Sadly, of course we have lost Raye, but the website Groovers and Shakers remembers him in the August edition of the site that brings drummers together, see Drum Icons.
Raye's obituary can be visited at HERE. Where friends can leave a short message.
In October, 1959, Raye Du-Val broke the existing record
for non-stop drumming when he achieved
the new record of
82 hours, 35 minutes, 14 seconds.
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On the picture gallery are photographs taken at the time. These photographs have emerged after many years
and therefore the reproduction is not of the best quality.
(THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PRIVATE AND REQUIRE PERMISSION TO COPY)
Raye is best known as drummer for Emile Ford and The Checkmates, and earned a gold disc in 1959 for What do you want to make those eyes at me for? The group also had hits with Slow Boat to China and Them there eyes. The Beatles played as their support group before they were famous. Raye also played for Ricky Valance, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Johnny Duncan and the Bluegrass Boys, and Jimmy Justice. He backed singers such as Frank Ifield, and did sessions work with Millie on My Boy Lollipop and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates on Shakin' All Over.
Raye appeared on television programmes such as Oh Boy and Six Five Special, and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He held the title of Triple Winner of the World's Non Stop Drumming Marathon Record Contest, verified by the Guinness Book of Records, and the National Jazz Federation. The championships are recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, 1959-1969.
The bandleader Syd Dean used to play at The Regent, Queen's Road, Brighton, and was transferred to the Top Rank Suite, Brighton by the Rank Organisation when it was built c1965 (The Regent was subsequently demolished in 1973). Raye joined Syd Dean in 1967; he also ran his own group, the Ray Duval 4. He was involved with several other groups, including the Jean-Paul Trio in 1970s. From 1971 he ran The Rockmates from 1971, which broke up in 1976, but reformed in 1981 as a Rock 'n' Roll trio. After it was again disbanded in 1989, Raye reformed The Checkmates, having been given permission to do so by Emile Ford. He also formed The Legend, a nostalgic combo playing early Rock 'n' Roll, country and western, and American trucking music, in around 1977.
Raye worked for Norris Brothers Ltd of Haywards Heath, the designers of Donald Campbell's Bluebird; he left the company in January 1994. Much of his musical career took place in the Brighton area. He lived at 54 Elm Grove, West Worthing, in the 1960s; 42 Daniels Close, Lancing, from around 1967; 2 Street House, The Street, Bolney, in the 1970s, and now (2002) lives in Haywards Heath.
Drum marathon records commenced and were recognised in 1953 by
National Jazz Federation
1953..Ben Polack...........USA..........28 hours,0 mins, o seconds.
1959..Rory Blackwell...Gt Britain...28 hours..3 mins..15 seconds
1959..Raye Du-Val.......Gt Britain,,,,,30 hours..3 mins..15 seconds.
Recognised by The Guinness Book Of Records.
1956....Jim Rodgers......USA..............80 hours..35 mins..14 seconds.
1959....Raye Du-Val.......Gt Britain.....82 hours...35 mins...14 seconds.
1960...Cliff(?) Rodgers...USA............84 hours...0 mins...o seconds.
1960...Rory Blackwell....Gt Britain....84 hours...0 mins...1 second.
1960...Raye Du-Val........Gt Britain,,,,100 hours..1 min...15 seconds.
Note:- Guinness World Records say:-
"Due to changes in the guidelines for assesing records, all our marathon records were re-set to zero in 1998"
WHO is ALLISTER BROWN???????????
FROM HIS WEBSITE. http://www.allisterbrown.com/about.php "He is currently the only drummer from the UK to achieve a World Record for the Longest Drumming Marathon by an individual. He currently holds the Guinness World Record at 102 hours 49 minutes. Allister has now become the first person to break this world record officially more than once. He has also achieved a peronal goal of being the first person in the world to ever play over 100 hours."
Sorry Allister, WRONG on both statements. Raye broke standing world records in both 1959 and 1960.
Sorry Allister, WRONG, Raye was the first person in the world to play over 100 hours in 1960.
Both records were accepted and published in the Guinness Book Of Records 17 years before you were born.
Please correct your website and you can contact raye via email on this site.
Raye appeared in the long shots of the film "All Night Long" that starred Patrick McGoohan where the actor was supposed to be a drummer.
All Night Long is a 1962 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden, and starring Patrick McGoohan, Marti Stevens, Paul Harris, Keith Michell, Richard Attenborough and Betsy Blair. The story, written by Nel King and Paul Jarrico, writing under the name Peter Achilles, is an updated version of Shakespeare's Othello, set in the London jazz scene of the 1960s. The black and white film is notable for featuring performances by a number of prominent British and American jazz musicians.
Raye was the drummer with The Checkmates that was originally fronted by Emile Ford, their huge hit "What do you want to make those eyes at me for?" was in the top twenty charts for 25 weeks, it was also the number one record for the last week of 1959 and the first week of 1960.
Raye re-formed the group for a concerts to help raise money for Multiple Sclerosis's Respite Centre mimibus appeal.
Listen to a drum solo played by Raye.
GP Music gives you a chance to see a dynamic live drum solo performed by legendary Raye du Val as part of the celebratory 50th anniversary gig of Emile Ford & The Checkmates' No. 1 hit "What do you want to make those eyes at me for". Triple winner of the Guinness Book of Records' World Marathon Nonstop drumming contest, Raye's unique solo captures his drumming skills in what is now his signature showpiece. Inspired by Gene Krupa, Raye has a long history of drumming performances and appearances with famous bands and notable venues.
STILL DRUMMING.
Although Raye no longer attempts drum marathons he is still working with his Rock & Roll combo as can be seen from the poster on left.
Yes, 52 years after his first drum marathon.
