Ray Campi master tape box

Ray Campi's Civil Disobedience and He's a Devil in His Own Hometown gave Sonobeat its first (and only) novelty single. Recorded and released in 1968 and credited to "The Ray Campi Establishment", Civil Disobedience is Ray's own take on the same general subject addressed by Country Joe and the Fish in their 1965 single, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die: hippie sit-ins, protests, and riots in reaction to the unpopular Viet Nam conflict. The "B" side, He's a Devil, is an Irving Berlin tune performed in a 1930s style reminiscent of The New Vaudeville Band's 1966 hit, Winchester Cathedral. But Ray's rockabilly sensibilities distinguished his performances, so that neither Civil Disobedience nor He's a Devil sounds derivative.

Ray Campi's performing and recording career has spanned more than half a century and is still going strong. Known today as the King of Rockabilly and still based in Austin, Ray began his musical career in the '50s, and, therefore, came to Sonobeat in '68 well prepared for the recording studio and with professional sidemen Henry Hill (bass and banjo) and J. Clark (sax and clarinet). Ray's tracks were among the first recorded at Sonobeat's Western Hills Drive studio in northwest Austin, and, in fact, Ray overdubbed his vocal tracks in producer Bill Josey Sr.'s living room.

Civil Disobedience and He's a Devil are technically among the best produced tracks of Sonobeat's early history. Unfortunately, however, the single -- perceived as neither fish nor fowl -- got little radio airplay and, therefore, was a commercial failure. Nonetheless, both The Ray Campi Establishment and its single for Sonobeat were unique and entertaining.

If you happen to be in the Burbank, California, area on January 2, 2012, Ray will be one of the many musicians helping celebrate the 24th anniversary of Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance at Joe's Great American Bar & Grill. Also, check out Michael Corcoran's great interview with Ray reminiscing on the Austin music scene in the 1950s.