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Johnny Ray Bolles

About Me

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I was born in Binghamton, NY, and raised in northeastern PA. After enrolling in Philadelphia's Temple University, I auditioned for and became an original member of the band Glad. Glad performed part-time while attending college, and after graduation, decided to go full-time. The band signed a deal with Myrrh Records, and I sang lead vocal on the first single, "All Things." I recorded two albums with Glad, and appeared as a vocalist and guitarist on two albums by DC-based singer/songwriter Scott Wesley Brown. After three years of full-time touring and recording, I left Glad and moved to Nashville with my wife Kass, a singer. We spent a year and a half doing session work for such clients as Tree Publishing and The Music Mill. When our first son was born, we decided to move back to the Philadelphia area. I worked for several years as an FDA regulatory compliance manager in the medical device field, and pursued music on a part-time basis: I started Allegra Recording Company, a project studio, and performed with Kass and in numerous cover bands at major northeast venues such as the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Franklin Institute, Union League, Trump Castle, Caesars, Resorts, Guest Quarters, and Liberty Park. I'm still doing music part-time (I work in Philly as a database administrator, plus Kass and I are Music Directors at Crossroads Church in Limerick), but after years of playing other people's music, I'm getting back to writing and performing my own. I'm also still playing the occasional gig with private party band GruvTyme, and I'm having a blast with a bunch of friends in a band we call Second Childhood. And as for the name "Johnny Ray": This is what I was called when I was a kid and I grew to hate it. I tried to escape it for years, but you know what? It kind of has a rhythm to it. ----- Depending on the needs of the performance situation, I work as a solo artist, as a duo with Kass, a solo or duo augmented with a rhythm section, a trio with Kass and Mike, or a full band. Sometimes it's the whole family. Here's biographical information on everyone who is currently part of the fun: ----- KASS BOLLES is a talented vocalist and songwriter. She sang in opening acts for James Taylor and Elton John, and has also lent her vocal talents to several commercials and radio spots, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Merv Griffin's Resorts, Amoroso's Rolls, New Jersey Lottery, Thunder 102, and Friendly's Restaurants. Kass teaches voice and is active as a judge in local talent competitions. ----- BRAD CURRIE (drums) auditioned for Glad and became the band's first drummer while we were both students at Temple Ambler. Brad and I also quit Glad on the same day. We've remained friends partly because he's an enormous goofball. ----- BERT NEIKIRK (bass) is a mad genius who used to work for Ensoniq, a natural and brainy musician, and one of the few people I know whose sense of humor is sicker than my own. ----- MIKE SANTIAGO is an extremely talented keyboardist and singer who would rather be playing in church, but he's agreed to humor me by playing out with me from time to time. Mike is very, very busy, but he's too good not to drag him out to perform once in a while. ----- GLENN DYDAK, as a member of the Dydak Diamonds, is a two-time Grammy nominated saxophone player. Confident and accomplished, he takes the music to a whole new level. Some people say he likes Chardonnay a little too much, but the more he drinks, the better he plays, so what're you gonna do? ----- THE OTHERS: From time to time I may be joined by two of my sons, David Janes and Greg Avery

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 06/08/2007
Band Website: http://www.allegrarc.net
Band Members: John Bolles (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards); Kass Bolles (vocals & percussion); Brad Currie (Drums); Bert Neikirk (bass & vocals); Mike Santiago (keyboards & vocals); Glenn Dydak (woodwinds)
Influences: Beatles, Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Paul McCartney, Andy Williams, Eric Clapton, George Gershwin, James Taylor, Frankie Laine, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, Tony Bennett, Steely Dan, Bill Champlin, Frank Sinatra, CSN/CSNY/CPR, kd lang, John Mayer, Prince, Jay Graydon, Michael Omartian, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Pat Metheny, Jamie Cullum, Opeth, Manhattan Transfer, Joe Satriani, King's X, Frank Gambale, Alice Cooper, Frank Zappa, Antonio Carlos Jobim, a 7-Up commercial from the 60's; Metallica; Rick Derringer/All-American Boy/Bill Szymczyk; Jaco Pastorius
Sounds Like: VOICE: A lifetime of allergies meets 30 years of smoking - Eric Clapton with a slightly lower range. Bill Champlin with half the soul. Michael McDonald with less range, less soul, and much less money. ACOUSTIC GUITAR: James Taylor meets John Mayer. ELECTRIC GUITAR: Carlos Santana meets Jay Graydon. KEYBOARDS: Michael Omartian meets Greg Mathieson.
Record Label: Allegra Recording Company
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster

Anyone who knows me at all knows I love a bargain, and that I research things to death before I make a purchase (on expensive purchases, anyway).Not that long ago I bought a Fender American Deluxe Ash...
Posted by on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:26:00 GMT

Starting a Series: My Favorite Songs of All Time - Installment 1

I know nobody reads my blog, but I got this idea when I was creating a playlist in Windows Media Player (or iTunes; whatever). Being a semi-pro musician with a background in both originals and covers,...
Posted by on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:17:00 GMT

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody, all you throngs of people out there who read my blog postings. Kass and I along with another couple, Steve and Noreen Rose, went to a New Year's Eve party last night. It was ...
Posted by on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:06:00 GMT

Tina Fey

I love Tina Fey. Tina Fey is proof positive that smart is sexy. Lest my wife see this and get jealous, I don't mean I literally love Tina Fey; I haven't even met her. But I love what she represents: A...
Posted by on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:47:00 GMT

McCain Rally

Life is nothing if not unpredictable. Yesterday morning I went in to work for a typical Monday, and by afternoon I was in Lower Makefield playing guitar for a McCain rally. My boss, who I also play in...
Posted by on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:33:00 GMT

Heaven, Im in heaven ...

My first guitar was an electric, and electric guitar has always been my first love, even though for several years I've been more visibly an acoustic player. I was always a Gibson guy -- SG, ...
Posted by on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:27:00 GMT

Wish List - How does this happen?

How does this happen? I start thinking about a piece of equipment I want/need. Pretty soon (i.e., immediately) I think of several more things I want/need (mostly want -- who really "needs" music equip...
Posted by on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:52:00 GMT

Second Childhood

So now I'm involved in a little pick-up project called Second Childhood. Just a casual, fun thing with a couple friends and a couple new acquaintances. Brad Currie, my buddy from the old Glad days, is...
Posted by on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone for coming out to the Sly Fox in Rofo

We had an AWESOME time at the Sly Fox last night! Dave opened up, Kass and I did a set, then Dave came back with the whole contingent of the trusty and awesome Nate Gonzalez, the beautiful but lovely ...
Posted by on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:03:00 GMT

Its about time for another blog entry

All this week I've been listening to "The Word Is Out," the second offering by the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. Before that I was listening to Dave Koz's "At the Movies," an album of movie themes produced...
Posted by on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:30:00 GMT