Edward Ray Sharpe is an American R&B and rockabilly singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Many of his recordings, including his best-known, "Linda Lu", are sometimes classed as rockabilly ? he was described by one record producer as "the greatest white-sounding black dude ever". Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Sharpe grew up influenced by country as well as blues music. He learned guitar, influenced by Chuck Berry records, and in 1956 formed his own trio, Ray Sharpe and the Blues Whalers, with Raydell Reese and Cornelius Bell, and they became popular playing rock and roll in Fort Worth clubs. His recording career started in Phoenix, Arizona in April 1958, when Lee Hazlewood produced his single, "That's the Way I Feel" / "Oh, My Baby's Gone". His second record, "Linda Lu" / "Monkey's Uncle" ? both sides written by Sharpe, produced by Hazlewood, and featuring Al Casey on guitar ? was much more successful. Recorded in May 1959, it reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. Following its success, Sharpe appeared on American Bandstand and toured with a Dick Clark rock and roll package that also included LaVern Baker, Duane Eddy and The Coasters. 

February 8th, 1938 in Fort Worth (Age 86)