Tributes have been paid after the death of soul singer Ray King, an influential performer who helped inspire the ska and 2 Tone movement, according to NME. King, whose birth name was Vibert Cornwall, died aged 87.
King moved from St Vincent to the UK in the 1960s and became an important figure in Coventry’s music scene after emerging in the 1970s. He helped form several groups over the years, and some of his former bandmates later became members of bands including The Specials and The Selecter.
His first band, the Ray King Soul Band, played its debut show at Coventry’s The Walsgrave Club. The group later built a strong following and reportedly held a six-month residency at London’s Playboy Club, where artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney are said to have joined them for occasional performances.
Those who knew his work say King’s style and influence helped shape the ska and 2 Tone sound. In 2019, The Specials’ Lynval Golding called him “an amazing foundation for all of us musically,” while Coventry Music Museum founder Pete Chambers said King’s impact on 2 Tone was immense.
King was also honoured in 2012 with a plaque on the Wall of Fame at 2 Tone Village in Coventry, recognizing his career and his contribution to UK music.
