Cee El

Having been raised in church all his life on the south side of Chicago, Corey Raymond found himself very early on in his childhood rapt by the rhythm and sounds of drums and percussion. Just like any other musicians analogous story, he found himself always wanting to get as close as he could to witness those musicians playing the instruments he began to fall in love with. In years to come, but later down the line Corey found himself no longer an on looker but a player of the instruments he grew to love. The first instrument Corey learned to play were the conga’s, his technique and passion for playing them were first noticed by Chicago producer, music arranger and keyboardist Jeral Gray. At the age of 15 Corey would be asked by Jeral to join now Grammy award nominees, New Direction as their band’s percussionist. Sometime later Daniel Weatherspoon, another great Chicago producer, music arranger and keyboardist would have Corey come aboard his company Spoonfed productions as a percussionist as well. With much exposure from both producers and performing with New Direction, it welcomed recordings and performances with such artist as: New Direction-(Unreleased Live recording & performance) Praise 2 Mass Choir-Stop by here-(Live recording & performance) Chicago Mass Choir-Take over Lord-(Live recording) Percy Gray & Chapter Ministries-(Live recording) Mark S. Hubbard-He’s up there (Live & Studio recording, Performance) Lonnie Hunter & the Voices of St. Mark-Even me-(Live recording & performance) Vashawn Mitchell & New Image-(Live recording) Vashawn Mitchell & Friends-Promises-(Studio recording) Ricky Dillard & the New Generation Chorale-(Live performance) Ben Tankard-(Live performance) The gift of music did not reside there, at the age of 17 Corey began to take interest in his second passion, the drums. It was considered a late start but determination would not let this new assignment go unfulfilled. With countless days and hours of shedding Corey would gradually hear development in his playing. At St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church under the musical direction of then Lonnie Hunter, Corey would get his first professional start at grooming, cultivating and developing the correct ear for his new gift. In 4-5 years time it welcomed him to play for Lonnie Hunter the artist, upon filling this drum chair it brought about numerous traveling experiences, concerts, workshops and television appearances consisting of: The Wrigley Gum 7 City Choir Competition Tour (Lonnie Hunter/Head lining performer & national spokes person). Also on this tour Corey was the house drummer for other special guest gospel artist, Beverly Crawford & Richard Smallwood. G.M.W.A (Gospel Music Workshop of America)-Lonnie Hunter Chicago, Indianapolis & Philadelphia Gospel Festivals-Lonnie Hunter Malaco Records Announcer’s Guild Award ceremony-Lonnie Hunter Bobby Jones Television Taping-Lonnie Hunter Saturday Nite Sing Television taping-Lonnie Hunter Since acquiring the role as a drummer Corey has gone on to perform and Record with: Lonnie Hunter & the Voices of St. Mark-(Next level live CD and DVD taping, Performance’s) The Central Western District Mass Choir-(Live recording) Dorothy Norwood-(Live performance) Daryl Coley-(Live performance) Vanessa Bell Armstrong-(Live performance) Kim Stratton-(Live performance) Bridgette Campbell-(Live performance) Karen Clark Sheard-(Live performance) Vashawn Mitchell-(Live performance) Kim McFarland-(Live performance) House of Twang -“Unauthorized & without Permission”-(live CD & DVD taping, Performance’s) Obi Uwakwe-(Studio recording & performance’s) Drew Sidora-(Televised & Live performance’s) Christopher Williams-(Live performance) Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson-(Live performance) Ace, Formerly of R&B group, Public Announcement-(Live performance) Antony Carter -“This is where I am” track-(Studio recording) Three5Human-(Live Performance) Crowns, a play by Regina Taylor adapted from the book written by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry Achievement: Placed 2nd best drummer for individual performance out of 17 for the 2007 Emergenza Band Competition with House of Twang. Production credits: Performance track for the stage play “Seasons of a Woman’s Life” a story/drama by Michele Aikens publisher of Grace today magazine. 2008 ObiSoulStar CD-Song Arrangements-"Crying in the rain", "Sumtimez" & "Supa Freak"