Kenny Blue Ray & Friends

Pro Blues Guitarist since 1969.Toured Australia, and Europe, and most of the United States. Performed at Blues Festivals, New Orleans, Chicago, Australia, San Francisco, East Coast, too, & all points in between. With LITTLE CHARLIE & THE NIGHT CATS in 1975-76, JOHN LEE HOOKER'S Coast to Coast Blues Band short time in 77, WILLIAM CLARKE 1978-79, SMOKEY WILSON, 79. MARCIA BALL BAND 80-84,Mitch Woods 89-91. Started KENNY BLUE RAY & FRIENDS in 92-present. Currently on 42 cds/LPs. Teach & Gig. On cds with STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, ANSON FUNDERBURGH, RONNIE EARL, ROOMFUL OF BLUES HORNS, MARCIA BALL, CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE , Mitch Woods & the Rocket 88s. 14 Solo Cds out. over 45 years on the Guitar, just about all of it in the Blues, a little Soul and Jazz... Married 18 Years. Got to back up PERCY MAYFIELD, JAMES COTTON, ALBERT COLLINS, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, BIG MAMA THORTON, LOWELL FULSON, JOHN LEE HOOKER, EARL KING , JACKIE PAYNE, Smokey Wilson, Iron Jaws Wilson, Finas Tasby.Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Mark Hummell, Gary Smith, Duke Jethro Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Joe Houston, Louis Pain, Rob Sudduth, Luther Tucker, & Fingers Taylor, and some I may have forgot.
My cds can be bought @ www.cdbaby.com or through me, [email protected]
That's me playing Rhythm Guitar and doing a short Solo after SRV on the new Stevie Ray Vaughan cd Solos, Sessions & Encores (2nd Track on cd)also ONLINE BLUES GUITAR INSTRUCTIONAL @:
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BIOGRAPHYKenny Blue Ray. Kenny is a blues veteran of 40 years whose pedigree includes recording and appearing with artists the caliber of William Clarke, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Charlie Musselwhite, Smokey Wilson, Albert Collins, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.Kenny Ray was born in Lodi, California on January 11, 1950. His interest in music was forged by his father, who played guitar, harmonica, accordion, piano and fiddle. Seeing Elvis perform on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956 sealed Kenny's passion to play guitar.His father bought Kenny his first guitar in 1958 for $7.00, His dad later bought Kenny his first real Electric guitar, a 1959 black Danelectro for $38.50, In Stockton, California.Kenny's obsession with the blues was triggered by the infamous Wolfman Jack, when as an eleven year old, Kenny would lie in bed listening to the radio to the sounds of Jimmy Reed B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf on XERB-FM, from Chula Vista, California, and was inspired by music that Kenny claims "just totally blew my mind." Seeing his hero, Keith Richards in 1964 in Sacramento, also was a big decision in going Professional, The Guitars in the Stones say a lot, and work well together, ala Jimmy Reed/Eddie Taylor, & Robert Jr & Luther Tucker (a Friend Kenny met in 1976)Kenny and his Guitarist friends would skip school to learn Albert King's album, "Born Under A Bad Sign" and B.B. King's live album, "Blues Is King" in the mid 60's developing Licks and Vibrato from the Masters.Serving in the Air Force from 1969-72, Kenny was based in South Ruislip, London, England, and worked in RAF Hillingdon) where he hooked up with ex-Jr. Walker band member Ferdnand Jones in a nine piece soul review called El Jade, where they covered Al Green, Aretha Franklin and "lots of blues." On his return to the States, Kenny spent two years touring California with the Paul Herman Band.In 1975 he joined Little Charlie and the Nightcats, which at the time was fronted by Charlie Baty on guitar, harp and vocals. Rick Estrin joined the band in 1976, It was a Great sound, but Charlie could play so much, Kenny wasn't needed in the Night Cats and not long after, Kenny left and moved to Los Angeles where he became a member of the houseband at Smokey Wilson's Pioneer club, backing artists like Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, and Big Mama Thornton. The late 70's were a productive time for the blues in LA, and Kenny became immersed in the Watts scene and made his recording debut with William Clarke and Hollywood Fats ("Diggin' My Potatoes") and Finis Tasby (a set "Get drunk and be somebody" which remains unreleased) in 1978. William Clarke was a Master on the Blues Harp, and it was a great experience with Bill. Finas is doing well with the Mannish Boys out of LA.In 1980, Kenny moved to Austin, Texas, where he joined the Marcia Ball Band, touring with her for four years on the Crawfish Circuit and appearing on her 1984 Rounder release "Soulful Dress", which also featured, Stevie Ray Vaughan on Guitar with Kenny on the Title track. During this time Kenny met and became friends with Stevie Ray Vaughan. Further recording sessions followed with Greg "Fingers" Taylor ("Harpoon Man"), Marcia Ball on Varrick, Mitch Woods, Charlie Musselwhite, Ronnie Earl and the Roomful of Blue Horns on the Blind Pig release, ("Solid Gold Cadillac"), and sessions with Tommy Castro, Ron Thompson, Gary Smith, and others.In 1994, Kenny released the first of 13 CD's on his own Tone King label. Each CD garnered critical acclaim from all corners of the blues world.Since 1994, Kenny has put out two to three CD's a year until 2002, as well as producing and playing on other recording artists' projects. Kenny is a big fan of Jazz as well, especially the bluesy side of Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, and Jimmy McGriff.Kenny has appeared on 42 CD's and albums since he began his music career. He's also done seven blues guitar instructional videos, and he plans to do a Chicago blues guitar instructional video in the near future.Blues Harp is a favorite and Kenny had the great honor of working with James Cotton, Little Charlie & The Night Cats, William Clarke (Kenny's favorite), James Harman, Shakey Jake Harris, Rod Piazza and Gary Smith.Kenny's biggest influences on guitar are Albert King, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Lockwood, Jr., B.B. King, Freddie King, Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomrey, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Kenny also digs Jimmie Vaughan and Anson Funderburgh & The Stones, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood & Brian Jones.Kenny uses Kenny "Blue" Ray Signature Series guitars. Kenny brings his years of first-hand experience to the design and development of fine blues guitars. These guitars are very 50s & 60's looking, and have a distinctive blues sound( depending on my Moods). La Bella strings are his faves. Kenny 'Blue' Ray uses Allen & Fender Amps, and his homemade Guitars, on all Recordings and Gigs.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS 1983 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Marcia Ball 1983 Tipitina's during Mardi Gras with Marcia Ball 1983 Chicago Blues Festival with Marcia Ball 1984 Tipitina's during Mardi Gras with Marcia Ball 1989 Toured Europe with Mitch Woods 1989 W.C. Handy Awards with Mitch Woods in Memphis 1995 Monterey Bay Blues Festival 1996 Portland Waterfront Blues Festival 1997 Pittsburg Black Diamond Blues Festival 1997 Portland Rose Festival 1997 San Francisco Blues Festival 1998 Sacramento Heritage Blues Festival 1998 Monterey Bay Blues Festival with Jackie Payne 1998 Portland Waterfront Blues Festival with Jackie Payne 1998 Sonora Blues Festival 1998 Rumsey Blues Festival with Jackie Payne 1999 Goulburn Blues Fest * Australia * February-March 1999 One Month Tour of Australia * February-March 1999 Waterfront Blues Festival * Portland, Oregon 1999 Eastern Oregon Blues Festival * Ione, Oregon 1999 Rumsey Blues Festival with Catfish & the Crawdaddies 2000 Weber Point Blues Festival * Stockton, CA 2000 Monterey Bay Blues Festival * Monterey, CA 2000 Rumsey Blues Festival * Rumsey, CA 2000 Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, OR 2000 Ione Blues Festival * Ione, OR 2000 Hood River Blues Festival * OR 2000 Snake River Blues Festival * ID 2000 Blue Heron Festival * Portland, OR 2000 Downtown Oakland Blues Festival * Oakland, CA 2000 Palmyra Peach Festival * Palmyra, PA 2001 June 8 - Easton Blues Festival * Easton PA 2001 June 23 - Monterey Blues Festival * Monterey, CA 2001 July 5 - Waterfront Blues Festival * Portland, OR w/ Aaron Black Band 2001 July 22 - Seaside Blues Festival * Seaside, CA 2001 July 25 - Downtown Oakland Home grown Blues Festival *  Oakland, CA w/ Jackie Payne 2001 August 19 - Tomato Festival * Fairfield, CA 2001 Sept. 15 - Delta Festival * Antioch, CA 2002 May 5 - Days of Wine & Honey Fest * Livermore, CA  2002 June 7 - Genentech Bikes & Blues Fest, So * San Francisco, CA 2002 July 4 - Red White & Blues Blues Fest * Ione, Oregon 2002 July 5 - Portland Waterfront Blues Festival * Portland, OR 2002 July 6 - Rumsey Blues Fest * Rumsey, California 2002 July 7-14 - Cisco Systems Ottawa Blues Festival * Canada  2002 October 13 - Central Valley Blues Festival * Merced, CA w/ R. J. Mischo. Also Kid Ramos, Lynwood Slim 2003 August 2 - Coulterville Festival * Coulterville, CA 2003 August 12 - Genentech Bikes & Blues Fest * San Francisco, CA 2003 August 13 - Delta Blues Festival * Antioch, CA 2003 August 14 - Auburn Old Town Blues Fest Benefit for  Juvenile Diabetes * Auburn, CA 2004 July 10th - Brentwood Corn Festival * Brentwood, CA 2004 Sept 18th - Lodi Grape Festival * Lodi, CA 2005 July 3rd - Waterfront Blues Festival * Portland, OR 2005 July 30th - Kalama Blues Festival * Kalama, WA 2005 August 13th - Jessie's Grove Winery * Lodi, CA 2005 August 21st - Napa Blues Series * Napa, CA 2005 August 27th - Sierra Blues Benefest * Auburn, CA 2005 August 28th - Palo Alto Fair * Palo Alto, CA 2005 September 25th - San Francisco Blues Festival * San Francisco, CA 2005 October 23rd - Danville Fair * Danville, CA 2006 Redwood City Blues Festival 2007 Cascade Locks Blues Fest Stevenson, WA July 6/07 Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, ORSince 2005 Kenny has done the Little Fox Theatre regularly, and since 1988 Bay Area Clubs--
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For Learning some Hot & Cool Blues Grooves Check Out Red Oak Music, below
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Kenny "Blue" Ray http://home.earthlink.net/~bluerayhttp://www.myspace.com/ken nyblueray