RAY STEVENS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF `THE STREAK'

RAY STEVENS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF `THE STREAK'

NASHVILLE (Wireless Flash) -- Remember the 1974 fad of streaking naked through a crowd? Well, this Saturday (Apr. 24) marks the 25th anniversary of the day Ray Stevens No. 1 novelty hit based on streaking was released. Stevens wrote the song -- called "The Steak" -- after reading an article about college students who stripped down and streaked naked around their campus. The fad caught on big time after 33-year-old advertising exec Robert Opel streaked past David Niven during the 1974 Academy Awards. Stevens says that's when he rushed to get his song out before any of a reported 15 or so other streaking songs came out. His single was the one that streaked to the top, spending three weeks at No. 1. Although Stevens has no plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "The Streak" by streaking, he says he doesn't mind if others do.

CONTACT: Ray Stevens, ****; Arrange interviews with Buddy Kalb; Nashville, TN; (615) 327-4629