He soon returned to the music profession, taking a job as a songwriter with a music publishing house in New York and then for Hollywood studios. Most notable were his boogie-woogie numbers, which became hits for the Andrews Sisters and in turn helped to shape that genre. Among his many successes in the early ‘40s were Rhumboogie” (introduced in the film Argentine Nights in which Raye also dances), “Cow Cow Boogie,” “House of Blue Lights,” “Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar,” “Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet,” “Well All Right!” and “Mr. Five by Five.” He also wrote the patriotic song “This Is My Country” with Al Jacobs in 1940.

His collaboration with Gene De Paul produced “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” (1941), which won an Academy Award nomination, and “Down the Road Apiece” (1941) which reemerged in the 1960s, performed first by Chuck Berry and then the Rolling Stones. While his songs spanned generations they also crossed musical genres. “Just for a Thrill,” a Lil Hardin Armstrong composition to which Raye added lyrics, was a hit for the Ink Spots, recorded by Peggy Lee, and popularized again by Ray Charles. Jazz pianist/vocalist Shirley Horn included it in her tribute CD to Charles.

Within the jazz genre, Raye is best known for his contributions to “You Don’t Know What Love Is” (1941), “I’ll Remember April” (which was introduced in the 1941 Abbott & Costello film Ride ‘Em Cowboy along with “Cow Cow Boogie”), “Irresistible” and “Star Eyes” which appeared in the 1946 film I Dood It.

- Jeremy Wilson