Nicknamed "the king of rockabilly," Roy Campi (1934-2021) was a first-generation 1950s rocker who accrued revival-era fame for his independently released albums in the 1970s, as well as his championing of younger, up-and-coming retro bands such as The Blasters and alt-country pioneer Rosie Flores. Born in New York, raised in Texas and famous in California, Campi also held one of the most famous day jobs in rock'n'roll history, working for over twenty-five years as a junior high math teacher in Van Nuys, California. Though he never became a household name, Ray Campi sure made some fun records... Here's a quick look at his work...
Ray Campi "Rockabilly" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1973) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Live" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1974) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Rebel" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1975) (LP)
Ray Campi "B-B-Beaver Boy" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1976) (LP)
Ray Campi "Born To Rock" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1977) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Rocket" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1977)
Ray Campi "Gone, Gone, Gone" (Rounder Records, 1979) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Rebellion" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1979) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockin' At The Ritz" (Rounder Records, 1980) (LP)
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Man" (Rollin' Rock Records, 1981) (LP)
Ray Campi "With Friends In Texas" (Flying Fish Records, 1987)
Various Artists "COUNTRY SONGS ROUND-UP" (Preview Records, 1977) (LP)
This is one of those "song-poem" albums where a dozen-plus aspiring lyricists paid to have their words put to music -- in this case, country style. This particular set is mainly of interest because a few folks online say that one of the hired musicians, Roy Wakely, was actually the nom du well, it's a paycheck for Roy Campi, who seems to have been moonlighting as a song-poem musician. At least that's the rumor, although it may be that Campi and Wakely were two different guys who happened to be playing on the same album. I dunno. I couldn't find much of a paper trail on this particular theory, but you never know. Also of interest are some of the session players, who apparently included a couple of seasoned pickers from the Hollywood country-rock scene -- Larry Booth and steel player J. D. Maness -- along with guitarist Russ Hanson and drummer Archie Francie. This kind of album often has limited charms, but if the interwebs is correct about this lineup, this disc might have a little more ooomph than average.
Ray Campi "Rockabilly Rebellion" (Rollin' Rock Records) (LP)
Ray Campi "The Memory Lingers On: Remembering Jesse James And All The Boys" (Bear Family Records, 2005)
