Anyone remember sol raye? he sang in the style of Nat king cole ,i had one recor!

Anyone remember sol raye? he sang in the style of Nat king cole ,i had one record and would like to know more?

Outstanding British and Guyanese singer, composer and actor, Neville Deryck Marshall Corbin, Aka, “Sol Raye”, died in London on Friday March 31, 2006 at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London after putting up a valiant fight for several years against prostate cancer.

Born on March 2, 1936 in Georgetown , Guyana , to Dudley Corbin and Alma Seaton, Sol Raye spent his youthful days in Georgetown and at Christianburg, Linden . It was during these childhood years that his talented voice was discovered. He eventually gained wider recognition after winning performances in several musical competitions broadcast on Radio Demerara in then British Guyana. He later migrated to Britain .

His death brought to an end a professional musical and acting career which lasted for several decades during which he thrilled audiences on stage, theatre and television in all the continents across the planet.

He leaves to mourn his four children, Donna, Ramilles and Ivy Corbin, (London) and Samantha Coard, (Sweden); four grandchildren, Zuri and Maya Corbin (UK), and Fidel and Samuel Coard (Sweden); two Sisters, Thessell Carter (UK) and Ainsley Corbin (USA); three brothers, Robert and Charles Corbin (Guyana) and Julien Seaton, (USA); and several nieces and nephews, cousins and many other relatives and friends.

Sol Raye, who was known on the circuit as “The Last of the Crooners” as well as the godfather of “Lovers Rock”, had his first big break when he brushed off a late challenge from Freddie Star to win Hughie Green's, “Opportunity Knocks”.

Following this, he toured with the Moody Blues and then later with the legendary comic Daved Allen as well as Des O'Connor. Sol Raye, having been present at many historical music events, was honored to appear in the first ever BBC colour TV transmission broadcast of the legendary live show “BBC International Cabaret”, held at “The Talk of the Town”, venue in the West End of London.

He was touted as the “King of Swing” and performed with such great acts as The Supremes, Cilla Black, Eartha Kitt and Roy Bud.

Catapulted to star status, he performed live in Concert Halls, Theatres, Television studios and Song Festivals throughout the world. At one of these song festivals, “The Festival of the Two Worlds” in Oporto, Portugal, Sol Raye won the festival outright with the

Tony Hatch /Jackie Trent song “If We Were Free”, beating a galaxy of International artists including a young unknown singer who had already enjoyed a highly successful career with the Spanish national football team as their goalkeeper.

This singer of course was Julio Iglesias, unknown at that time but now a major International star.

Sol's career took an unexpected turn when he was asked to write and perform a one off TV special dedicated to Nat King Cole. With a remarkably similar tonality to the late Nat King Cole, Sol found this gift both helped and hindered his singing career after a world tour playing Nat King Cole in the stage show “Black Heroes and the Hall of Fame”.

He produced and directed several shows for both television and stage and also appeared with such stars as the late, great Nina Simone at the Savoy Theatre raising money for Cancer Research.

His experience was not just limited to this kind of music. He was also a fine chorister specializing in High Church music who as a youth sang at the St George's Cathedral in Georgetown , Guyana .

He was invited to sing at Buckingham Palace at the Queens Jubilee Concert. In England alone, he performed at St Paul 's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Althorp House, The Café De Paris and The Savoy.

These high-class performances provided the foundation that enabled him to tour the world with his dulcet tones and it is easy to see why Sol became a favourite on the diplomatic circuit.

In his long career in music and show business, Sol has recorded many top of the range albums that were released on major record labels worldwide. Among them are Tribute to Nat King Cole, Mona Lisa, and Come Home Love.

His last album “How Sweet It Is”, is a slickly produced mix of old and new sounds which will warm the hearts of young and old alike, and remind us all of the timeless talent and journey of Sol Raye.