What ever happened to Ray Yeager and his "Big Ole Red" Guitar?

What ever happened to Ray Yeager and the famous guitar called "Big Ole Red"?

Ray Yeager and "Big Ole Red"

Some songwriters go to Nashville and spend 10, 20 years, trying to get discovered, others spend their whole lives and never get a shot.

Dark hair and 6 feet 7 inches tall, with a homemade guitar made out of a dresser drawer, country singer and songwriter Ray Yeager stepped off the bus in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1965, and 5 minutes later he was signed to a 5- year recording contract with MGM Records.

Who has ever heard of such a story?

Ray Yeager was raised in North Miami, his older sister was the famous pin-up and photographer Bunny Yeager who discovered the legendary 1950's pin-up Betty Page.

Bunny took photos of her brother Ray for many years, and one day both of them launched a plan for Ray's success as a country singer songwriter.

Ray decided to make his homemade guitar out of an old dresser drawer. It was so large when you placed it on the floor that it stood up all by itself.

Ray eventually made a built in ashtray on the top for his cigarettes, added a pair of vice grips for tuning the keys, and put a big hole in the back of the guitar, stuffed a few shirts and socks in there, and told people he kept his dirty laundry there.

Ray then wrote a song called "Country Boy" that told the story of a guy who was raised in the hills, built his guitar from a dresser drawer, and goes to Nashville to try to be a star.

Ray had a song, his story, and his "Big Ole Red Guitar".

When Ray got off the bus, he went right into MGM Record Labels. He entered the elevator and immediately a man said "hold on for that elevator", and the man got in and asked "What the hell is that thing?", referring to the big guitar.

The man asked just the "right question" because that gave Ray the golden opportunity to answer him with his song, "Country Boy".

 Lyrics:
"You gotta guitar? What kind you got?
A store bought guitar? That ain't so hot.
I made my own, out of wood I can find, and it plays
as good as any ole kind, I'm just a country boy...."

Ray had sung the 1st and second verse and one chorus by the time the elevator had stopped.

The elevator had reached the 11th floor, Ray exited and the man immediately signed him to a 5 year recording contract.

That day, Ray put on a hillbilly accent, faking his way through the whole process, everyone believing he was an authentic country boy, but Yeager was a far cry from that. Back home in South Florida, Ray Yeager was known as "the singing cop".

The only horse Ray ever rode on was a horse powered Harley Motorcycle.

Instantly Yeager's new record, featuring "Country Boy", was picked by Cash Box and other music experts to be the next big hit.

Next, Ray went on the 1960's television show "To Tell The Truth" as the star.

Yeager then played at the Grand Ole Opry with Johnny Cash, and also made friends with Elvis one day while he was staying at the same hotel.

Everyone who knew Ray believed he was going to be a big star, but it never happened, and Ray simply walked away from it all.

He performed only once at the Grand Ole Opry. It was there also that Johnny Cash told Ray, "If you ever want to sell that guitar, you let me know."

Ray Yeager and Bunny Yeager making music and films.

In 1978, Ray and his wife sold their home in Hollywood, Florida, and right before they left he picked up the phone and called Johnny Cash and asked, "You still want that guitar?". Cash replied, "You know I do." and Ray sold it to him for a mere 300.00

The story of "Big Ole Red".

Everyone in Nashville wanted "Big Ole Red". When Ray played the Grand Ole Opry, everyone who was anyone was there in the audience. Backstage Ray had a crowd gathered around, but even more so for the big homemade guitar.

When asked specifically how the guitar was made, Ray played around about it, saying it was this old big drawer from a dresser, which it was; but all the additions, such as the ashtray and laundry in the back, were all a marketing tactic that worked perfectly.

In an article in New Times Magazine, Ray's son Billy Yeager, who also sings, writes music and produces his own films, stated that "That is the guitar I learned to play on when I was 6 years old."

Billy Yeager ( Big Ole Red sitting on the floor)

Yeager went on to explain in detail the hardships of playing on the guitar. He said he was so small that his arms wouldn't reach around to the strings, so for a few years he had to play it flat on his lap, which made his wrists very flexible for later on.

Ray was a devoted husband and police officer. He thought if he followed through with that contract and began touring, he would end up like everyone of those "over night stars" stories of alcohol, drug abuse, cheating and divorce. Ray wanted a solid family life and so the decision was easy for him.

Ray always had a burning desire and curiosity to see if he had what it takes to make it, but when he realized he did have the goods, that's when he knew it didn't matter anymore, Ray knew he was good enough and never signed to the label. Nobody could understand Ray's decision, certainly not his sister Bunny, who had invested years in Ray's publicity and marketing.

Bunny and Ray Yeager making movies together.

"Big Ole Red" had a real guitar neck from a Gretch guitar, a wooden bridge, and a big hollow sound.

Yeager also used a homemade strap.

Ray Performing in the 1950s.

Ray performing and singing on the Navy Ship.

When Johnny Cash died the guitar was auctioned. It sold for one hell of a price even by today's standards. (See my other posting.)

The guitar was said to have been bought by a vintage guitar collector from Germany.

Ray Yeager had a few 45 records pressed on a few different labels, today those are also rare and valuable to serious record collectors.

Ray never did end up in the country, or riding a horse as the song "Country Boy" stated, but he did drive a police car and police motorcycle, and starred in a movie featuring himself called "Jimmy's Story", which is a documentary about his son, Billy Yeager, who became the "Long lost son of Jimi Hendrix," but that's another long story.

Billy Yeager as "Jimmy Story" (Jimi Hendrix's Son.)

As for "Big Ole Red" you just gotta wonder? Could that really hold some dirty laundry in the back?