Behind the Silver Microphone
Ray Orr
Ray Orr announces the Morning Melodies program from 7am to 10am morning every second Monday. Born in Brisbane, he lived for most of his childhood on acreage at Gumdale on the South East outskirts of town. Ray’s mother was a long-term subscriber to 4MBS and he listened to Silver Memories with her. He became a Silver Memories announcer after completing a 4MBS Summer School course for presenters in 2018.
Ray first realised music was important to him as a child, when he enjoyed listening to his parents’ music (often musicals) and he had his own HMV gramophone. His mother also had a collection of earlier gramophones and records, including Edison Diamond Discs. Ray played the recorder, then the clarinet at school and completed up to the third grade theory of music examinations. His first job was in the combined garden/records department at Woolworths.
Now semi-retired, Ray has worked mainly in technical and managerial roles. He is a qualified diesel fitter and has an Engineering Diploma, a Commerce Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education. He has worked for Hastings Deering; John Deere; TAFE; Australia Post and the QLD Electricity Commission.
Ray’s personal musical interests cover a very wide range, including Handel (particularly the Messiah), Purcell, Bach, Strauss, Dance Bands of the 30s to the 50s, Country (old and new), Popular (mostly to the late 80s), Sacred, Polyphony, Musicals, Folk, Organ and Harmonica. Very eclectic! Ray met his wife through ballroom dancing, so dance music is also a regular feature at home.
Ray's Top 5 Requests for Silver Memories:
These are songs that remind Ray of good memories!
Ray first realised music was important to him as a child, when he enjoyed listening to his parents’ music (often musicals) and he had his own HMV gramophone. His mother also had a collection of earlier gramophones and records, including Edison Diamond Discs. Ray played the recorder, then the clarinet at school and completed up to the third grade theory of music examinations. His first job was in the combined garden/records department at Woolworths.
Now semi-retired, Ray has worked mainly in technical and managerial roles. He is a qualified diesel fitter and has an Engineering Diploma, a Commerce Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education. He has worked for Hastings Deering; John Deere; TAFE; Australia Post and the QLD Electricity Commission.
Ray’s personal musical interests cover a very wide range, including Handel (particularly the Messiah), Purcell, Bach, Strauss, Dance Bands of the 30s to the 50s, Country (old and new), Popular (mostly to the late 80s), Sacred, Polyphony, Musicals, Folk, Organ and Harmonica. Very eclectic! Ray met his wife through ballroom dancing, so dance music is also a regular feature at home.
Ray's Top 5 Requests for Silver Memories:
These are songs that remind Ray of good memories!
1. Exhibition Swing | Victor Silvester
2. I Married an Angel | Buddy Clark
Also performed by Johnny Mathis:
Also performed by Johnny Mathis:
3. The Lost Chord | Written by Sullivan/Proctor, performed by David Hobson or Peter Dawson
4. Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah | Performed by the Black Dyke Band/Halifax Choral Society
5. Beep Beep | The Playmates (1959)