In the beginning, there were our parents, Louise Whitney and Ray "Ray Boone" Leary, incredible vocalist/performers out of Portland, Oregon. They both began singing professionally when they were still teenagers in Portland, and became the proverbial "big fish in a small pond." Once married, they had eight children who would become vocalists in their own right.

After our parents divorced, our mom packed up us kids and moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after establishing new roots, Louise toured with legends of soul Solomon Burke and Johnny Otis. Other Whitney clan members like sister Mary Lee (who became a member of Stevie Wonder's "Wonderlove"), brothers Sam and Jimmy (both singers) and Kenny Roy (a drummer) also made the trek to California, and all would get a taste of local fame, becoming well-known LA-area entertainers. Louise, Mary and Jimmy eventually came together to form the group "Whitney, Whitney & Whitney."

With all this music going on around us it was only natural that the kids would start to mimic the grown-ups who we always saw rehearsing. We started our own group (we weren't sophisticated enough to give ourselves a name!).

Unbeknownst to us, our mother was beginning to listen to her babies playing around the house, and before we knew what hit us "The Whitney Family" was born, consisting of mother Louise, brothers Glynn, Nick, Phillip and Ray, and sisters Tracey, Cozette ("Cookie"), Louise and Louanda (twins). After a few short months of rehearsal, we were singing at the famed Coconut Grove (our first ever performance!). We were too excited to even know that we should have been nervous. We didn't get stage fright until after the show when we realized what we had just done! In "The Whitney Family" everyone sang lead and everyone sang backup. Our brothers even learned to play instruments, so after a few short years we became totally self-contained.

To make a long story short, over the next fifteen years The Whitney Family recorded two albums (one for United Artists Records and one for Warner/Curb which contained a Billboard Magazine "Top Singles Pick"). We performed on several TV variety shows, including the "Midnight Special," and traveled the US and abroad. We sang for President Ronald Reagan at the Republican Convention (with wife Nancy and their children on stage with us - talk about a strange combination!). We played Vegas and Lake Tahoe and were featured several times in "Right On!" and other magazines. And the list goes on, and on, and on.

It was one hell of a ride! At Babydoll Entertainment, we take great pride continuing the musical tradition started by our parents, aunts and uncles those many years ago.

Check out these photos for a good laugh!