PRICELESS~RARE PROMO RECORD~Tom Clay & Rayber Voices ~ MARRY ME / NEVER BEFORE : NOTE'S: 

Both Sides published by Chant Music Co.

Because of its obscurity, even the release date is uncertain, but with its Motown connection, it is highly likely to have been issued either in 1959 or early 1960 and possibly only locally in Detroit MI. as very few copies appear to exist.

The Chant label is off-white with red overprinting and is similar in style layout to the first two plain yellow Tamla releases (101, "Come To Me" by Marv Johnson and 102 "Merry Go Round" by Eddie Holland).

The record and music publishing company may have been created in order to release this disc. Tom Clay was a DJ working in Detroit in 1959. Berry Gordy Jr; founder of Motown Records, and his then wife Raynoma depended upon him both prior to the founding of Motown Records and briefly afterwards to play and plug their records. As a favour to Clay, Berry wrote him a song, and had it released locally on this Detroit label.
 Tom Clay was working as a DJ for that Detroit radio station in early 1960 which may help to date the release of this record more precisely.    WHAT other are saying

The Rayber Voices was the name given to a loose group of backing singers. Ray(noma) known affectionately as "Miss Ray" was Berry Gordy's second wife and she and Berry used these backing vocalists for their early releases. In addition to Ray the group included Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, Sonny Sanders and later, Gwendolyn Murray and Louvain Demps.
 Berry Gordy was personally involved in this record. I am not sure if Chant was a product of Motown or if Berry was a backer. Berry wrote the flipside of this called "Marry Me," and his group The Rayber Voices were used for backup vocals on this 45. Never heard of this or saw it before.  But I noticed that it was written by a rocker.  Danny Zella of Danny Zella & The Zell Rocks from Detroit  and he had 1 hit in Wicked Ruby on Fox 10057.? Tom Clay was a DJ in Detroit in 1959.  Berry and Raynoma depended upon him to play and plug their records.  So Berry did Clay the favour of writing him a song, and placing it with a local label.  Chant Records was financed by a local Detroit businessman, and possibly, by Berry as a co-owner, but not as likely as not.  The same is true for The Biscaynes(AKA Nick & Jaguars) and Don Mckenzie on Ridge Records, which had all songs published by Gordy's Bengal or Jobete Music.  They wrote songs and had demo recordings recorded, and placed for release with those labels by The Gordy's RayBer Music Co.  Therefore, neither Chant nor Ridge Records were part of Motown, as they were at MOST only half-owned by The Gordy's, and more likely not owned at all by them.  Zelman Records (probably half-owned by RayBer or an independent financier, and half by Mike Power) was also not part of Motown.  RayBer Records was also part of RayBer Music Productions, and NOT part of Motown Record Corporation, which is why all its assets fell to Raynoma in the divorce settlement. ? THANK YOU FOR LOOKING & BIDDING AND GOOD LUCK BIDDING ON THIS VERY RARE RECORD .....