Ray Rush

Rush's music career began while a student at Odessa College, where he sang in a trio called the Roses, serving as a backup vocals on "Think It Over" by Buddy Holly in 1958.^[1][2] The Roses accompanied Holly and his band to New York in support of the song.^[3] Rush and the Roses sang backup vocals on other Crickets songs, such as "Wild One", ( aka, ' Real Wild Child '), in 1958.^[4] Rush was promotions manager of an early recording and publishing company formed by Holly, Prism Records.^[5]

Rush introduced Roy Orbison to Joe Melson, one of Orbison's most important early collaborators.^[6][7] Rush co-wrote "Mama" in 1962 with Orbison.^[8]

Rush was one of the founders of Zenith Productions. From 1966 to 1968, Zenith was in litigation with Scepter Records in a contractual dispute over B. J. Thomas. Zenith had recorded one of Thomas's early singles, and claimed contractual interference.^[9] Zenith settled in 1968 for $7,500, and Thomas signed with Scepter.^[10]

In 1968, Rush was hired by International Artists to revamp their operation.^[11] Rush produced several psychedelic rock albums with International Artists in the late 1960s, including The Thirteenth Floor Elevators', Bull of the Woods, and songs by Bubble Puppy in 1969.^[12] Rush produced records and also managed artists and repertoire with International.^[13]

• A: "So What" / B: "Can This Be Love" (1962)
• A: "Lucky Star" / B: "A Hole in My Rockin' Shoes" (1963)^[14]