Who is the singer mentioned in "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners?

The singer mentioned in “Come On Eileen” is Johnnie Ray. Dexys Midnight Runners name him in the song’s opening lyric, describing how the singer sounded sad on the radio and moved millions of hearts in mono.

Johnnie Ray was an American popular singer and pianist who became a major recording star in the early 1950s. His highly emotional performances, dramatic phrasing, and distinctive delivery helped connect traditional pop with the more expressive style that soon shaped early rock and roll. His breakthrough songs included “Cry” and “The Little White Cloud That Cried.”

“Come On Eileen” was released by the English band Dexys Midnight Runners in 1982. The song became an international hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in 1983. Its reference to Ray introduces a nostalgic, radio-era image before the track shifts into its energetic folk-pop arrangement.

Some listeners mishear the name as “Johnny Ray,” but the singer’s professional name is spelled Johnnie Ray. The song also features archival footage of Ray arriving at London Heathrow Airport in its music video.