The Shadow
Ray Tucker has penned “My Memoir,” a book that chronicles his life from his birth in Lick Run, Botetourt County to his service in the U.S. Navy in North Africa and his return to Va.
While serving his country in North Africa, Tucker formed The Ramblin’ Serenaders, a country-western band.
Upon his return to Va., he continued his pursuit of music as a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist by forming Ray Tucker and the Country Boys played live music on WKEY Radio Station in Covington and WXCF Radio Station in Clifton Forge as well as on WHIS TV Station in Bluefield, W.Va.
After the influence of rock ‘n’ roll during the 1950s changed country music by giving birth to rockabilly, Tucker added drums and a keyboard to his band and became a rockabilly band.
Later on, he formed Ray Tucker and the Morris Brother, a country music band.
On Oct. 17, 1992, Tucker, as artistic director, brought The Virginia Opry to the stage at the Historic Stonewall Theatre in Clifton Forge. The country music show became the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry on March 31, 2020, after Governor Ralph S. Northam signed “Senate Bill 283.”
Tucker served as a vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and music director of The Virginia Opry, founded by Appalfolks of America Association after the nonprofit organization received the Historic Stonewall Theatre as a charitable donation on Dec. 20, 1991. The Virginia Opry’s shows have continued uninterrupted for the past 30 years.
After resigning as the artistic director of The Virginia Opry in the mid-1990’s, Tucker continued to form musical groups that performed on The Virginia Opry, a country music show patterned after the Grand Ole Opry.
Ray Tucker and Friends, Tucker’s new band, performed a tribute show for the late Jessee Morris at the Historic Masonic Theatre, the name the Town of Clifton Forge replaced the Historic Stonewall Theatre with after Appalfolks donated the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003.
His band is one of 10 bands that currently make up The Virginia Opry which has grown from its original 10 members to 57.
Also, Tucker has organized Spiritual Believers, a gospel music group that performs benefits for worthwhile causes, and he organized God’s Helping Hands, a country-gospel group as well.
After returning from North Africa, Tucker settled in Selma, became a United Methodist Minister via his studies at Duke University, married and became the father of two children, Cindi Tucker, born in 1957; and Danny Tucker, born in 1961.
Cindi lives in Selma, and Danny owns a farm in Alleghany Co. Ray has many grandchildren, and Mark Sizemore, one of his grandchildren who like his grandfather is a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist, performs with Ray Tucker and Friends.
Ray, an artist who taught art classes for Appalfolks at its studio adjacent to The Historic Masonic Theatre, was born in 1933 during the throes of The Great Depression.
As a pastor, artist, songwriter, vocalist, musician and family man, Ray has had many ups and downs during his life.
He observed, “I’ve been through so much in my life that I wanted my children to understand what I’ve been through.”
“Those who read my book will see the good times and the bad times of my life,” Ray concluded.
As the founding artistic director of The Virginia Opry, Ray was honored on Feb. 17, 2017, when Delegate Terry Austin’s “House Resolution No. 397” was passed by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly.
Part of the resolution reads, “…Whereas, H. Ray Tucker served as the first director of The Virginia Opry, and he also sang as a vocalist and played rhythm guitar with the troupe in addition to his role as director, and Whereas, over the past 25 years The Virginia Opry has held many successful events, including productions with guest performers and special guests like Dan Seals, Lonesome River Band, and the Farm Hands; and….”
Ray, at 86, continues to help organize and perform in musical benefits for which The Virginia Opry has raised funds for such nonprofits as the Clifton Forge Little League, Clifton Forge Public Library, The Children’s Miracle Network, Wounded Warrior Project, Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic and numerous individuals suffering from life-threatening diseases or injuries.
