Ra-O

Raymond "Ray" Van Patten -- by trade, a chemical tester at the Scott Paper Company plant in Everett, Washington -- was an audio buff who indulged in his sound recording hobby from a home basement studio (2215 Burley Drive). It was around the time of the Century 21 Seattle World's Fair that his Ra-O record label debuted with the Madmen of Note's "Club 21" / "Peppermint Fink" 45, and Bob Mathews and the Hysterics' "You've Got Me All Wrong" 45. Over the next couple years Ra-O went on to issue additional singles by Seattle-area talents such as those '50s rockabillies-gone-country, the Maddy Brothers ("Mixed Up"). Van Patton's most widely appreciated work, however, were the tunes he cut for Bolo's "The Dynamics With Jimmy Hanna" LP at Parker's Ballroom.