Ray Stevens is a big name in the music industry. Stevens has been a singer for many years, releasing numerous hit songs which have put him in the limelight. Since the late 1950s, the country and pop singer has kept his fans entertained through albums and singles.
Apart from being a singer and songwriter, Ray is recognized for bagging two Grammy awards for his recordings Everything is Beautiful, and Misty. He has received gold albums for his songs, explaining how he has been able to accumulate his large net worth.
What is Ray Stevens’s Net Worth?
Ray Stevens’s net worth is estimated to be $12 million. The famous personality has been an active singer since 1957, enabling him to accumulate his wealth. He has released numerous songs which have done very well earning him a substantial income.
Stevens has released over 50 studio albums including This is Ray Stevens, Turn Your Radio On, I Have Returned and He Thinks He’s Ray Stevens among others. Apart from his longtime career in the music sector, Ray has also been featured in television series and published his book.
The music star was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Christian Music Hall of Fame, and Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Early Life
Ray Stevens was born on January 24, 1939, in Clarkdale, Georgia. Stevens grew up alongside his young brother John, who died in 2020. John was a writer and actor. Ray began having an interest in music when he was a young boy.
As a teenager, Stevens formed a rhythm and blues band called The Barons. After he graduated, he joined the Georgia State University and majored in music. Initially, Stevens had majored in business administration but changed later on. He studied for three out of the four required years and left to pursue his passion.
Early Career
Stevens signed with Capitol Records at the age of eighteen. He went on to release his first single Silver Bracelet. The single received positive critics and it led to him signing a deal with Mercury Records in 1961.
In the 1970s, Stevens became a producer and studio musician in Nashville. From 1970 to 1979, Stevens recorded songs for Warner Brothers and Barnaby Records. During this period, his biggest hit became Everything is Beautiful a gospel-inflected single that won him a Grammy award.
Moreover, Stevens sold over 1 million copies of the song, enabling him to earn a gold disc. In 1974, the singer released The Streak, a novelty song that reached number one on the American and British singles charts.
Up to the 21st century, Stevens has continued to release more songs, enabling him to win awards, earn income, and increase his wealth.
Personal Life
Stevens was married to his longtime wife Penny Jackson Ragsdale. The duo remained married for over 60 years until Penny’s death separated them on December 31, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Stevens and Penny had two children and four grandchildren.
