Brian Ray | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Brian Thomas Ray |
Born | [1] | January 4, 1955
Origin | California, U.S. |
Genres | Rock, pop |
Occupation | Musician |
Instruments | Guitar, bass, vocals |
Years active | 1972–present |
Website | brianray |
Brian Thomas Ray is an American musician best known as a guitarist, bassist and backing vocalist with Paul McCartney's touring band since 2002, and formerly as a musical director and guitarist for Etta James. Ray has performed with numerous other artists and leads his own band, The Bayonets.
Brian Ray grew up in Southern California. [2] His first musical performances were in front of his peers – at show and tell – setting his own lyrics to the tune of old folk songs. [3]
By the age of nine, he began playing the guitar. His elder sister, Jean (of folk duo Jim and Jean) spurred his interest in rock music through her record collection. Jean invited Brian to play at the LA Troubadour when he was 15 years old. She was "probably the most important and influential person" [4] in Ray's early life.
In 1973, shortly after graduating from high school, Ray began his musical career as part of Bobby Pickett and the Crypt Kicker Five, playing "Monster Mash" at a fundraising benefit hosted by and for Phil Kaufman. Kaufman took Ray in and would later introduce him to singer Etta James at a rehearsal for the world-famous Troubadour, [5] just as James was on the brink of a career comeback. That brief introduction would eventually lead to Ray's 14-year career as Etta James' musical director and guitarist. [2]
While working for Etta James, Ray also shared stages with musicians such as Keith Richards, Santana, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Bo Diddley. At this time he also began focusing more on songwriting. Ray spent the late 1980s collaborating with musicians such as Peter Frampton, Rita Coolidge, Nicolette Larson, Michael Steele (of The Bangles), and Steve LeGassick, who became a songwriting partner for 13 years. It was this songwriting partnership with LeGassick that would create the 1987 Smokey Robinson award-winning hit "One Heartbeat", [6] which has received over 2,000,000 airplays. [7]
Prior to working with Paul McCartney in 2002, Ray was working on tour in France with two different French artists, Mylène Farmer and Johnny Hallyday. Abe Laboriel Jr., a drummer who had previously worked with Brian Ray, mentioned that Paul McCartney was in search of a guitarist who could switch between guitar and bass guitar (for songs on which McCartney plays piano or guitar). After meeting with McCartney's producer for Driving Rain , David Kahne, Ray joined Paul McCartney for the pre-game performance of "Freedom" at the NFL's Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. [8]
Ray joined the rest of Paul McCartney's band for the Driving Rain tour in promotion of the album. As of then, he has appeared on McCartney's solo albums, such as Back in the World , Back in the U.S. , Memory Almost Full , New and Egypt Station [1] as well as three concert DVDs: Paul McCartney in Red Square , The Space Within US , and Good Evening New York City . [9]
In addition to being a session musician, Brian Ray has also contributed to film scores such as the soundtrack to the film Heartbreakers in 1984. In 2002, Ray and Abe Laboriel Jr. composed the score for the independent film The Failures. [10] In 2011, Ray joined with Oliver Leiber to form The Bayonets.
After decades of performing, writing, and recording with musical artists, Brian Ray released his first solo album, Mondo Magneto , on October 16, 2006, through his record label Whooray Records.
"People have always asked me when I was going to do my own thing", Ray said, "I guess I was just busy." [2]
Musicians on Mondo Magneto include Scott Shriner from Weezer, Davey Faragher from Elvis Costello's band, as well as Abe Laboriel, Jr., Wix Wickens, and Rusty Anderson from Paul McCartney's band.
When Ray asked the blues singer and his former boss Etta James if she would sing with him on the album her answer was simple, and immediate – "I'll do anything for Brian." [11]
Mondo Magneto's record release party was held at The Mint in Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 2006. Ray's live band, Black Unicorn, includes musicians Peter Thorn on guitar, John Button on bass, and Matt Laug on drums. The band performs their music in Los Angeles clubs, such as The Viper Room and The Mint.
In 2008, Larry Graves and Brian Ray made a video for Ray's song "Coming Up Roses". [12]
In 2010, Ray released a second album, entitled This Way Up. [13]
Year | Album | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Etta Is Betta Than Evvah! | Etta James | |
1977 | Crackin' | Crackin' | |
1978 | The Reggie Knighton Band | The Reggie Knighton Band | |
1978 | Deep in the Night | Etta James | |
1981 | Hot Spot | Steve Goodman | |
1986 | Friends and Lovers | Gloria Loring | |
1987 | One Heartbeat | Smokey Robinson | Co-writer, arranger, programming, guitars on recording with Smokey Robinson |
1989 | Joy | Crystal Lewis | |
1992 | Backstreets of Desire | Willy DeVille | |
Love Lessons | Rita Coolidge | Writer, arranger, producer | |
Something Real | Stephanie Mills | ||
1994 | Live from San Francisco | Etta James | Live album; co- producer and music director, guitars |
1995 | Loup Garou | Willy DeVille | |
Behind the Memories | Rita Coolidge | ||
1996 | Greatest Hits | Brenda Russell | Writer, producer, guitars |
1998 | Johnny allume le feu au Stade de France | Johnny Hallyday | Live Album; guitars |
2000 | 100% Johnny Live à la Tour Eiffel | Johnny Hallyday | Live Album; guitars |
2001 | Laundry Service | Shakira | Guitars (Mis-Credited as Bryan Ray on Liner Notes) |
2002 | Back in the U.S. | Paul McCartney | Live album and DVD; bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitar |
2003 | Back in the World | Paul McCartney | Live Album; bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitar |
2004 | Blues to the Bone | Etta James | |
2005 | Paul McCartney in Red Square | Paul McCartney | Live DVD; bass, electric guitars, acoustic guitar |
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard | Paul McCartney | ||
Mondo Magneto | Brian Ray | Debut solo album | |
Undressing Underwater | Rusty Anderson | ||
2006 | The Space Within US | Paul McCartney | Live DVD; electric guitars, bass, acoustic guitar |
Le coeur d'un homme | Johnny Hallyday | Guitars | |
2007 | Memory Almost Full | Paul McCartney | |
2008 | Pistola | Willy DeVille | |
Ca ne finira jamais | Johnny Hallyday | ||
2009 | Good Evening New York City | Paul McCartney | Live DVD; bass guitar, electric guitars, acoustic guitar |
All I Ever Wanted | Kelly Clarkson | guitar [14] | |
2010 | This Way Up | Brian Ray | Solo album |
2013 | New | Paul McCartney | |
2014 | Loco de Amor | Juanes | |
2014 | Be Here Then | Stephen Bishop | |
2014 | Crash Boom Bang! | The Bayonets | |
2018 | Egypt Station | Paul McCartney |
Paul McCartney and Wings, often billed simply as Wings, were an English-American rock band formed in 1971 in London by former Beatle Paul McCartney; his wife Linda McCartney on keyboards; session drummer Denny Seiwell; and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. They were noted for their commercial successes, musical eclecticism, and frequent personnel changes. They went through three lead guitarists and four drummers. The core trio of the McCartneys and Laine, however, remained intact throughout the group's existence.
Back in the World is a live album by Paul McCartney composed of highlights from his spring 2002 "Driving USA" tour in the United States in support of McCartney's 2001 release Driving Rain. It was released internationally in 2003, save for North America – where Back in the U.S. saw issue four months earlier in 2002 – to commemorate his first set of concerts in almost ten years.
Brian Frederick Hines, known professionally as Denny Laine, was an English musician who co-founded two major rock bands: the Moody Blues and Wings. Laine played guitar in the Moody Blues from 1964 to 1966 and sang their hit cover version of "Go Now". Laine befriended Paul McCartney of the Beatles, who later asked him to join his band Wings.
Abraham Laboriel Jr. is an American session musician best known as the drummer and backing vocalist of Paul McCartney's touring band since 2001. He is the son of Mexican bass guitarist Abraham Laboriel, nephew of Mexican rock musician Johnny Laboriel, and brother of record producer, songwriter and film composer Mateo Laboriel.
Rusty Anderson is an American musician best known for his work as lead guitarist for Paul McCartney's touring band since 2001. He has worked with an extensive list of other artists in addition to his own solo career.
Curt Close is a Belgian singer-songwriter, producer, and documentary filmmaker.
Paul McCartney in Red Square is a live DVD produced and directed by Mark Haefeli starring Paul McCartney, released in June 2005. It is composed of footage taken during his concerts in Moscow's Red Square and Saint Petersburg's Palace Square. Songs from Beatles, Wings and solo albums are performed. Each song is interspersed with interviews regarding the Beatles' banning in the Soviet Union in the 1960s, and how fans had to spend large sums of money on buying records from the black market. The film also supports the anti-Soviet opinion that The Beatles were an impetus behind a social revolution, which led to the fall of communism in Russia.
Mondo Magneto is the debut studio rock album by Brian Ray, released on October 16, 2006 through his independent record label Whooray Records.
Undressing Underwater is the debut solo album by Rusty Anderson, originally released on Anderson's own Oxide Records in late 2003, and re-released on September 13, 2005 through Surfdog Records.
Amoeba's Secret is an EP by Paul McCartney recorded during a secret performance at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California, on 27 June 2007.
The US Tour was Paul McCartney's second North American concert tour of the 21st century to promote his 2005 album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. The tour began on 16 September 2005 in Miami, Florida, and concluded on 30 November 2005 in Los Angeles, California. It was a commercial success, grossing $77 million from 37 shows across North America and selling over 565,000 tickets. Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, Paul "Wix" Wickens, and Abe Laboriel Jr. returned as the backing band, the first to fully remain intact for more than one solo McCartney tour, following the previous year's summer jaunt in the UK. McCartney's then-wife Heather Mills and their daughter, Beatrice, accompanied him on the tour and were in the audience every night.
The Outpatience was an American hard rock group formed in California by the guitarist West Arkeen, who is best known for co-writing several Guns N' Roses songs, in 1995. The band released one album, Anxious Disease in 1996, but soon disbanded following Arkeen's death on May 30, 1997, in Los Angeles as a result of a drug overdose.
Live in Los Angeles is a promotional live album by Paul McCartney recorded during a secret performance on 27 June 2007 at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California. The album was released only in the United Kingdom and Ireland through a special promotion run by The Mail on Sunday and the Irish Sunday Mail.
The Driving World Tour was a concert tour by English musician Paul McCartney. It marked his first tour of the 21st century and of any kind since 1993's New World Tour. For the first time in nearly a decade, McCartney returned to the road following the death of first wife, Linda McCartney, the death of George Harrison, and 9/11. This was in promotion of his 2001 album Driving Rain. Paul "Wix" Wickens returned on keyboards and is credited as Musical Director. New to the fold were Americans Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, and Abe Laboriel Jr. Paul McCartney's then-fiancée Heather Mills accompanied him on the tour and was in the audience for every American performance.
The Bayonets is an American independent rock band based in Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2011 by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber after years of collaboration on Brian Ray's two solo albums, Mondo Magneto (2005) and This Way Up (2009). Oliver had the idea to form a band together, so they got together to write a series of singles for release throughout 2013, beginning on Valentine’s Day with the song "Sucker for Love" and followed three months later by "Smartphone". Stevie Van Zandt separately named both songs the "Coolest Song in the World" on "Little Steven's Underground Garage" radio show broadcast on terrestrial and satellite stations worldwide.
"New" is a song written by Paul McCartney. It was originally recorded by McCartney and produced by English musician Mark Ronson for McCartney's sixteenth studio album New, and appears as the sixth track on the album. After being released early on the iTunes Store as a track available to download from New on 28 August 2013, the song was released as a single on 2 September 2013 and available exclusively on Amazon.com. The single's premiere on 28 August was concurrent with the official reveal of New on the same day. The single gained heavy airplay on Japanese radio stations, where it became a number 4 hit on the Japan Hot 100.
The Art of McCartney is a tribute album to English musician Paul McCartney, released on 18 November 2014. The 42-song set covers McCartney's solo work, and his work with the Beatles and Wings, and features a wide range of artists such as Jeff Lynne, Barry Gibb, Brian Wilson, The Cure, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Alice Cooper, Smokey Robinson, and Kiss. According to producer Ralph Sall, the project took 11 years to complete.
"Who Cares" is a song by English musician Paul McCartney, released as the third single from Egypt Station on 17 December 2018. The song was previously released as a promo track ahead of the album on September 6, 2018.
Amoeba Gig is a live album by Paul McCartney taken from the recordings of a secret performance at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California, on 27 June 2007, and released in July 2019. Tracks from the recordings were previously released in 2007 on Amoeba's Secret and as B-sides to the single "Ever Present Past". The album features the complete concert recording of that secret performance.
Paul McCartney has been accompanied live and in the studio by various musicians since the breakup of Wings in 1981. The core line-up of his band has been steady since 2002, and includes Wix Wickens on keyboards and serving as musical director, Rusty Anderson on guitar, Brian Ray on guitar and bass, and Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums. This line up is known to its members as 'The Band of Brothers'.