Hildebrand & Edgingtons perform at Olney Library

On April 14, singer and songwriter Ray Hildebrand visited the Olney Community Library and Arts Center to sing some of his well-known songs, including his 1963 No. 1 hit “Hey Paula.”

Hildebrand said he has been singing and playing the guitar since high school and would not disclose exactly how long.

“I am 81 now, so you can figure that out!”

When first starting, Hildebrand said he played a lot of Sam Cooke songs, who he claims was very popular in his day. Hildebrand grew up in Joshua, Texas, and stays with friends in Burleson while visiting the area, but he lives in Kansas these days. Hildebrand has retired but still receives invitations to play his hit, “Hey Paula,” from time to time. Dr. Don Newbury invited Hildebrand to sing at the OCLAC. Newbury introduced the singer to the crowd gathered at the library anxiously awaiting the show to begin. Pastor Chad Edgington of First Baptist Church of Olney and his daughter Adelade Edgington accompanied Hildebrand on the majority the songs he performed.

Hildebrand said he is a big follower of Christ and enjoys spreading his message as follows:

“I have been a better Christian since I was in third grade, and I would suggest Jesus to anybody. My favorite scripture, and [although] it’s not everybody’s favorite scripture, is John 3:18, which says—roughly quoted with added commentary—that you should probably consider this when thinking about the wind; It blows wherever it wishes; You hear the sound of it, and you see and feel the results of it, but you don’t know where it’s going, and you don’t know where it’s coming from. And then it says, ‘so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit of God.’ He’ll blow you around. You do stuff that amazes you because he is inside of you; He has blown you around, and all your life can be like that. I guess that’s what I want to say to somebody, and that is that.

Do you want to be protected? Do you want somebody to have your back all the time? Become a Christian, [and] God will. God will carry you all over the place, and you will bless yourself,” Hildebrand said.