
918:
894:. Retrieved
890:the original
864:. Retrieved
850:
838:. Retrieved
834:the original
796:the original
771:
693:
679:
665:
645:
641:
631:
627:
488:
482:
469:
463:
457:
454:: No. 4
441:
383:
362:
354:
352:
338:
331:the Pleazers
320:
316:Stuart Coupe
312:
298:
290:
286:
279:Pee Wee King
272:
267:
247:
241:
236:
216:King's Cross
213:
205:
178:
174:
170:
166:
157:
156:
143:John Manners
128:Past members
61:Years active
18:
1333:Beat groups
1191:"Ray Brown"
1164:16 December
964:Kent, David
431:Discography
425:(1965–1967)
413:(1964–1967)
407:(1964–1967)
401:(1964–1967)
395:(1964–1966)
359:Jimmy Doyle
323:Ronnie Peel
283:The Uniques
220:Bernie Lowe
209:the Shadows
177:(1966) and
140:Pat Jeffery
1317:Categories
927:30 October
860:APRA AMCOS
653:References
449:(LL-31646)
149:Al Jackson
115:Spinoff of
1264:21 August
1235:21 August
1205:21 August
1195:HowlSpace
1121:22 August
1091:21 August
1064:21 August
1037:21 August
1010:21 August
896:21 August
866:20 August
840:20 August
363:Mad House
347:Four Tops
256:eponymous
134:Ray Brown
1147:Canberra
1116:Festival
1110:(1966).
966:(2005).
766:(1999).
708:Specific
295:Bee Gees
224:Kal Mann
195:Bee Gees
173:(1965),
169:(1965),
160:were an
95:Spinoffs
1149:, ACT:
659:General
506:Single
496:Singles
388:Members
202:History
189:" and "
75: (
67: (
1287:
1145:(MA).
980:
788:
700:
686:
672:
491:(2002)
485:(1988)
472:(1966)
460:(1965)
436:Albums
419:(1964)
375:tablas
300:Go-Set
248:Listen
89:Leedon
85:Labels
39:Genres
31:Origin
1143:(PDF)
603:1967
554:1966
523:1965
503:Year
371:sitar
304:'
73:–1967
1285:ISBN
1266:2022
1237:2022
1207:2022
1166:2010
1123:2022
1093:2022
1066:2022
1039:2022
1012:2022
978:ISBN
929:2022
898:2022
868:2022
842:2022
786:ISBN
698:ISBN
684:ISBN
670:ISBN
373:and
226:for
222:and
77:1967
69:1964
65:1964
46:Rock
620:12
598:55
588:38
531:11
516:AUS
452:Aus
381:).
51:pop
1319::
1254:.
1227:.
1193:.
1189:.
1174:^
1114:.
972:.
941:^
917:.
906:^
876:^
858:.
804:^
784:.
780::
776:.
770:.
717:^
578:4
564:4
549:3
541:3
329:,
306:s
1168:.
1125:.
1095:.
1068:.
1041:.
1014:.
986:.
935:.
900:.
870:.
844:.
642:B
638:.
628:A
610:"
606:"
569:"
557:"
79:)
71:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.