Ray Dalton
Ray Dalton (born May 10, 1991) is an American singer and songwriter based in Seattle, Washington. He began his career as a gospel and R&B singer.[1] Dalton gained prominence as the featured singer on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 2011 hit song "Can't Hold Us", which gained popularity when it was re-released as a single in early 2013.[1] The song was certified platinum in the U.S. in April 2013.[2] He has won two MTV Video Music Awards.[3]
Ray Dalton | |
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Ray Dalton in 2010 | |
Background information | |
Born | Seattle, Washington | May 10, 1991
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2011–present |
Associated acts | |
Website | www |
Life and career
Dalton's mother is Mexican American and his father is African American.[2] He began singing at the age of 6 on the advice of his music teacher, joining the Seattle Children's Choir. He continued to sing through high school. He has described himself as a fan of Fleetwood Mac.[2] Dalton spent his senior year in high school listening to Missy Elliott, Amy Winehouse, and Kanye West, according to an interview with MTV News.[2]
Aside from music, Dalton is a tennis player who has worked as a tennis instructor.[1] He gave up teaching tennis following the success of "Can't Hold Us" to pursue a full-time career as a musician.[1] Dalton sings in the Total Experience Gospel Choir of Seattle, as of 2013.[1]
Dalton's work drew the attention of producer Ryan Lewis, who had heard Dalton's singing on a song for another artist.[1] Lewis reached out to Dalton via Facebook.[1] Dalton soon began collaborating with Lewis and Macklemore in the studio.[1] The first song the trio worked on together was Macklemore's and Lewis' 2011 single, Wings.[1]
In June 2012, Dalton released his first single, So Emotional,[4] which was mixed by Ryan Lewis. He also announced he was working on his 'own project' to be called The Dalton Show.[5]
Dalton, Lewis and Macklemore created the hook for "Can't Hold Us" in one day.[1] Dalton shot his scenes for the single's music video while on tour in New Zealand in March 2013.
Discography
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEL (Fl) [6] |
BEL (Wa) [7] |
FRA [8] |
POL [9] | ||||
"So Emotional" | 2012 | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"If You Fall" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Bass Down" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | ||
"In My Bones" | 2020 | 13 | 44 | 83 | 2 | ||
"Good Times Hard Times" | — | — | — | — | |||
"If You're Tired" (with Connor Duermit) |
— | — | — | — | |||
"Don't Make Me Miss You" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [11] |
AUS [12] |
BEL (Fl) [6] |
BEL (Wa) [7] |
DEN [13] |
FRA [8] |
NOR [14] |
NZ [15] |
SWE [16] |
SWI [17] |
UK [18] | ||||
"Kingdom Come" (Dyno Jamz featuring Ray Dalton) |
2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Dyno Jamz | |
"Can't Hold Us" (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton) |
2011 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | The Heist | |
"Whisper" (Camila Recchio featuring Ray Dalton)[25] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
"Need Your Love" (Sol featuring Ray Dalton) |
2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Visceral" (John Mark McMillan featuring Ray Dalton) |
2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Borderland Sessions | |
"Don't Worry" (Madcon featuring Ray Dalton) |
2015 | — | 82 | 25 | 52 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 54 | Non-album singles | |
"Stronger" (Arty featuring Ray Dalton) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Glorious | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Believe" | 2018 | Alex Aldea, Camila Recchio | The First Mrs. Claus |
References
- Unterberger, Andrew (2013-03-22). "Talking Tennis, Rachael Ray and "Can't Hold Us" with Macklemore Hook Man Ray Dalton". Popdust. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- Thomas, Rebecca (2013-04-30). "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 'Can't Hold Us': Decoding The Hook! Ray Dalton, the 22-year-old crooner behind the catchy chorus, talks to MTV News about the Seattle duo, that epic video and a few baffling lyrics". MTV News. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- Willis, Kim (2013-08-26). "MTV VMAs: The winners and nominees". USATODAY. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
- So Emotional - Ray Dalton (Bandcamp)
- RayDalton.com - Biography Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
- Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Ray Dalton". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Peak chart positions for singles in Poland:
- "In My Bones": "AirPlay Top: 16.05. – 22.05.2020" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2020" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- Peak positions for singles in the US:
- For "Can't Hold Us": "Macklemore – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard.
- Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- "Don't Worry": Ryan, Gavin (August 15, 2015). "ARIA Singles: Delta Goodrem 'Wings' Tops Australian Chart". Noise11. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
- Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
- For "Can't Hold Us": "Chart Archive > 4th May 2013". Official Charts Company.
- "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "Gold & Platinum". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- "Les Certifications: Macklemore" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 22 April 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- "Certified Awards" (enter "Macklemore" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- "Camila Recchio - Whisper (feat. Ray Dalton) Official Music Video". YouTube. 2011-12-28. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- https://www.ultratop.be/nl/goud-platina/2016
- "Madcon Feat. Ray Dalton "Don't Worry" | IFPI". ifpi.dk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- "Trofeoversikt". IFPI (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 33, 2015". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community". www.swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-28.