Ray Dorset
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Ray Dorset (born Raymond Edward Dorset, 21 March 1946, Ashford, Middlesex) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and founder of Mungo Jerry. He composed most of the songs for the band, including the hit singles "In the Summertime", "Mighty Man", "Baby Jump", "Lady Rose", "You Don't Have to Be in the Army to Fight in the War", "Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black", and "Hello Nadine".
In 1968 he formed the group Good Earth, which also included Colin Earl on keyboards, Dave Hutchins on bass, and Ray Bowerman on drums. They recorded the album It's Hard Rock And All That on the Saga record label, before Hutchins and Bowerman left. Joe Rush joined on washboard and the group adopted a more acoustic-based skiffle style. In 1970, with further line-up changes, the group became Mungo Jerry with hits to follow such as "In the Summertime".
Dorset has also maintained a solo career parallel to his leadership of Mungo Jerry. In 1972 he released the album Cold Blue Excursion, made up entirely of self-penned songs, many featuring strings and brass accompaniment. In 1983 he was part of one-off blues outfit Katmandu with Peter Green and Vincent Crane, who recorded an album A Case for the Blues. In 1986, billed as 'Made in England', he recorded and released the theme tune for the TV drama series Prospects as a single.
One song recorded by Mungo Jerry, "Feels Like I'm in Love", was originally written by Dorset for Elvis Presley, but he died before the recording of the song. Nevertheless, in 1979 it was recorded by disco singer Kelly Marie, and became a UK Number one in September 1980.
In addition to guitar, he has played several other instruments on stage and record, including harmonica, kazoo, accordion, and keyboards.
Dorset currently resides in Bournemouth, Dorset, England where he lives with his wife and two young sons.
