Original Ukulele: Ray Rayner (copyright-free version)

THIS IS ALL ORIGINAL CONTENT.

WGN took down my other version of this song. Here it is again, without any photos or video from the Ray Rayner Show.

If you're lucky, you grew up watching a locally-created and hosted TV show. Chicagoans had it made - we had Ray Rayner, Garfield Goose, Family Classics and Bozo. Ray Rayner was my particular favorite. When I heard he had passed away (in 2004), I wept uncontrollably. I didn't know until then what effect TV could have on a person.

It had been 20 years since I thought of him
Grew up, moved away, got a job but then
It all came rushing back to me inside
The day I heard Ray Rayner died.

He was a best friend on my TV set
the favorite uncle I had never met
I don't mind admitting that I cried
The day I heard Ray Rayner died.

He was just a children's program host
But it's a memory that I cherish most.

The child in me still likes to laugh
Remembering when he'd would try Arts and Crafts
That child in me came back and cried.
The day I heard Ray Rayner died.

Every morning at 7 Ray would show you
Cuddly-Duddly, Chalveston and the Lincoln Park Zoo. (That was on Fridays)

When I see TV now it's just not the same
It's all syndicated programs today
There's no local host to take you for a ride
Since the day Ray Rayner died.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ray
• rayner
• wgn
• show
• children's
• tv
• television
• chicago
• cub
• sox

[kpenn0910]

My thoughts exactly. I wish I could have talked with him once.

[UKISOCIETY]

@kpenn0910 Thanks.

[stylerod]

Great tribute. I can't remember the day I found out he died. 5, 6 years ago? I was looking him up on the web just to see if he was still on TV anywhere. There I sat, a 40 year old man, and cried in front of my monitor. He is a great memory of my childhood. I still miss him.

[UKISOCIETY]

@stylerod yup, i did the same thing. cried like a baby. thanks for sharing

[yourworstfantasy69]

My facebook responces:

He speaks the words that are in all our hearts. Great video, Joe. Thanks for sharing with us

Ray Rayner. I loved how he got stuff wrong and made mistakes. He was so human. I think some of the uncling I do may be modeled after him.

[UKISOCIETY]

@Thank you for sharing!

[CriPP1eTiMMy]

Ray Rayner Rocked!



[trainmanKdawg]

Thanks for sharing.

Ray Rayner's death pulls tears because we Realize our own mortality.

awesome Tribute.

[yardking66]

Very nice. My thoughts exactly