RAY SAWYER Vocalist/Percussionist of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
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- čas přidán 12. 02. 2022
- Ray Sawyer of Dr Hook & The Medicine Show. A short Mini Doc about Ray and the story of The Cover of the Rolling Stone
#drhook #minidoc #documentary #minidocumentary
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I met and had the great privilege of meeting Ray as a singer in a supporting band in Casper Wyoming in 2014. We were all warned backstage that if Ray came out of his dressing room we were to immediately go back to our dressing rooms. This included other artists Foghat and Black Oak Arkansas. Sure enough,Ray emerged looking tired and sporting a long flowing beard and his infamous eye patch. Everyone skeedattled except me. I had loved him for decades and had to meet him. I was afraid that he’d become upset at seeing me but imagine my surprise at his reception of me. He and I sat and talked about Dr Hook and his influences as he sat and ate a sandwich. After 15 minutes or so it was time for me to take the stage so we shook hands, hugged and said goodbye. During our short set, I looked over to stage left and there was Ray and watching me intently even smiling from time to time! After all the acts including Ray had finished their sets we were asked to all take the stage for a bow. One more surprise happened as I stood on that stage so close to so many successful artists of my youth. Ray, who had headlined the show, still had the mic. He said he’d met a great new friend and fellow back stage and called my name. As I approached him there was that unforgettable twinkle in his eye as he Sung my praises and Ben proceeded to give me a kiss right on the mouth In front of 8000 people!!!! The n do morning, my wife asked me “ How soft was his beard?” 😂
God, what an honor. RIP Ray
Great story. Thanks for sharing!!
They were a fun band; I think they didn't take themselves too seriously and making the music was what made them happy.
I grew up listening to Dr. Hook. Their songs bring back so many great memories of growing up in the 70s and early 80s! Never had the opportunity to see them live.
Thanks for watching!! I only saw them once and it was a blast!
Ray was my favorite
Thank you, RAY SAWYER for doing your part to help tame mankind with your gift and talent. May GOD bless your legacy and surviving family.
I'm 74 years old, and saw these guys numerous times. I always made a point to get tickets and go see them when they played anywhere around my area. They were a good band and always fun and entertaining to see. I'd have to say that I liked their earlier stuff much better than the later material. I really enjoyed them and I'm grateful that I got to see them so many times. I still have some of their recorded music that I listen to when I'm kickin' back or when I'm out driving in my Jeep.
I get off on the earlier stuff myself. Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for watching. Hope you subscribe to the channel!
A great but, sadly forgotten band. Love their music and great sense of humor. Thanks for giving them the recognition that they so greatly deserve.
You're very welcome and thank you for watching!
Got to see Ray and his son play at a show in Myrtle Beach back in the early 2000s even being 70 years old that man put on one hell of a show we were at a biker bar and he came out with a cup of whiskey in one hand and a cup of beer in the other to start the show then stole the joint from my friend in the front row it was great really summed up my childhood from the 70s
Great Story. Thanks for sharing and watching the video!
Never got to see them live, but they have been riding around with me for 50 years. Great band.
I was just a young buck in 72 when I first heard the song. I will never forget that summer, singing it on the way to beach. It was a fairly long walk from the cottage. Sylvia's mother said, Sylvia crying...then my brother and I use to make up our own words..WKBW out of buffalo with Sandy Beach...Canada was free then. The phone booth on 3c in front of Thunder Bay drive in stood as our prop. We always checked it for change... you never know. What a time it was. I miss the old cottage.
Nice story. Always good to think back once in a while on fun times. Thanks for watching!
They used to do an extra verse in concert "Sylvia's father says..".anyone remember it😂
❤ Sylvia's Mother, great song of my youth ❤
I wasn't a great fan of Dr. Hook until I heard Shel Silverstein's "Freakin' At The Freaker's Ball" album in 1972. Been a big fan of both since.
Found that lp at a 2nd hand store for $.99. Shel, brilliant.
I saw Dr Hook many times. They played in my home town back in the 70's. I actually met Dennis at the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville and drank beer with him. It was a highlight in my life.
I have a friend, Keith Austin, who played in the band for a while...
Saw them last in Columbus GA at a club called The Roadhouse...
Keith now lives in Sweden with his wife, an airline stewardess.
I spoke to him a while back about the concert at the Roadhouse. He told me that they had to spend the night in the tour bus because sometime during the concert, someone had cut the brake lines of the bus. Little did the person who did this know that the bus had air brakes, and upon the band getting ready to leave, they knew right away they had no brakes.
There were around 25-30 friends of ours that met that night at the club. We had several tables and chairs pulled together, and partied with the band between set's.
What a night!
✌️
Wow!! Thanks for watching and sharing your story!
Saw Dr Hook in the 70s Liverpool Empire ....Been Hooked ever scince .And I have seen Dennis a few times when he has been on tour . still play there music a lot . today . better than a lot of the music out today
Saw them in Butte, Montana in 1974. It was a great show and they did an encor song dedicated to Butte. The song was Freakers Ball and fit Butte to a tee. When my wife and I left for California then Colorado, in 1972, to attend schooling Sylvia's Mother was their big hit and we listened to it on the radio through the entire trip.
Dr. Hook played a free concert on the University of Florida north lawn sometime in the mid 70's, (74 -76 ?). It was an incredible show and the moment that sticks out in my mind was the band taking a break in the middle of Sylvia's Mother, except for Dennis, who continued the song alone. I had never seen anyone break a low E string on an acoustic guitar, but that night I did! I think he might have broken two string on his Ovation. The band returned to finish the song and I was just blown away. Great times, music, and memories.
Cool story thanks for sharing!!
I saw them in the early 90's here in Owensboro Kentucky.
I understand that Ray was the only original member in
that band that night.
They were going by Dr. Hook.
It was a great show.
I am 62 at the time of this writing.
I used to hear Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show on the
radio a LOT on the radio while I was living in San Diego
throughout most of the 70's.
I have heard that Ray always put on a good dhow. Glad you got to see them.
Our band, MSFunk, opened for Dr. Hook in Huntsville Alabama in 1972. We ran into them again in Michigan the following year. Yes…they loved to have fun and party!
Yes they did and it showed when they were on stage ha ha! Thanks for watching and commenting.
I remember seeing them at old Chicago amusement park back in 79
FordFracture, I saw them there too! I just added my comment about that show! I shook Ray's hand at front stage during the show!
My very first concert. My dad took me and my sister to see Dr. Hook with special guest Sha Na Na!!! 77 I think...I know I was very little and I was totally bummed that Sha Na Na didn't end their performance by jumping off the stage. In the 70s, the Sha Na Na TV show would end with the members of the 50s DoWop group jumping off the stage and freeze frame in mid air as the credits would roll and as a 5 or 6 year old kid I totally expected an exact version of the TV show. I remember Dr.Hook doing When you're in love with a beautiful woman, My Dad loved that band and that was one of his favorite songs from that band. My dad was a musician also and as I grew into a teenager I began playing guitar myself but never had a desire to perform or play local establishments like my dad used to do. It's cool how music works for different people. Music, especially real music not the garbage being passed off as music for the past 20 something years since the year 2000, music for me is like a snapshot of the period. Like a photo album, where I remember little bits and pieces of my life and the friends and family around me at whatever time a particular song had been released. Back when radio was all you had and the occasional TV performance or live concert. You dig a particular group or artist and you found their album, you took it home and opened it up and lay it on the turntable and dropped the needle. In my case I put on my big olive green headphones with the long coiled cord that was able to reach all the way across your bedroom. I'd lay on my bed and read the album jacket backwards and forward. Stare at the pictures or the album art. Today people just buy a file or download a free file. Technology isn't necessarily a good thing.
awesome....that's the year I was born.....my dad introduced me to the Dr also.....love to hear first concert stories! 👍
I saw them in 1983, I think, can't be sure of the year, however, I loved every minute of it. Great performance and I loved every song they had out! Such talent..............
My Oldest Brother Turned Me on Dr Hook and The Medicine Show Back in The Mid 70's I Was Hooked 👍👍. I Got The Pleasure of Turning My Wife On To Them and Wound Up Taking Her & Our 9 mo. Old Daughter To See Them in Concert @The L.A. Fairgrounds in 1980. Then in 81 I Took My Wife To See Them @ The "Birdcage Theatre" @ Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, Cali. Fri. Sat.& Sun. Nites ‼️She Actually Got EVERYONE'S Autograph ( except The Drummer's ) . Those Were The Days My Friends. God Bless All !!!
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing!
👍👍👍
Late 80's early 90's Webster Texas. I gave my mom a cat I named Dr.Hook. We went to the show and she told Ray she had a cat named Dr.Hook. Enjoyed the show it was like Midnight Special.
Sir you do a nice job. I could listen to your voice all day.
Dr. Hook had some great songs. Sadly i never got the opportunity to see them. Boe
Thanks Boe Appreciate it!
Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk is my favorite Dr Hook song.
My older brother saw them 4 times in the 70s in Miami and where we're from Cleveland .Music has always been a big part of our lives any almost any song we here will put us back in time .Me being born in 1965 I did not realize what a great band dr hook was I new there music but did not realize why they were until last year I love these guys and I love their stage show Awsome ,Awsome Awesome
Thanks for the comment. Hope you subscribed to the channel..more to come!
My GF has known Ray for many years, always speaks fondly of him!
They "Get my Rocks off". Great band.
Dr hook had a concert in Joplin MO in the early 70's. It was held in a sports stadium next to a railroad track, my brother and I road our chopped-out Schwinn bicycles there thinking we could watch them thru the fence. we parked next to some Harley Davidson motorcycles sitting on our bikes thinking we were pretty cool when the train started coming our way. The horn was so loud it stopped the concert and someone on the stage said I hope that train don.t hit my hog out there. Everybody turned to look our way, we thought we would be in trouble for opening the tarp that was on the fence so we could see. We rode off as fast as we could. Thanks for posting and bringing back some memories.
I seen them at big surf in Tempe az in 1971or 72 great show had a great time
saw them @ 1981, took my 1yr old daughter cause our babysitter fell through and grew up listening to them .I'm 66 now.Saw them in Kamloops
First time hearing about them, but I'll be flag to sit down and listen to this tail.
Saw Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show 3 times at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington Tx. 1974 -1976. They were funny and outrages. The last time at SixFlags 3 of my friends Andy I showed up at there Show wearing eye patches. Other than shirts , they would have made a lot of $$$ if they would have sold Sawyer Eye Patches. Loved them and miss them. RIP Mr. Ray Sawyer.
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks and Dr.Hook were my favorite bands back in those days.
Dan Hicks, Commander Cody too
I saw Dr. Hook at the Old Chicago theme park in, I believe, 1979. We sat front-row center. During the show, Ray picked me out of the crowd and had me stand for all to see as he made an example out of me for a story he was telling. He tussled my hair and shook my hand and sent me back to my seat, an embarrassed little kid. Great memory from a very entertaining show! May Ray rest in peace. He was a true entertainer!
Great story. Thanks for sharing. He was a great entertainer. Hope you subscribe to the channel. Thanks for watching.
Saw Dr. Hook in ‘88 at Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. They opened up for the Doobie Brothers. Was a fantastic show. In the middle of the show Ray flirted with my buddies wife right from the stage as we were standing up front. Of course she flirted right back with him! Was pretty funny, her hubby was the jealous type and we had to hold him back from jumping up in the stage to confront Ray. Good times, good times…
Great story!! Old Ray was a hoot that's for sure. Thanks for watching!
I loved them and I didn't realized that Ray Sawyer was from Alabama and I am too 😅
Great Band, great Memories. Thank you so much.
All the best from Bavaria.
You're very welcome and thank you for watching. Hope you subscribed!
Born in 77 my dad turned me on to Dr hook when I was a kid......great band
Amazing band.. have many of their albums and tapes.🎤🎼🎶🎸🎸🎸🥁
Agree. I really enjoyed this group! Thanks for watching. Hope you subscribed!
I love the band. Especially Ray !!!
Me too!! Thanks for watching!
Im 58 years old, when I was in my late teens and early 20's, I "romanced" MANY women by singing DR HOOK love songs to them.... ahh... memories of our youth....lol
Their music is engrained in my mind. Thank you for posting this well spoken video.
you're welcome and thank you for watching!
Man I saw these guys back in the 70s and they were so fun to watch on stage so many classic lyrics to the cover of the Rolling Stone it’s hard to mention them all we keep getting richer but we can’t get our picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone
They sure were a fun band to watch! Thank you for watching the video. Hope you subscribe to the channel!
He had a ball,,,these guys were awesome still love ❤ his music in 2022
God bless Ray R.I.P.
Thanks so much for this! At 5:29, finally learned who sang "I got a freaky old lady..." and at 5:48, who started the song. I'm referring to "The Cover of the Rolling Stone." They actually did get thier likeness on it on the 3-29-73. issue.
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching!
The Bankrupt album is one of my all time favorites, I still have a playable copy of it. I definitely wore out a couple of copies tho. Great party album 👍✌️
Yes I saw them I think it was 1976 and I was very excited. I played in a rock band back then and these guys and their onstage Personna was my idea of what a show should be … I always felt like when you’re performing you should keep in mind that that’s what it is put on a show put on a great performance and keep in mind that the audience is the most important thing and Ray and the medicine show Fulfilled every expectation
Saw them in Tulsa in 72, had an awesome time . So much fun! RIP Ray.
my daughters still talk about us singing Dr hook on road trips......memories less complicated times...
I am one of eight retired baby Boomers 7 GIRLS play the guitar and I am the lead singer although I am a Soprano I can use my voice in many ways like sounding very much like Ray Sawer the female version LOL. we are performing the cover of the rolling Stone for our next concert and boy are we having fun rehearsing and getting into caricature
When I was in elementary school didn't know a lot of the bands just would here them on the radio thanks for the info and background that was good old days wish I could turn the clock back sometime cause I hear a old song it's like a time machine for me I can tell you what was going on when that's song was out keep these good old videos coming stay safe
Will do. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment!
saw him in 1992 as a one show and he was great played all the hits
The only band i ever seen where all of there songs were my favorite, i grew up in 70's and loved the music!
I got to see them in 1980 (ish) I wish I would have been smart enough to take pictures and have been sober enough to enjoy it and remember it.
lol...thanks for watching!
Well we're big rock singers we got toes and fingers and we're loved everywhere we go.......we sing about beauty and we sing about truth at 10 thousand dollars a show. Great band Great lyrics highly underrated guitar player was amazing also
It’s “Golden fingers”.
I love singing and playing that on guitar at party’s it always get the party jumping
@@boataxe4605 sorry man I've got very little recollection of my 30's.
Tee shirts , tattoo's, and two ex wives are the only testament that I was alive then. Guess you didn't party quite as hard.
Toes and fingers?🤣😆
@@pinslayer4579 I did my share of partying but I remember everything, which can be both good and bad!😂
Dr Hook was first concert I ever seen 1978.Also seen his solo in mid 80s in of all places Yellowknife of the NWT. Last time I seen Dr HOOK would have been around 2013 or 14 all good shows.
Wow Yellowknife is way north for a band to be traveling. Thanks for watching!
I saw Ray in the late 90s (?) in a summer series at Fred Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City, GA where they would have shows that combined 3 or 4 "orphan" musicians from old acts and do a best of. I was pleased to get to meet him afterward, spend a few minutes and get his autograph. He was gracious, funny and having a good time. My friend got him to sign her bra (an extra one she brought with)!
Cool Story! Thanks for sharing!
Loved Dr Hook since I was about 16. Saw Dennis perform solo twice here in the UK about 10 years ago. They will always be my favourite band of all time. It’s funny that at 45 I’m probably amongst their youngest fans.
Dennis is a great singer!! 45 is pretty young...to me anyhow lol! Thanks for watching. Hope you subscribe to the channel!
Am 44 and love this band since I was a nipper love playing and singing there songs always goes down a storm much love from bonnie Scotland
Dr Hook is my favorite band of all times. I went to a concert when I was 18. It was fabulous. They needed me threw so many bad time I can't count. I still listen all the time. You did a wonderful job at telling their story. Thank you so much you made my day.
You're welcome. Thank you for watching.
I wife just loves Dr Hook & The Medicine Show and always has their music in rotation. It certainly takes you to a time.
It sure does!! Thanks for watching!
I also saw Dr Hook and the Medicine Show in 1974. They were opening for Uriah Heep at Barton Colosseum in Little Rock Arkansas.
Great band ! Great show ! Very entertaining and lots of Recognizable hits !
You bet! Hope you subscribed to the channel. Thanks for watching!
Love that album cover , yellow with a moon 🌙
Hey thanks so much for the great documentary on Dr. Hook. They deserve the pub.
Saw them at Duke University opening for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Great show.
I bet that was!!! Thanks for watching!
I saw Dr Hook and the medicine show around 1975 at Boss Hardware in Destin FL, had a hell of a time! They were great!
In the mid 90s or so Ray showed up at a local festival here in my little home town in nw Florida....Ray came out did a few songs, lasting about 20 minutes then he walk off stage....seemed to be to drunk to carry on. His voice just wasn't what it had been.
Cool story. As you get older you can't party like you use to. I don't know if Ray ever figured that out lol. Thanks for watching.
Awesome band in person!
I have been to 1000s of concerts and it all started in 1972 with Dr. HOOK . Six Flags In St.louis
We ll be on the Front Smilin Man.
In 2004 I got to open for Dr. Hook at the broken spoke in Sturgis. They put us in the same hotel and got to hang out with Ray for a few. He was older then but still rocked. Super cool guy...
Oh man that sounds like a great time! I would really liked to have met him. From all accounts I hear he was as you said, "a super cool guy!" Thanks for watching and your comment!
Geweldige band, fantastische muziek en veel lol. Love to see their live video's, it's the best medicine for having a good time.
Great medicine for having fun!! Thanks for watching!
I saw Dr Hook ans ShaNaNa at The Wheeling WV Civic center in the early 70s, WOW what a show! I will never forget the great music that night!!!!!
Wow ShaNaNa ..sounds like a great time for sure. I saw ShaNaNA at 6 flags one time. It was pretty cool. They did some great old songs and sang very well. Thanks for watching!
It's weird how Ray was definitely the face of Dr. Hook, yet Dennis sang lead on most of their hits other than Cover of the Rolling Stone. I saw the band once and Ray was a riot!
I hear ya. Ray was a real piece of work on stage that's for sure. Thanks for watching!
Aw man, I brought this up to watch it, but then I got stoned and I missed it.....
lmao
Great documentary and naration
Thank you Patricia. Appreciate it. Thank you also for watching.
I wish I had seen them live. I'm 54 and have many of their songs on my music phone app.
I love Dr Hook, always have. However I was two years old in 1974
"Carry me, Carrie"
I saw Dr. Hook/Medicine Show at a small racetrack in my hometown while they were tourin their first album.
We gave Crazy George a ride to his hotel room after th show & got high on th way : he sang an off-color version of "Sylvia's Mother"; my brother & his friend went backup to their room th next day & got wasted : smokin & drinkin.
Their first album still gets played...
...props to Shel Silverstein, too.
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing. Hope you subscribe to the channel!
Seen them in daytona beach , it was bike week aint sure what year it was.we all had a wonderful time.
I remember them playing a unannounced show at riverside park in Mpls, no longer sure of the date, but it was very very early in their career,all i can remember is the feeling of joy and happiness that washed over everyone
Yeah they were a happy, party type band for sure. Thanks for watching!
Always love them
I'm from Chickasaw and remember hearing them rehearse walking to the playground in the 70s...
I mixed sound for Ray and his band in a small club in Texas, 1992. It was a great show and he had some good musicians backing him. Ray was really nice to me.
You hear a lot of people saying what a nice guy Ray was when they met or worked with him. Thanks for the comment and watching the video!
My name is Ray,when that song came out I caught hell! Hey Ray tell them who we are
LOL I bet. Thanks for watching!
One of my all time favorite bands
My old man played guitar for Ray, he was always happy, the best ray story is him meeting Michael Jackson….
Oh wow. Can you tell the MJ story or know a place to look it up? Love to hear it. Thanks for watching!
@@RiverDocs idk if it’s ever been written or spoken about in an interview or anything… Ray had bad arthritis in his hands and such and he went to this doctor for shots to help…. The shots were so bad they put him on a table and tilted him upside down some…. When the doctor was finished ray sat like that in the dark to stop headaches from the shots I think. Well Michael was there too and wanted to meet ray, so doctor brings Michael in and he turns on the light Michael introduced him self said he was a fan…. Ray looks at the doctor, still upside down, and said… “just what the hell did you give me?” And then sent for his wife so she could meet him too
@@axisgarm Oh that's a great story!! LOL I sure wish I could have met Ray. I'll bet he was a hoot to hang out with and I bet your Dad has a lot of cool stories to tell ;-) Thanks for sharing this one!
Amazing band Love Them ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I saw them in '74 at the Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, SC, and they were hilarious! I saw them in early '76 at a local club there, long defunct, right after they signed with Capitol and had a hit with their version of "Only Sixteen." George was gone, they were a little less unruly, but still lots of fun.
I later read that at roughly the time between those gigs, they had really hit bottom with their popularity and had been reduced to playing in places like biker bars to keep going. I'm so glad they persevered, even though their last period had the most hits and the least Shel Silverstein.
Nice story. Thanks for the comment!
Nice. Thank you.
Thank you too!
Excellent .. Please more !!!!awesome!!!
Thank you. I have more coming up soon. Please subscribe. Thanks you again for watching.
Going to see dennis locorier and dr hook saturday..cant wait
Cool deal. I heard he was back out touring some. Come back and let me know how it sounded. Thanks for watching.
@@RiverDocs sure..will do
@@RiverDocs superb show...dennis was fabulous
I frickin love this band much love fea bonnie Scotland
I got to see Ray in Polo, Ill. At the bowling ally. Wow!
I saw him 3 times when he was in Nova Scotia Canada. Talked to him too. Just found your channel. Love it
Thank you. Hope you subscribe!
Really enjoy your videos man, thanks for sharing 😎
You're very welcome and Thank you for watching and commenting! Hope you subscribe,
Favorite song freaks ball