Ray Stevens is a country music, pop singer-songwriter known for his novelty songs as well as his recent involvement in the Tea Party movement. Stevens’ recording career began in the mid 1950s with Prep Records. In 1958 Ray joined the National Recording Corporation (NRC), playing numerous instruments, arranging music, and performing background vocals for the labels bands. Stevens later signed with Mercury Records
recording  a series of hit records in the 1960s that included songs such as Ahab the Arab and Harry the Hairy Ape.