Ray Davies

Ray Davies is an English musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band The Kinks. Davies formed The Kinks in 1964, along with his younger brother Dave. They were one of the most influential bands of the 60s and their hits included “You Really Got Me”, “Days”, “Lola”, and “Waterloo Sunset”. In 1990, the original four members of The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After The Kinks split up in 1996, Davies embarked on a solo career and continues to perform today.

Davies wrote his first stage musical, Chorus Girls, in collaborations with Barrie Keeffe in 1981. He then wrote the music for 80 Days, a musical adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. In 2014, Sunny Afternoon premiered at the Hampstead Theatre before enjoying a successful West End run at the Harold Pinter’s Theatre. Based on the music of The Kinks and Ray Davies’ early life, the show won four awards at the 2015 Olivier Awards, including the award for Outstanding Achievement in Music for Davies.