{{Short description|American musician and songwriter}} '''Whaley Thomas Cartey''' better known as '''Ric Cartey''' (18 January 1937 – 5 August 2009) was an American rockabilly musician and songwriter.
He was born in born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. He formed a duo with guitarist Charlie Broome performing locally. Ric and Charlie's band was called the '''Jiv-A-Tones'''. He was most famously a co-writer with Carole Joyner of the hit "Young Love", a popular song published in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-jiv-a-tones-mn0000769692|title=The Jiv-A-Tones Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> First released as a single by him and his band The Jiv-A-Tones in 1956, the B-side being "'Oooh-Eeee".<ref name="Bear">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bear-family.com/cartey-ric/|title=Cartey, Ric|website=Bear-family.com|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> He was signed to a recording contract to RCA Victor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=13432|title=Ric Cartey|website=Hillbilly-music.com|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> In 1958, he signed with NRC.
"Young Love" was made more popular by versions from Tab Hunter, Sonny James,<ref name="Bear"/> and The Crew-Cuts, all in 1957, and covered by Lesley Gore in 1965 and by Donny Osmond in 1972. It was recorded as a country version by Connie Smith and Nat Stuckey as a duo in 1969.
Cartey was one of the first young singers on Atlanta's rock and roll scene, which also encompassed Jerry Reed, Ray Stevens, Joe South, Tommy Roe and Mac Davis.<ref name="Bear"/> In 1957, he worked with producer Chet Atkins in Nashville. In 1958, he released "Scratching On My Screen" with NRC Records.<ref name="Bear"/> The song was a variation on Washboard Sam's 1939 blues song "Diggin' My Potatoes".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forcedexposure.com/Artists/CARTEY.RIC.html|title=Ric Cartey|website=Forcedexposure.com|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> Other songs he recorded included "Heart Throb", "I Wancha to Know" and "Born to Love One Woman".
Ric Cartey died in Palm Harbor, Florida, on 5 August 2009, at the age of 72.<ref name="Bear"/>
==Discography== ===Singles=== *1956: "Young Love" / "Oooh-Eee" *1957: "Heart Throb" / "I Wancha to Know" *1957: "Born to Love One Woman" / "Let Me Tell You About Love" *1957: "Mellow Down Easy" / "My Babe" *1958: "Scratching On My Screen" / "My Heart Belongs to You" *1963: "Poor Me" / "Something In My Eye"
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.discogs.com/artist/712233-Ric-Cartey Discogs: Ric Cartey page] *[http://www.45cat.com/artist/ric-cartey 45cat: Ric Cartey]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartey, Ric}} Category:1937 births Category:2009 deaths Category:American rockabilly musicians Category:Musicians from Atlanta