Ray started playing guitar in his early teens. Oddly, while he was failing his high school guitar class and the syncopated strum of 'Tom Dooley', he was already jamming out with his friends to the electric sounds of Boston, Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Who, Eric Clapton, The Doobie Brothers, Heart, and Black Sabbath. Along with the Punk acts Patti Smith Group, Nina Hagan Group, Television, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Stooges, The Dead Kennedys, Elvis Costello, and many more.
Over the next few years, Ray would find himself involved in many different Rock/Metal/Punk bands playing rhythm guitar and singing background vocals, and also had a strong interest in staging, lights, and flash-pots. During the Eighties and the flashy-guitar-noodling, hair-band craze, Ray met Jazz/Folk guitarist Mark Bell. Although Ray was playing in an award-winning group at the time living a fast paced 'Rock 'n Roll' lifestyle, something about the cool licks of Jazz music swayed Ray's appreciation. As a child he had always enjoyed Motown, big band, scat singing, Ray Charles, and the horn of Louise Armstrong, but rarely found others that mirrored his enthusiasm,.... KISS RULED!! (or you'd get beat up). Mark introduced Ray to the likes of Miles Davis, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, and helped build a deeper respect for Folksmiths Joni Mitchell and Bruce Cockburn. Suddenly, right in the middle of the Heavy Metal, hair-band phenomena, Ray began to change his tune.
A meeting with songsmith Chris Yip in Calgary Alberta Canada a few years later, Ray returned to his Rock roots while still exploring the Jazz feel. Soon Chris and Ray were working out tunes, blending stylish Pink Floyd-like melodies with Funk and Jazz riffs. This would mark the true beginning of Ray's own unique lyrical/musical style. This partnership soon led to another successful live act, and an appearance on Canada's Much Music television. Returning to the west coast as the Calgary scene quieted down, Ray continued to play with several acts, on some of Vancouver's biggest stages.
Now residing in the Okanagan Valley playing smaller venues and festivals, Ray continues to grow as a well-rounded artist, spending more of his time writing new material and working in other various artistic mediums. Raymond also acts, paints, illustrates, and is skilled in the art of 2D/3D Animation. Once again musically influenced in 2004 while playing in an Okanagan 'Psycho-Billy' band, Ray's music took another twist in its development, layering in a slight 'Country twang' to the current mix.
Recently, Raymond recorded many of his original compositions, playing all of the the musical instruments (but saxaphone) and handling the engineering/recording skills himself. Many errors were made in the learning process, but eventually he was able to create something that felt true to his original ambition. Two albums were completed. One of darker, more cerebral tunes (Eleven: Eleven), and the other (The Occasional Sour Note) happier, swing-oriented songs. No auto-tune or MIDI instruments were used.
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