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Digger: Please tell us about your current projects.

Ray: I'm working on promotion for the UK, US and German release of the album “Adults Only” by Ray Dorset aka Mungo Jerry Blues band. Also, recording the new album with the UK band, “The Emperors New Clothes – Uncovered”. And “In the Summertime” musical. As well as setting up the label “Blues Route”

Digger: Who are the most important musicians/actors/writers from the sixties and seventies?

Ray: Jack Nicholas, Robert De Niro, Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Lennon, McCartney, Lieber Stoller, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, The Doors, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, David Bowie, The Stones, William Burroughs, ETC.

Digger: What is your philosophy on life?

Ray: Life’s for Livin’, most important is health and safety for self, family and friends.

Digger: What do you think of the current music scene?

Ray: The current underground scene is cool - corporate rock, manufactured “bands and artists”, and crazy expensive marketing sucks.

Digger: If you could create a supergroup of musicians living or dead, who would be in it and why?

Ray: Half of the Who, great rhythm section - Scotty Moore - best guitar sound, ever. King Curtis on sax, Prince, best all round muso writer, singer, performer.

Digger: You started in a skiffle/jug band outfit. Was your inspiration Lonnie Donegan? Who and what were your musical influences?

Ray: Elvis, all the rock n rollers. Lonnie, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Holly many more. The Shadows, Ventures, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Van Morison, Jim Morison, James Brown, Sam Cook, Sly and Family Stone, Otis Reading, Al Green, Al Jarreau, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Drifters, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Love (Albert Lee), Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds, The Who, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and many more.

Digger: Mungo Jerry were the biggest commercially successful act of '70/'71. How did you deal with the pressures? Did you have fun?

Ray:  I read a lot to develop a philosophy about life and handling all the bullshit in the music and entertainment business. Don’t succumb to the rock n roll lifestyle as perpetrated by the media. Lot's of fun was had, in retrospect some of the fun should not have been had.

Digger: How did it feel when you got the news that In The Summertime was a smash hit?

Ray: Great!

Digger: I personally prefer Lady Rose to In The Summertime. Where did you get the ideas for your songs? Can you let us know where the inspiration for any of the lyrics or music came from?

Ray: Digging deep into the imagination. Inspiration from newspapers, movies, meeting people, personal experience.

Digger: The lyrics of Summertime seem a little 'non politically-correct' these days, with talk of drink/driving and chasing anything in a skirt! (ha ha). Do you think music reflects the times it is created in or does it also have the ability to influence those times?

Ray: Music and the lyrics both reflect and can have the effect of influencing public opinion and moods, nationally and internationally.

Digger: What are your biggest achievements and what do you still want to accomplish?

Ray: The worldwide popularity of  ITS (international summer anthem, celebration of life) is obviously my biggest achievement. I would like to make the ultimate successful and meaningful album and be accepted as a versatile musical concert artist in a creative sense.

Digger: What makes you laugh, what makes you cry and what makes you angry?

Ray: Intelligent humour, Monty Python type and social comment, toil suffering and cruelty to all living things, the same and hypocrisy, disrespect to people and things.

Digger: What are your happiest memories? Are you nostalgic?

Ray: My childhood, bike rides, picnics, summer holidays, performing at the Hollywood and Rotterdam festivals and my early college and university gigs. Yes, but you can’t go back, there is only the NOW.

Digger: What has been the legacy of In The Summertime for you?

Ray: Worldwide travel, fame, knowledge and my pension.

Digger: What does music mean to you?

Ray:  The groove and the vibe is the thing, being able to change my own and other peoples mood, hopefully into a positive sense.

Digger: Apart from music, what else is most important to you?

Ray:  Health, nutrition, fitness, creativity and peace of mind.  

 

Many thanks to Ray and Manager Roland Dunne for the interview.

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