09/30/2026
R.I.P. DISCO PROMOTOR, PRODUCER RAY CAVIANO (Executive of RFC Records and former Warner Bros)
* March 13, 1951 - † September 29, 2026 (75)
Obituary by John Luongo:
I have had many difficult tasks to do in my lifetime but I can honestly say that this is by far the most heart wrenching and difficult thing I have had to do up to this point in my life.
This is like telling the world about the loss of a family member because I have know this man from the very early days of his career and he was tied to me early on as we both took different paths early on the met and catapulted us both the top of the dance world!
He was born on March 13, 1951 and started his career in publicity for Warners where he worked with many of the top rock artists and learned the ins and outs of the record business.
From his early days he went on to TK Records where he worked on breaking the diverse repertoire of that great label and along with the label president, Howard Smiley, was able to run dance promotion with a flair and enthusiasm never seen in this business especially when it came to dance music, his love and his passion from early on. At TK he was responsible for breaking The Ritchie Family, T-Connection, Voyage, Foxy and KC and the Sunshine Band to name a few of his conquests!
He planted his promotion roots with me and the Boston Record Pool spending as much time in Boston to promote his music as he did in his beloved New. York.
Ray was promotion and could manipulate the Billboard Dance Music charts like no one ever could.
He was one of earliest and dearest friends and it was no secret that not many people liked him because of unorthodox ways and the fact that his best friends were the songs and artists that he promoted. if you wanted a warm fuzzy relationship, then go out and buy a Furby or a bunny but Ray was not that guy, at least in his early days!
The fact is that he helped so may people and just about everyone he could but he did not ask for anything in return.
Ray and I were not always together in our working manners but we both respected each other and held each other in high esteem. I for my mixing and production skills and he for his ability to break records using and promoting them in the Gay clubs primarily in New York from the early 70's to late 80's.
It came as no surprise that in 1979 he and I both became the two youngest presidents of major labels in music history. He for Warners with RFC and me with CBS Associated with Pavillion CBS Associated Records.
While at Warners, Ray also had to run promotion on the WMG artists who he thought had a viability in the Dance Music Genre where he worked on breaking Rod Stewart’ “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” ( Mixed by my friend Jimmy Burgess), The Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes” and Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover”.
We had a run like no ones else and while he was greatly misunderstood, troubled and went through some difficult times, no different to all of us in the early days, but his were serious which brought him down and caused him to disappear for many years, when he did return, he came back more humbled, kinder and full of less bravado and more I can and will do this in him.
When Ray had kidney orioblems and was on dialysis, Joey Carvello, I and Jay Negron, united to help him with a GoFund Me campaign the saved his life and kept his spirits high.
The last years of Rays life were challenging and painful as his legs and infections took a toll on him and he was faced with finding a kidney or being on dialysis for life or as long a his body could take it.
The one thing that extended his life and gave him a reason to live and a purpose was his Powered By RFC promotion company which I advised him to do some 4 or 5 years ago as a means for him to use his skills and get back in the game, and boy did he!
From Norma Jean Wright, Prince LDJ, to KC and the Sunshine Band , Dennis Collins, and Change, Ray owned the European presenters and Soul Charts, not because he coerced them but because he had great taste and earned their trust.
Sadly, Ray has passed away from complications of his dialysis treatment and the world of Dance Music lost a real music lover and orator and I and the rest of the world lost a dear one of kind friend who will never be replacable.
The Dance Music World will never be the same because it lost a champion, friend, fierce defender and more importantly a piece of its heart that will never beat quite as strong as it once did!
Love him or not, he gave his all and his last breath to promote the music and the artists who he loved.
I love you Ray and there are many more out there like me who know what you did for our industry and the music we love. I guess we can say that Heaven will not longer be missing an Angel!
Ray Caviano dead at 75!
