Ray Slijngaard
Encyclopedia
Ray Slijngaard was a member of the original line-up of the Dutch
techno
-dance band
, 2 Unlimited
, along with vocalist Anita Doth, and producers
, Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde. He is sometimes known as Kid Ray.
). He was born and raised in Amsterdam, and in March 1991 at the age of 19, he teamed up with Doth, whom he knew from the Amsterdam club scene, and Belgian
producers De Coster and Wilde as 2 Unlimited. He was the rapper of the group, while Doth was the singer. From 1991 until 1996, he enjoyed worldwide success with 2 Unlimited, having numerous hits. He appeared to be a ladies man, having numerous girlfriends including an affair with Dannii Minogue
.
During an interview in 2009 with both Ray and Anita on the Dutch TV-show "De Wereld Draait Door", they both confirmed that they had a relationship with each other during 2 unlimited.
He was also famous for his original hairstyle, by keeping the rest of his head shaved, leaving only a few rastas on top of his forehead. In music video
s and at concert
s, he often showed off his well trained body by wearing open shirts or no shirts at all. After 2 Unlimited broke up in 1996, he turned his attention more to his own record company, called X-Ray Records/Rayvano Productions. The record company was named after his son Rayvano, whose mother is Hortence Gooding. He also released a few singles
during 1997 called "3x a Day", "When It's My Turn" and "Do You Think I'm Sexy?", but they were not commercially successful.
In 1999, he teamed up with rapper Marvin D. to form a new rap-group, called VIP Allstars, which had a minor hit in the summer of 1999 called "Mamacita".
Slijngaard now lives in Germany. In January 2009 he was working on a dance track with Rachel Stevens
. It is a cover version
of Wendy Moten
's, "Come In Out Of The Rain".
In April he appeared together with his 2 Unlimited partner, Anita, on stage for the first time in thirteen years at the 'I Love The 90s' party in Hasselt
, Belgium
, and later on Queensday
in Amsterdam.
In 2010 Ray & Anita made a comeback with their newest single "In Da Name Of Love
". The single became a huge hit in the Netherlands and it will be released worldwide. Ray & Anita promised more songs and a new album.
, Belgium
. Further gigs followed on April 30 at the Radio 538
Queen's Day concert at Museumplein in Amsterdam, and as support act for Milk Inc at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp on September 25.
Following months of speculation, it was confirmed on December 29 that the duo would release a new single together in 2010 called "In Da Name Of Love" as "Ray & Anita". Jean-Paul DeCoster is thought to have denied permission for them to use the name "2 Unlimited
", as he still owns the rights to the brand.
The single "In Da Name Of Love" debuted on the final Tipparade chart of 2009 at number 28.
It has reached number 1 at the Dutch Dance Top 30 and number 3 at the Belgium Dance Top 30. It's a top 5 at the Dutch 100 singles.
On January 5, 2010, the world premiere of the new single was broadcasted on Radio 538, accompanied by an exclusive interview with Ray. The premiere was uploaded to YouTube by their label Spinnin' Records which released the first single. The artist management made YouTube take down any video of the song that had been mislabeled as 2 Unlimited.
On January 8, 2010, iTunes officially released the new single on the Dutch site only. It contains the Radio Edit & Extended mixes only.
"In Da Name Of Love" CD single was released officially on the 22nd of January. An international release is expected!
The video clip has been released on January 30.
Phil Wilde had most likely given his approval for Ray & Anita to release "In Da Name Of Love" as "2 Unlimited
", but they were unable to acquire the rights to the name. This can be heard in the lyrics of the song. In the first few lines Ray says "..still Unlimited, you're so limited..", possibly directed to Jean-Paul De Coster.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
-dance band
Dance band
Dance band can be one of several kinds of musical ensemble:* British dance band* Dansband, a Swedish pop genre* A Eurodance band...
, 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
, along with vocalist Anita Doth, and producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde. He is sometimes known as Kid Ray.
Biography
Slijngaard was the only child of a Dutch mother (Ingrid) and a father (Lothar) from Surinam (a former Dutch colony in South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
). He was born and raised in Amsterdam, and in March 1991 at the age of 19, he teamed up with Doth, whom he knew from the Amsterdam club scene, and Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
producers De Coster and Wilde as 2 Unlimited. He was the rapper of the group, while Doth was the singer. From 1991 until 1996, he enjoyed worldwide success with 2 Unlimited, having numerous hits. He appeared to be a ladies man, having numerous girlfriends including an affair with Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
.
During an interview in 2009 with both Ray and Anita on the Dutch TV-show "De Wereld Draait Door", they both confirmed that they had a relationship with each other during 2 unlimited.
He was also famous for his original hairstyle, by keeping the rest of his head shaved, leaving only a few rastas on top of his forehead. In music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s and at concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, he often showed off his well trained body by wearing open shirts or no shirts at all. After 2 Unlimited broke up in 1996, he turned his attention more to his own record company, called X-Ray Records/Rayvano Productions. The record company was named after his son Rayvano, whose mother is Hortence Gooding. He also released a few singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
during 1997 called "3x a Day", "When It's My Turn" and "Do You Think I'm Sexy?", but they were not commercially successful.
In 1999, he teamed up with rapper Marvin D. to form a new rap-group, called VIP Allstars, which had a minor hit in the summer of 1999 called "Mamacita".
Slijngaard now lives in Germany. In January 2009 he was working on a dance track with Rachel Stevens
Rachel Stevens
Rachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005...
. It is a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Wendy Moten
Wendy Moten
Wendy Moten is an American singer.Moten sang in church choirs as a child. She got her first break singing with Michael Bolton at a benefit concert; after signing with EMI, she released an album and opened for Bolton on tour...
's, "Come In Out Of The Rain".
In April he appeared together with his 2 Unlimited partner, Anita, on stage for the first time in thirteen years at the 'I Love The 90s' party in Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and later on Queensday
Koninginnedag
Koninginnedag or Queen's Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Celebrated on 30 April , Koninginnedag is Queen Beatrix's official birthday. Though Queen Beatrix was born on 31 January, the holiday is observed on 30 April as it was the birthday of her mother and...
in Amsterdam.
In 2010 Ray & Anita made a comeback with their newest single "In Da Name Of Love
In da Name of Love
In Da Name Of Love is a dance song released and written by Ray Slijngaard, Anita Doth, Robin Morssink & Jan van der Toorn. It is their first song released under the name Ray & Anita, having previously, most famously been the vocalists for the eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It premiered on Radio 538 on...
". The single became a huge hit in the Netherlands and it will be released worldwide. Ray & Anita promised more songs and a new album.
Ray & Anita
On April 11, 2009, Slijngaard and Doth reunited to perform together for the first time in 13 years at the I love the 90's concert in HasseltHasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Further gigs followed on April 30 at the Radio 538
Radio 538
Radio 538 is a Dutch commercial radio station aimed at young people. It has a broad format which includes Top 40, dance, R&B and recent hits...
Queen's Day concert at Museumplein in Amsterdam, and as support act for Milk Inc at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp on September 25.
Following months of speculation, it was confirmed on December 29 that the duo would release a new single together in 2010 called "In Da Name Of Love" as "Ray & Anita". Jean-Paul DeCoster is thought to have denied permission for them to use the name "2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
", as he still owns the rights to the brand.
The single "In Da Name Of Love" debuted on the final Tipparade chart of 2009 at number 28.
It has reached number 1 at the Dutch Dance Top 30 and number 3 at the Belgium Dance Top 30. It's a top 5 at the Dutch 100 singles.
On January 5, 2010, the world premiere of the new single was broadcasted on Radio 538, accompanied by an exclusive interview with Ray. The premiere was uploaded to YouTube by their label Spinnin' Records which released the first single. The artist management made YouTube take down any video of the song that had been mislabeled as 2 Unlimited.
On January 8, 2010, iTunes officially released the new single on the Dutch site only. It contains the Radio Edit & Extended mixes only.
"In Da Name Of Love" CD single was released officially on the 22nd of January. An international release is expected!
The video clip has been released on January 30.
Phil Wilde had most likely given his approval for Ray & Anita to release "In Da Name Of Love" as "2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
", but they were unable to acquire the rights to the name. This can be heard in the lyrics of the song. In the first few lines Ray says "..still Unlimited, you're so limited..", possibly directed to Jean-Paul De Coster.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1833494/bio