Marv Ray was radio god Tampa Bay in the early and mid 60s. Ray’s afternoon drive show on WALT radio was a big hit, he was the best known of the ‘WALT Good Guys’.

Marv was an institution, a double threat. Ray was not only the station’s top DJ, but also their best billing salesman.

Raised in New York, Ray worked Miami before settling down in Tampa in 1960. He became an instant smash at WALT, out drawing the 24 hour giant WLCY in his time slot.

Marv left WALT and joined WFLA in 1966 doing the PM drive shift. Marv, bored with being on the air went totally into the sales end of the business by the end of 1967. This is where the Marv Ray story gets a little spooky.

In Feb of 1968, paramedics rushed to a Tampa Hotel and found Marv lying unconscious. His wife thought he was in Miami on a business trip. Marv was rushed to the hospital where attending physicians tried desperately to save him, but lost him at the age of 35.

The Police report listed the episode as a suicide attempt, they found a bottle of Doridan, a powerful sleeping pill by his bedside. An autopsy that followed did not state Ray’s death was a suicide, but instead it was an accidental overdose of the sleeping pill he was prescribed by doctors that led to a heart attack. The pill has since been pulled from the market because of similar deaths. Marv had been treated for a serious heart ailment and was a candidate for bypass surgery in the very near future.

Tara

Marv’s daughter Tara was 7 years old when he died, she barely knew him, but does have some fond memories of the legend. She still listens to old tapes of Marv and her and her brother Steve playing, singing.

Tara, married and living in New York is an investigator at heart, and wanted some answers about her father’s passing. She was not satisfied with the suicide rumors, everyone she talked to said ‘Marv liked himself too much to take his life’.

Rays oldest offspring has been going through files, interviewing anyone who had any knowledge of her father life. Tara has put together an interesting tale backed by some very good evidence that the death of her father might not have been accidental, but perhaps a bit more.

It was NOT suicide. Ray was a ‘bon vivant’ and led a very busy social life. Among Marv’s acquaintances were some well known gamblers. Marv was in debt as a result of his gambling, and there is some speculation his gambling may have led to his demise.

This story is still very much being investigated by the family, and we have not heard the end. We will pursue this story to the very end. 36 years later, Marv Ray’s reputation is very important to his surviving family members, and the truth is what they seek.

Anyone with any information on Marv Ray, please contact his daughter Tara through this web site... tara@teddwebb.com

Tedd Webb with Ray’s daughter Tara