Olney Community Library hosting free Ray Hilderbrand concert featuring humorist Dr. Don Newbury Nov. 7
Recording Artist, Ray Hildebrand will be performing a concert at the Olney Community Library on Thursday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to attend. Admission is free. Ray is best known for being one half of the duo, Paul and Paula, which scored a number one hit in 1963 with the song “Hey, Paula.” Humorist and author, Dr. Don Newbury, a.k.a. the Idle American, will speak and introduce Ray. You will not want to miss this special event we are fortunate to have in Olney.
On October 6, 1962, Ray and his singing partner, Jill Jackson, were college students at Howard Payne College. They drove over to Ft. Worth and dropped in (unannounced) at a small recording studio in the basement of a radio station. When the scheduled artist failed to appear, the two students were given the opportunity to record their song. A few months later “Hey, Paula” was at the top of the charts in the U.S., Europe , Japan and anywhere in the world there were radio stations playing America music.
On the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, Priscilla Presley said in a television interview that one of her husband’s favorite songs was “Hey, Paula.” She said Elvis had sent the record to her from Germany while he was in the army. The song provided the inspiration and encouragement for Karen Carpenter, of The Carpenters, to get into the music business. The radio and television appearances on past royalty statements indicate that “Hey, Paula” has been played somewhere in the world virtually every day since 1962.Over the years, countless fans have testified that they fell in love and got married because of the song, were named after the song, named their
kids after the song, or were greatly encouraged because of the song. This simple song about a boy and girl in love that has stood the test of time for 50-plus years. The song continues to this day to be in demand at “oldies” concerts across the country.
Following his time with Paul and Paula, Ray and his wife Judy and their 3 year old daughter Heidi, moved from Ft. Worth, Texas to Kansas City to go to work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The timing of this move, coincided with a new solo music career with Word Records out of Waco, Texas in Contemporary Christian Music with songs such as Turn It Over To Jesus and Say I Do. While traveling for the FCA and doing music concerts with his new music career, Ray became one of the pioneers/founders of Contemporary Christian Music. Ray has written over 500 songs and has had over 300 published. Ray also appeared as a solo artist at five of the Billy Graham crusades.
Currently, Ray Hildebrand speaks and sings at churches, prisons, prayer breakfasts and various other occasions. Having Lived thru the 50's and the 60's and having had a long and interesting career in pop, country, and christian music, he is a walking, talking, legend.