- In their Television Archives interview, Ray Evans and Jay Livingston said when Desi Arnaz asked them to write a theme song for a Western television show, he told them he could not pay them much for a weekly salary, because the show was only going to last one year. The men made a deal with Desi to keep the rights to the song. When Bonanza became an unexpected smash-hit, owning the rights to the song, the men made millions.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award, music and lyrics in collaboration with Jay Livingston, as part of Best Musical nomination for "Oh, Captain!".
- Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977.
- In 1946, five versions of "To Each His Own" were listed on Billboard's Top 10 list for one week: recordings by Eddy Howard (No. 1), Freddy Martin, The Ink Spots, The Modernaires and Tony Martin.
- He was able to distill a mood or a feeling into a song without it sounding cliched, He did not consider himself a sophisticated writer, but he knew how to express the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the common man in an eloquent way.
- Evans originally wanted to call one of his songs "Prima Donna". His wife, Wyn, thought it did not sound quite right, and being an art lover, suggested "Mona Lisa".
- He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) (Music Branch).
- Following his death, he was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
- Cousin of Marina Anderson.
- Jay Livingston and Ray Evans were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
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