The Raes
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Robbie Rae, Cherrill Rae |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| Products | Pop and disco music |
The Raes were a vocal duo consisting of British-Canadian spouses Robbie Rae (originally Robert Henry Bevan, born May 17, 1954 – passed away February 9, 2006) and Cherrill Rae (née Yates). They gained recognition during the late 1970s for their pop music infused with disco elements.
Robbie Rae
Originating from Wales, Robbie Rae started his recording career before reaching his teenage years. His rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" in Welsh was prohibited by the BBC due to allegations of blasphemy. He toured extensively across Europe and also hosted a variety television program in Welsh.
Cherrill Rae
Cherrill was born in England and spent part of her upbringing in Ontario, Canada. She developed a strong affinity for R&B and Motown sounds prior to returning to the United Kingdom to focus on music education and launch her singing career.
The Raes
Robbie and Cherrill first crossed paths in England while she was featured on his television show, leading to their engagement shortly thereafter. To prevent prolonged separations caused by individual career pursuits, they moved to Canada and initially performed under the name Cherrill and Robbie Rae before adopting the moniker the Raes. Their initial Canadian success came with a disco-style cover of Doris Day’s "Que Sera Sera" in 1977, followed by their debut album The Raes released in 1978. The pair received two nominations for Juno Awards and hosted a CBC variety series titled The Raes for two seasons between 1978 and 1980.
In an interview from 1979, they clarified that they identified as a pop group influenced by disco rhythms rather than strictly a disco band, deliberately steering clear of the synthesizer-driven Euro-disco sound in favor of a more natural musical style.
Their sophomore album, Dancing Up a Storm (1979), launched in the United States through A&M Records, included their most notable single "A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)." This track climbed into the top five on Billboard’s Dance Club chart and reached number 61 on the Hot 100, bolstered by significant airplay on prominent East Coast radio stations such as WKTU and WRKO.
While touring across the U.S., they appeared on television programs like Soul Train and American Bandstand, yet maintaining commercial momentum proved challenging. Their next single, "I Only Wanna Get Up and Dance," found success in Canada but peaked at number 47 on the U.S. Dance chart. Their last album together, Two Hearts (1980), was exclusively released in Canada prior to the dissolution of both their marriage and professional collaboration.
Post-divorce
Following their separation in 1982, Robbie and Cherrill each embarked on individual career paths. Robbie recorded with Quality Records and became part of GNP (Gilmour-Negus Project), collaborating with former members of Saga, Jim Gilmour and Steve Negus. GNP produced one album entitled Safety Zone under Virgin Records in 1989, which featured the single "How Many Times." During the 1990s, Robbie performed at various venues throughout Toronto. In 1996, he relocated with his wife Martine Bergeron to Dubai where he entertained American military personnel as well as patrons at The Cyclone nightclub. By 1999, they had moved to Kamala Beach in Phuket, Thailand, where they operated a pub catering to tourists. After divorcing Martine in 2001, Robbie survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while in Phuket but succumbed to a brief illness on February 9, 2006. He is survived by his son Christopher Robert Bevan who resides in Brantford, Ontario.
Cherrill remarried musician Nick Cucunato and rejuvenated her music career with projects including Backstreet, Rae and Rockit, as well as leading the Cherrill Rae Trio lounge ensemble and performing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. She continues to perform occasionally at nightclubs and currently lives in Florida.
Albums
| Year | Album | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Raes | A&M Records |
| 1979 | Dancing Up a Storm | A&M Records |
| 1980 | Two Hearts | A&M Records |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Performance / Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "Don't Shut Me Out" | |
| 1976 | "Oh Me, Oh My" | |
| 1977 | "Que Sera Sera" | Reached #15 on Canada's CHUM chart and #9 on the (RPM) Top Singles chart |
| 1977 | "All Kinds of People" | |
| 1977 | "Cara Mia" | |
| 1978 | "A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)" | Peaked at #11 on CHUM (Canada), #13 on (RPM) Top Singles; also reached #61 on the US Hot 100 and #5 on the US Disco chart |
| 1979 | "I Only Wanna Get Up and Dance" | Achieved #12 on Canada's (RPM) Top Singles, #19 on Adult Contemporary, #13 on CHUM, and #47 on US Disco chart |
| 1979 | "Don't Turn Around" | |
| 1980 | "Two Hearts" |
Filmography
| Year(s) | Production | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1978–1980 | The Raes | Television series broadcast by CBC Television |