Editing Ray Stevens (section)

==Early life==
Harold Ray Ragsdale was born on January 24, 1939, in [[Clarkdale, Georgia]].<ref name="rays-bio"/> He is the elder of two sons born to Willis Harold Ragsdale (1915–2001) and Frances Stephens Ragsdale (1916–1997).<ref>{{cite web| title=Ray Stevens {{!}} Artist Bio| url=https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/ray-stevens/| access-date=2022-02-12| website=Country Music Hall of Fame| language=en-US}}</ref> His younger brother, John, who died in 2020 at the age of 75, became an actor and writer.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ray Stevens' Younger Brother Has 'Unexpectedly' Died At Age 75|first=Jennifer |last=Pernicano| url=https://classiccountrymusic.com/ray-stevens-younger-brother-has-unexpectedly-died-at-age-75/| access-date=2022-02-12| website=Classic Country Music| date=2 April 2020| language=en-US}}</ref> While attending high school, Stevens formed his first band, a [[rhythm and blues]] group named The Barons. He began studying [[business administration]] at [[Georgia State University|Georgia State College]], but very quickly switched to become a music major. Stevens left after completing three of the four years required to obtain a degree, which he felt that he did not need.<ref name="Hieronymus">{{cite magazine |last=Hieronymus |first=Clara |date=December 1970 |title=Ray Stevens |magazine=BMI: The Many Worlds of Music |location=New York |publisher=[[Broadcast Music, Inc.]] |page=19}}</ref><ref name="AMC">{{cite book |last=Woodstra |first=Chris |title=All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Country Recordings |year=1997 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=978-0-8793-0475-1 |author2=Erlewine, Steven Thomas |author3=Bogdanov, Vladamir |author4=Erlewine, Michael |page=448}}</ref>