Individual results

Interviewee: Vibert Cornwell (Ray King)
Interviewer: Helen Whitcombe

Track 1
Born St Vincent in the Caribbean, 12 Oct 1938. Aged 24 years when came to Coventry. First impressions. Achieved his ambitions in Coventry. Met people from his country in Coventry. Went into show business here, first black singer in Coventry, stage name Ray King. Sang soul with band called The King Size Kings, very successful.

Track 2
Worked for telephone company, experienced prejudice. Sang solo in clubs and pubs in Coventry. Met his manager, began singing with a band. Parents/family all musicians. Ambition when came to England was to sing, go into entertainment. Experience of racial prejudice.

Track 3
Faith and spirituality, effect on his life. Came from average family, two brothers, two sisters. Extended family very important, especially grandmother. Grandmother is the dominant member of the family. Got on very well with siblings. Look up to elder relatives.

Track 4
Shared bedroom with brother. Family wasn't rich. Fairly big house, comfortable, near the main road. Grandmother his greatest influence. Had good upbringing. Went to a very disciplined school, very happy there. Lessons - didn't like dictation, favourite subjects were geography and history.

Track 5
Parents wanted him to be an architect, but he had other plans. Wrote to them from England to tell them what he wanted to do. Had more freedom here. Importance of community, meeting people from home country here. Sense of community is very important, importance of the community centre.

Track 6
Practiced music in his spare time before his career began. Weekend hobbies, going out and enjoying himself. Brought up strict Christian, learned about "rest of the world" when came here. Dancing, spending time with friends, parties. Planned their own dances, The Transport Hall and other halls rented for dances and parties. Played at different venues with the band including the 'Locarno'.

Track 7
Played all the pubs in the area. Always a crowd puller! First to introduce ska music in Coventry, first played it at 'The Bantam'. People were more into music then. Released a hit record, popular in Germany/Europe called "Rude Boys Back in Town" in 1980.

Track 8
Went on tour, travelled the world meeting people. Enjoyed life on the road. Experiences of touring. Always been involved in community work here. Chairs different community associations. Sports, cricket, football and athletics.

Track 9
Wanted to help young people through sport. Enjoys listening to classical music, reading Spiritual books. Spiritualism, need to find our purpose for being here, fulfill our goals.

Track 10
Marriage - how he met his partner while working for telephone company. Three children. Parenthood - his parents more strict. Different outlook in the Caribbean to here. Different Society and people here, different attitudes. Relationships between generations are not very good here.

Track 11
Importance of young people learning from old people. Parental responsibilities. Work with the Carriba Project - wants to see young people better themselves, taking opportunities, learning. Thinks of himself as a Coventry person through and through.

Track 12
Sees Coventry as "home". Prefers Coventry to London, Londoners are posers. Community feeling in Coventry very strong. Those who came over to Coventry from the Caribbean first helped to build up this sense of community. Enjoys living here, great moments, such as City winning the Cup. Hopes and fears.

Track 13
Importance of positive thinking. Issues - prejudice. Relationships with ethnic groups in Coventry need to improve, need more black people in positions of responsibility, making decisions. Changes for old people, young people do not have respect for old people.

Track 14
Very happy with his life, considers himself "rich". Thanks God and Britain for making him the person he is, believes he has learned a lot here, knowledge and understanding. Still has ambitions - manages a band and wants them to succeed.

Track 15
Would like to live to 100 to see the changes in life. Would like to be more spiritual.

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 12/10/1938