Dean Ray

For the US Army Air Forces pilot, see Dean L. Ray.
Dean Ray

Ray at the Emeralds & Ivy Ball in October 2014
Background information
Birth name Dean Pritchard
Genres Rock[1]
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active 2014–present
Labels Sony
Website www.deanraymusic.com

Dean Pritchard,[2][3] better known by his stage name Dean Ray, is an Australian singer and songwriter. In 2014, he was the runner-up on the sixth season of The X Factor Australia. Ray subsequently received a recording contract with Sony Music Australia and released his debut single "Coming Back", which debuted at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart. This was followed by the release of his self-titled debut album in November 2014, which debuted at number five on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Early life

Dean Ray (born Dean Pritchard) is originally from Narromine, New South Wales.[2] At the age of six, Ray and his family moved to Meandarra, Queensland.[3] Ray comes from a musical family; his parents Chris and Angie had their own country band called Itchy Feet.[4] Ray grew up travelling around Australia with his parents, and he would often sleep in guitar cases backstage at venues when his parents were on stage performing.[2][4] Ray learnt how to play the drums when he was nine years old.[2] At the age of 13, he learnt how to play the guitar and started writing his own songs.[4][5] Ray and his brother, who played piano, were then recruited into their parents' band.[4]

Ray was a student at Chinchilla State High School in Chinchilla, Queensland.[3] He left school at the age of 16 to pursue a music career.[2] During this time, Ray also moved out of his family home and went travelling.[3][4] He later moved to Kensington, Victoria[5] and worked as a busker around the streets of Melbourne.[4]

Career

2014: The X Factor Australia

In 2014, Ray successfully auditioned for the sixth season of The X Factor Australia, singing "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes. He received four yeses from the judges and progressed to the super bootcamp round of the competition. For the first bootcamp challenge, Ray was placed into a group with three other contestants from the Under 25 Boys category to perform a song together for the judges.[6] Ray made it to the second bootcamp challenge, where he performed "Yellow" by Coldplay to the judges and a live audience of one thousand.[7] He then progressed to the home visits round in New York City and performed "Dancing Queen" by ABBA in front of his mentor Natalie Bassingthwaighte and guest mentor Jennifer Lopez.[8] Bassingthwaighte later selected Ray, along with Adrien Nookadu and Tee, for the live finals—a series of eleven weekly live shows in which contestants are progressively eliminated by public vote.[9]

After the eliminations of Nookadu in week three and Tee in week seven, Ray became the last remaining contestant in Bassingthwaighte's category. In week nine, he was in the bottom two for the first time with Caitlyn Shadbolt and performed Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" in the final showdown.[10] Ray was saved after Bassingthwaighte, Dannii Minogue and Redfoo chose to eliminate Shadbolt.[10] During the grand final decider show on 20 October 2014, it was announced that Ray was runner-up to Marlisa Punzalan.[11]

Performances on The X Factor

     denotes a performance that entered the ARIA Singles Chart.
     denotes week in the bottom two.
     denotes runner-up.

2014–present: Dean Ray

On 24 October 2014, it was announced that Ray had received a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.[23] His debut single "Coming Back", which would have been his winner's single if he had won The X Factor, was released on the iTunes Store that same day.[24] It debuted at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart.[25] Ray's self-titled debut album was released on 21 November 2014 and features studio recordings of selected songs he performed on The X Factor.[26] It debuted at number five on the ARIA Albums Chart and number 21 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.[25][27] The album was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of 35,000 copies.[28] The album was the 75th best-selling album of 2014 in Australia.[29] Ray was the supporting act for The Veronicas' Sanctified Tour in February 2015.[30] On 17 March 2015, Ray released an acoustic cover of Jake Bugg's "Me and You" as his second single.[31][32] His third single "I O U (A Heartache)" was released on 31 July 2015.[33] In March 2016, it was speculated that Ray had been dropped by record company Sony Music, along with other X Factor finalists Reigan Derry, Marlisa Punzalan and Nathaniel Willemse.[34]

Artistry

Ray's musical style is rock.[1] Aside from singing, he also plays the guitar and drums and writes his own songs.[4][5] Ray cites Airbourne, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, First Aid Kit, Joss Stone, Phil & Tommy Emmanuel, Son House and Stevie Ray Vaughan as his musical influences.[35]

Personal life

In October 2014, Ray confirmed that he was dating fellow Australian singer Bonnie Anderson.[36] The pair ended their relationship two months later.[37] On 31 July 2015, Ray's house in Melbourne was burgled and seven of his parents guitars were stolen.[38]

Concert tours

Supporting

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[25]		 NZ
[27]
Dean Ray 5 21

Singles

List of singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[25]
"Coming Back"[24] 2014 5 Dean Ray
"Me and You"[31] 2015 — N/A
"I O U (A Heartache)"[33] — TBA
"—" denotes a single that did not chart.

Other charted songs

List of non-single songs
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS
[39]		 NZ
[40]
"Reckless" 2014 50 —
"Budapest" 15 29
"New Sensation" 90 —
"Stolen Dance" 40 —
"Into My Arms" 36 —
"Crying" 26 —
"Folsom Prison Blues" / "That's All Right (Mama)" 49 —
"The Power of Love" 65 —
"Bette Davis Eyes" 33 —
"—" denotes a song that did not chart in that country.

Music videos

List of music videos
Title Year Director(s) Ref(s)
"Coming Back" 2014 Matt Sharpe [41]
"Me and You" 2015 [32]
"I O U (A Heartache)" Luisa Mirabilio [42]

References

  1. 1 2 McCabe, Kathy (14 October 2014). "Australia did Reigan Derry a career-saving favour by not voting her into the X Factor grand final". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 McIntyre, Laura (23 September 2014). "Region's claim to X Factor's Dean". Daily Liberal. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Campbell, Jim (14 October 2014). "X Factor star Dean Ray back for hometown show". The Toowoomba Chronicle. APN News & Media. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dean Ray". RalphCarr.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Mitchelson, Alana (30 September 2014). "X Factor: Dean Ray rocks and rolls into town". The Weekly Review Melbourne Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "It's time for Bootcamp!". Take 40 Australia. Authentic Entertainment. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Dean Ray x Coldplay". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 30 July 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Lu, Anne (4 August 2014). "'The X Factor Australia' Home Visits Recap". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "The X Factor Top 12 Revealed". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 5 August 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "Caitlyn Shadbolt leaves The X Factor – Our Recap". Take 40 Australia. Authentic Entertainment. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Marlisa takes out the X Factor Australia title for 2014!". Take 40 Australia. Authentic Entertainment. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Week 1: Judges' Choice". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 9 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Week 2: Legends". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 16 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Week 3: Decades Challenge". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 20 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Top 10 Do Top 10 Hits!". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Week 5: Latest and Greatest". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Week 6: Rock Week!". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Week 7 Song List: Judges' Challenge". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Aussie Week Song List". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 26 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Killer Tracks and Curveballs Song List". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Power & Passion Song List". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 "X Factor Recap – Grand Final Live Performance Show". Take 40 Australia. Authentic Entertainment. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Dean Ray's debut single Coming Back out on Sony Music today". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Coming Back – Single by Dean Ray". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Discography Dean Ray". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  26. 1 2 "Dean Ray by Dean Ray". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  27. 1 2 "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  28. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 2014". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  30. 1 2 Jinks, Caitlin (7 December 2014). "Dean's seeing double! X Factor Australia star Ray joins The Veronicas as opening act for their Sanctified Tour around Oz". Daily Mail. DMG Media. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Me and You (Acoustic) – Single by Dean Ray". iTunes Store (Australia). Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  32. 1 2 Dean Ray 'Me and You' (Jake Bugg). YouTube. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  33. 1 2 "I O U (A Heartache) – Single by Dean Ray". iTunes Store (Australia). Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "X Factor stars Nathaniel Willemse and Reigan Derry cut by Sony". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "Dean Ray – Contestant". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
  36. ↑ "X Factor's Dean Ray confirms Bonnie Anderson relationship". Take 40 Australia. Authentic Entertainment. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  37. ↑ Moran, Jonathon (21 December 2014). "Dean Ray on the hunt again after split with Bonnie Anderson". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  38. ↑ Dennehy, Luke (5 August 2015). "The X Factor runner up Dean Ray's house robbed with precious guitars stolen". Herald Sun. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  39. ↑ Peak chart positions for other charted songs on the ARIA Singles Chart:
  40. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Coming Back – Dean Ray. Vevo. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  42. ↑ Dean Ray – I O U (A Heartache). YouTube. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.

External links

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