RAY MELTON

Sydney-based singer, guitarist, pianist Ray Melton (born 1939) appears to have been active from the mid-50s to the early 60s. He released a number of records on the Prestophone, HMV, Leedon, Teen and Festival labels during the period 1956 -1961. Melton successfully auditioned for Sydney's Channel 7 in 1958 and hosted his own show Serenade from 1959 -60. He was often seen on local and national TV music shows including Channel 9's Bandstand, Channel 7's Tonight Show, and Sing, Sing, Sing, also from Channel 7. As a songwriter he penned his single ''Crazy'' that was released in 1960.

In October 1962 he presented Ray Melton Sings, a 15-minute Saturday evening series for ABC Radio in Canberra. The Teenagers' Weekly pages in The Australian Women's Weekly gave some biographical details in February 1961: Sydney's Ray Melton is a TV, radio, and recording star with a difference - he's also an interior decorator for a hotel-owning brewery. Ray came here from Hong Kong as a baby, went to school in Wollongong. In July 1961 the Weekly reported that Melton and his mother had moved into a house in Bondi with a rosewood grand piano and a german shepherd called Key, named after his master's record ''The Key'' which was released in 1960. According to some sources they mention Ray Melton died in 1964. I cannot find anything concrete to verify this. Please help.

SINGLES

'' Ivory Tower / The Message'' 1956 Prestophone
''Rock Right / Held For Questioning'' 1956 Prestophone
'' A Crazy Little Palace / Too Right!'' 1956 Prestophone
''Our Shangri-La / The One I Love'' 1956 Prestophone
''Under Stars Of Love / Mr. Blue'' 1959 HMV

''You Were Mine / Drop Me A Line'' 1959 HMV

''Crazy / Fallin' 1960 Teen
''The Key (#48) / Chain Gang'' 1960 Teen
''Is It Wrong To Be Right? / Sing On, Baby'' 1960 Teen
''Little By Little / Oceans Of Time'' 1961 Festival
''Miracle At Lourdes / Sleigh Ride'' 1961 Festival

EPs

'Lonely Boy' 1959 Leedon
'Love Is Everything' 1961 Festival

  

References

http://www.poparchives.com.au/2457/ray-melton/the-key

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/