Raymond Mariani

Raymond (Ray) Mariani was born in New York City. Growing up in New Jersey, Raymond started piano lessons and accordion lessons at a young age. Influenced by the music of the era, as well as, Italian opera, Broadway musicals, Rhythm & Blues, Big Band show tunes, Raymond performed with various bands as a teenager. As a teen, he joined The Royal Teens.

The Royal Teens were a New Jersey band formed in 1957, best known for their single "Short Shorts", which was a No. 3 hit in the U.S. in 1958. Their hit, "Short Shorts" was written by group member Bob Gaudio, who would in time become a future member and founder of The Four Seasons. Which regrouped into the legendary Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

"By September of 1959, the group was a quartet comprising Villa, Gaudio, Austin and a new addition, Ray Mariani." The Royal Teens signed a contract with Capitol Records enabling them to then release their follow-up single. 1959's "Believe me", reached No. 26 on the charts. The B-Side of “Believe Me” was “Little Cricket” written by Mariani, Austin, Gaudio, and Villa.

Raymond also worked on the air. Traveling the world working successfully as a radio Dee-Jay. Including KBIC 1210 Radio: The Wonderful World Of Music In The Far North Thule Greenland.

***Raymond Mariani is actress-dancer-singer Marilyn Mariani Father-In-Law.