Ray Dalton

Raymond A. Dalton[1] (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.[2] 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.[2] The song was certified platinum in the U.S. in April 2013.[3] He has won two MTV Video Music Awards.[4]

For the New Zealand rugby union player, see Ray Dalton (rugby union).
Ray Dalton
Ray Dalton in 2010
Background information
Born (1991-05-10) May 10, 1991
Seattle, Washington
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Associated acts
Websitewww.raydalton.com

Life and career

Dalton's mother is Mexican American and his father is African American.[3] 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.[3] Dalton spent his senior year in high school listening to Missy Elliott, Amy Winehouse, and Kanye West, according to an interview with MTV News.[3]

Aside from music, Dalton is a tennis player who has worked as a tennis instructor.[2] He gave up teaching tennis following the success of "Can't Hold Us" to pursue a full-time career as a musician.[2] Dalton sings in the Total Experience Gospel Choir of Seattle, as of 2013.[2]

Dalton's work drew the attention of producer Ryan Lewis, who had heard Dalton's singing on a song for another artist.[2] Lewis reached out to Dalton via Facebook.[2] Dalton soon began collaborating with Lewis and Macklemore in the studio.[2] The first song the trio worked on together was Macklemore's and Lewis' 2011 single, "Wings".[2]

In June 2012, Dalton released his first single, So Emotional,[5] which was mixed by Ryan Lewis. He also announced he was working on his 'own project' to be called The Dalton Show.[6]

Dalton, Lewis and Macklemore created the hook for "Can't Hold Us" in one day.[2] Dalton shot his scenes for the single's music video while on tour in New Zealand in March 2013.

Discography

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
BEL
(Fl)
[7]		 BEL
(Wa)
[8]		 FRA
[9]		 POL
[10]
"So Emotional" 2012 ———— Non-album singles
"If You Fall" 2017 ————
"Bass Down" 2018 ————
"In My Bones" 2020 1344832
"Good Times Hard Times" ————
"If You're Tired"
(with Connor Duermit)		 ————
"Don't Make Me Miss You" 2021 —[upper-alpha 1]—[upper-alpha 2]—15
"Melody"
(with Vinai)		 ————
"Manila"
(with Álvaro Soler)		 ———37
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[12]		 AUS
[13]		 BEL
(Fl)
[7]		 BEL
(Wa)
[8]		 DEN
[14]		 FRA
[9]		 NOR
[15]		 NZ
[16]		 SWE
[17]		 SWI
[18]		 UK
[19]
"Kingdom Come"
(Dyno Jamz featuring Ray Dalton)		 2010 ——————————— Dyno Jamz
"Can't Hold Us"
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton)		 2011 11224344143 The Heist
"Whisper"
(Camila Recchio featuring Ray Dalton)[26]		 ——————————— 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 —8210155242814854
  • BEA: Gold[27]
  • IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum[28]
  • IFPI NOR: 4× Platinum[29]
  • RMNZ: Gold[30]
  • GLF: Platinum[31]
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum[32]
 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
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Believe" 2018 Alex Aldea, Camila Recchio The First Mrs. Claus

Notes
  1. "Don't Make Me Miss You" did not reach the region's Ultratop 50 chart, but was registered on the Ultratip Bubbling Under ranking.[7]
  2. "Don't Make Me Miss You" did not reach the region's Ultratop 50 chart, but charted at number 28 on the Ultratip Bubbling Under ranking.[8]

References
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – via www.pandora.com.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Willis, Kim (2013-08-26). "MTV VMAs: The winners and nominees". USATODAY. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  5. "So Emotional, by Ray Dalton". Ray Dalton.
  6. "RayDalton.com - Biography". Archived from the original on May 31, 2013.
  7. Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Ray Dalton". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  8. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  9. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  10. Peak chart positions for singles in Poland:
  11. "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2020" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  12. Peak positions for singles in the US:
  13. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  14. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  15. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  16. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  17. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Ray Dalton". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  18. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Ray Dalton". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  19. Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
  20. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  21. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  22. "Gold & Platinum". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  23. "Les Certifications: Macklemore" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  24. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 22 April 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  25. "Certified Awards" (enter "Macklemore" into the "Keywords" box, then select "Search"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  26. "Camila Recchio - Whisper (feat. Ray Dalton) Official Music Video". YouTube. 2011-12-28. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  27. "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be.
  28. "Madcon Feat. Ray Dalton "Don't Worry" | IFPI". ifpi.dk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  29. "Trofeoversikt". IFPI (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  30. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  31. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 33, 2015". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  32. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community". www.swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
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