Ray Peterson

Ray Peterson grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He started his professional career at age 17 playing R&B in Miami with such groups as Jesse James & The Outlaws (house band at the Galaxy Club), Tommy Strand and the Upper Hand, and many others. Ray studied double bass with Frank Carroll, playing with the Broward Symphony Orchestra. During this time, he began private studies with Jaco Pastorius, later playing with Florida jazz greats like steel drummer Othello Molineaux and saxophonist Ben Champion, in addition to standards gigs and shows such as Robert Goulet, Al Martino, and Eddie Fisher. Ray subsequently relocated to New York, where he landed the bass spot with the legendary saxophonist Eddie Harris, playing on his "Live in Berlin" and "Listen Here" albums. He has also performed with Les McCann, Blood Sweat and Tears, Paul Butterfield, Israeli rock legend Shalom Hanoch, Mike and Leni Stern, and The Funky Tenor All-Stars, featuring Eddie Harris, Pee Wee Ellis, Karl Denson, and Larry Goldings. He has recorded a CD of original material, Galaxy Club, the instrumental saga of an alien mack in a purple suit who visits the Earth in his cosmic BMW to bring harmonic sustenance to a decadent age. The album features performances by Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ and piano, J.T. Lewis on drums, Rob DeBellis on saxes, Othello Molineaux on pans, and Robert Thomas, Jr. on hand drums. He has recently been performing with his brother, blues-rock guitarist Ronnie Peterson. Ray is also currently working on multiple projects.