Ray Reach
Encyclopedia
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. (born August 3, 1948) is an American pianist
, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama
, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City Music Productions. In addition, he is an accomplished guitarist
, arranger
, composer
, conductor
and music producer
. Although he has composed, arranged and performed in a variety of genre (including classical, pop, R & B, gospel, contemporary Christian and jazz), he is perhaps best known for his work in the jazz
idiom, combining straight-ahead jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals. Like many male jazz vocalists, such as Frank Sinatra
, Tony Bennett
, Vic Damone
, Mel Torme
, Harry Connick, Jr.
and Michael Bublé
, Ray's repertoire centers around the classic popular standards and jazz standard
s of the Great American Songbook
. However, Ray differs from many of his jazz vocal colleagues in the fact that he does most of his own arrangements and accompanies himself on the piano.
, Ray is the only child of Erma Elizabeth Hillman (a beautician) and Raymond Everett Reach, Sr. (a coal miner). Reach began piano lessons at age 6, studying with Giula Williams of E. E. Forbes and Sons Piano Company in Birmingham. Later, he studied piano with Carolyn Pfau and Hugh Thomas
at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. Ray attended Minor High School near Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College
, the University of Montevallo
and the University of Alabama
, among others. At Birmingham-Southern, Ray studied voice with renowned New York City Opera baritone Andrew Gainey, and studied piano with Sam Howard of the concert piano duo, Hodgens and Howard. At the University of Alabama (1977–1980), he served as graduate assistant to noted jazz educator Steve Sample, Sr
, directing the award winning Jazz Ensemble B, and playing piano in and arranging for Jazz Ensemble A. During his time at the University of Alabama, ASCAP presented Ray with the Raymond Hubbell Musical Scholarship, for his contributions to jazz and popular music in America.
in Dallas, Texas, Birmingham-Southern College
, the University of Montevallo
, the University of Alabama
, the University of North Texas
and others. In the late 1970s, Ray was chosen by noted jazz educator Steve Sample, Sr
to be the first ever graduate teaching assistant in the jazz program at the University of Alabama
. From 1998 to 2005, Ray was instructor of jazz and music technology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) and director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble. He is currently (2005 to present) Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
(AJHoF). As part of his duties at AJHoF, he directs the Alabama Jazz hall of Fame Student All-Star Band. He has also served as a faculty member of the W. C. Handy Jazz Camp
, and is a regular featured performer at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
and a member of the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars
. In addition, Reach directs the Fun With Jazz Educational Program
, which was originated through the Alys Stephens Center
for the Performing Arts, and is now offered through the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
.
Ray has been involved with synthesizers (and later) computer-produced music since 1969, when he purchased his first Mini Moog. With the advent of MIDI, he worked in research and development for Systems Design Associates, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, makers of MIDI music software. Later, he co-founded the American MIDI Users Group (AMUG), which was based at the Dallas Infomart
.
Recent alumni of Ray's UAB Jazz Ensemble include noted Birmingham Gospel pianist Arthur Beard
, pianist / keyboardist Coleman Woodson and drummer Tim George of Just A Few Cats, the band which gave American Idol Ruben Studdard
his entry into the Birmingham music scene. While Mr. Reach was director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble, Studdard often sat in on his rehearsals.
(of which he is the founding director), the Ray Reach Orchestra, the Night Flight Big Band and Cleveland Eaton
and the Alabama Allstars. He leads his own group, Ray Reach and Friends, and is a former member of the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly UAB SuperJazz), which was the first performing musical ensemble connected with the UAB Department of Music. Ray has performed with and arranged for numerous notable jazz and pop musicians and ensembles, including Clark Terry
, Dizzy Gillespie
, Jack Sheldon
, Mike Williams
(lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra
), Leonard Candelaria
(noted classical trumpeter and educator), singer Al Jarreau
, singer Natalie Cole
, Lou Marini
, Ellis Marsalis
, Cleveland Eaton
, Gary Burton
, Chuck Redd
, Mundell Lowe
, Lloyd Wells
, Bill Goodwin
, Lew Soloff
, Birch Johnson
, Jonathan Butler
, Jack Petersen, Galen Jeter's Dallas Jazz Orchestra
(later known as Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra) (DOJO), The Auburn Knights Orchestra
, Guy Lombardo
Orchestra, the Lawrence Welk
Orchestra, Ladies' Night Out, vocalist Kathy Kosins, vocalist Annie Sellick, vocalist Bethany Smith Staelens, the Temptations Review, featuring Dennis Edwards
and Chaka Khan
with the Lionel Hampton
Orchestra. During his seven years as director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble (1998–2005), Ray wrote a large percentage of the music that the band played, including 147 big band arrangements and numerous others for vocal groups and jazz combos. His catalogue of arrangements and compositions numbers over a thousand pieces, including arrangements for solo jazz piano, jazz duo, jazz trio, jazz quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octette, nonette and big band, as well as string quartet, choral ensembles and piano plus string quartet.
, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Mobile Jazz Festival, the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
, Birmingham's City Stages
festival, and the Denton Jazz Festival, to name a few.
and later entered Birmingham-Southern as a voice major, planning to pursue a career as a professional singer. To this day, Ray refers to his singing, among the many musical skills he possesses, as the "...best thing he does musically..."
During his college undergraduate years, Ray began his choral directing career at Village Falls United Methodist Church. Following this, he was a paid singer at Fairview United Methodist Church, then later was choir director at Norwood United Methodist Church. Subsequently, he sang at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham (under Sam Owens and later under Hugh Thomas
) and was baritone soloist and choir singer at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham under noted choirmaster and organist Joseph Schreiber. He also sang in performances with Birmingham Civic Opera, and, while at Birmingham-Southern, sang lead roles in operas such as The Telephone, Amahl and the Night Visitors
, The Barber of Seville
, The Marriage of Figaro
and others. Ray has held numerous positions as Music Minister and singer at churches in Birmingam and Dallas, Texas, including Community Church (Dallas) (7 years), First Presbyterian Church of Dallas (3 years), Independent Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Alabama, First Presbyterian Church of Bessemer, Alabama (2.5 years) and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Pelham, Alabama (7 years). He has written numerous choral arrangements and compositions and has produced two CD recordings for internationally known choral composer and conductor K. Lee Scott
.
During his seven years at St. Francis Epicopal Church, Ray blended styles of music to create a very unique worship music experience. He employed great traditional hymns, classical music, praise and worship choruses, contemporary Christian songs, and sacred music by jazz composers such as Duke Ellington
and Dave Brubeck
. Special liturgical music presentations often featured renowned jazz artists, such as Lou Marini
, Lew Soloff
and Cleveland Eaton
.
Ray has taught choral music in schools in Dallas, Texas and in the Birmingham, Alabama area. In the Birmingham area, he was choral director at Minor High School (1991–1993) and at Montevallo and Calera High Schools (1993–1994). His high school choral groups won "superior" ratings (the highest award) at every county and state choral competition in which they participated.
In 2000, Ray participated in the premier performance of a new jazz mass called "Requiem for the Millennium," by composer Gary Hallquist. The piece was commissioned by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
, and was given its debut performance on Good Friday at St. Louis Cathedral
in New Orleans. The piece was performed by a 200 voice choir, accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
, and featured the Lou Marini
Jazz Quartet, with Marini on woodwinds, Robert Dickson
on bass, Steve Sample, Jr
on drums and Ray Reach on piano.
Ray has written arrangements for numerous choral ensembles, including the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the choirs of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the jazz vocal group Ladies' Night Out and the Hilltop Singers of Birmingham-Southern College
. In the gospel and contemporary Christian music world, Ray has written arrangements for artists such as Jonathan Butler
, Anetta Nunn and the group Joylight, the resident ensemble at Community Church in Dallas, Texas. Reach contributed arrangements to Butler's 2007 CD and DVD, which was titled "Gospel Goes Classical," and rose to number 2 on the Billboard
Gospel charts, and number 3 on the Classical Crossover charts nationally. The recording, produced by Henry Panion, featured Butler, along with Juanita Bynum
, a 100+ voice gospel choir and full symphony orchestra, recorded at the Alys Stephens Center
.
), the Gospel Goes Classical Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony and the Huntsville (Alabama) Symphony
. Other ensembles and artists who have commissioned his arrangements include the Texas Saxophone Quartet, the Texas Baroque Ensemble, the Southern Methodist University
Orchestra, and trumpeter Leonard Candelaria
.
. In this period of time, this hall of fame has inducted such luminaries as Truman Capote
, Harper Lee
, Hugh Martin
, Dean Jones
, George Lindsey
, Fannie Flagg
, Talullah Bankhead and others. He has also arranged and music directed productions for Theatre Tuscaloosa, including And The World Goes 'Round
and 1776
. As a conductor, Ray has been musical director for numerous Broadway-style shows. For example, at Samford University
he was musical director for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
(by Andrew Lloyd Webber
), Into The Woods
(by Stephen Sondheim
) and the Southeastern premier of Children of Eden
(by Stephen Schwartz
).
As a composer, Ray has written and arranged five Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children's Theatre. These are listed as follows:
In addition, Reach has written an opera titled The Wooden Donkey, and numerous choral compositions.
, Mercedes-Benz
, various radio stations and many others.
, George Gershwin
, Billy Strayhorn
, Duke Ellington
, Gil Evans
and Igor Stravinsky
. His jazz piano and vocal stylings draw from diverse influences, including: pianists Bill Evans
, Oscar Peterson
and Chick Corea
, and vocalists Frank Sinatra
, Mel Tormé
, Jon Hendricks
, Tony Bennett
, Nat King Cole
and Johnny Hartman
. As to his arranging role models, Ray names Hugh Martin
(from Birmingham, Alabama, an alumnus of Ray's alma mater Birmingham-Southern College
), Johnny Mandel
, Nelson Riddle
, Gordon Jenkins
, Henry Mancini
, Sammy Nestico
, Billy May
, Steve Sample, Sr
, Thad Jones
and Gil Evans
, among many others. Over the last few years, Ray became friends with the late Ernie Stires
, pianist, composer and mentor to Trey Anastasio
of the rock group Phish
. Together, they have planned recordings of Ernie's music, which as of yet have not come to fruition.
; and in the Dallas, Texas area: Sound Logic Recording, Goodnight Audio, Sound Southwest, Crystal Clear Sound, T M Communications, Toby Arnold and Associates, Zimmersmith Productions, Dallas Sound Lab and others. His association with highly skilled producers and engineers in recording studios in Birmingham, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville and other cities, such as Ed Boutwell, Gaston Nichols, Noah White, Kenny Wallis, Eric Bates, Mark Harrelson, Chet Bennett, Phil York, Danny Brown, Blake English, James Bevelle, John Conner, Jr., Dan Rudin and Barry Beckett (of the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
) and others proved invaluable. His studio experience, along with his knowledge of synthesizers and MIDI technology prepared him well for the classes in music technology which he taught in various venues. His particular combination of musical and technological skills are considered by many of his peers to be rare. One of Ray's primary role models in his production career is noted musician Quincy Jones
.
On March 20, 2008, at the behest of Chuck Leishman, publisher of The Birmingham Weekly, Ray directed the house band at the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards. The house band, known collectively as The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
, accompanied noted BAMA Award recipients Chuck Leavell
and Peter Wolf
.
From July 20 through July 26, 2008, Ray performed at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
, alongside noted jazz players such as guitarist Mundell Lowe
, drummer Bill Goodwin
, trumpeter Ken Watters
, guitarist Lloyd Wells
and saxophonists Kelley O'Neal and Rick Bell. This was Ray's sixth year to perform at this annual festival, which this year hosted almost 300 events in a 7 day period.
On August 21, 2008, Ray was featured on the "Tapestry" radio show, hosted by Greg Bass on WBHM
Radio 90.3 FM in Birmingham, Alabama. The show airs every Thursday at 6:30pm Central Time.
On September 27, 2008, The Ray Reach Quartet, featuring saxophonist Gary Wheat, drummer Steve Ramos, Count Basie bassist Cleveland Eaton
, with guest, New York trumpeter Lew Soloff
, appeared at the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
in Birmingham, Alabama.
On October 3 and 4, 2008, The Ray Reach Trio appeared before very appreciative crowds at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
On March 28, 2009, in his role as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
, was one of the hosts of the Hall of Fame's 7th Annual Student Jazz Band Festival. This year's guest clinician / performers included pianist Bill Carrothers and saxophonist Eric Marienthal
.
From July 19 through July 25, 2009, Ray appeared at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
in Florence, Alabama, sharing the stage with Bill Goodwin
, Rick Bell, Sonny Harris, Ken Watters
, Jim Ferguson, Robert Dickson
, Mundell Lowe
and others.
March 25–27, 2010, in his role as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
, was one of the hosts of the Hall of Fame's 8th Annual Student Jazz Band Festival. This year's guest clinician was drummer T. S. Monk
.
From July 25 through July 31, 2010, Ray appeared at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
in Florence, Alabama, sharing the stage with Bill Goodwin
, Gary Wheat, Sonny Harris, Ken Watters
, Jim Ferguson, Mundell Lowe
and others.
As producer:
As arranger:
As keyboardist and arranger:
As Keyboardist:
As producer, arranger and keyboardist:
As producer, arranger, keyboardist, vocalist and guitarist:
As producer, composer, arranger and conductor:
As keyboardist, arranger and vocalist:
As producer, composer, arranger, keyboardist and vocalist:
and Al Jarreau
, along with New York City public school choral students and a band led by saxophonist Tom Scott
. The show was hosted by Whoopi Goldberg
, Robin Williams
and Billy Crystal
.
Pop / R & B:
Contemporary Christian:
Classical Sacred:
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars is a working jazz ensemble, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians Alabama has to offer...
and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City Music Productions. In addition, he is an accomplished guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Although he has composed, arranged and performed in a variety of genre (including classical, pop, R & B, gospel, contemporary Christian and jazz), he is perhaps best known for his work in the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
idiom, combining straight-ahead jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals. Like many male jazz vocalists, such as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Vic Damone
Vic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
, Mel Torme
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
, Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
and Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
, Ray's repertoire centers around the classic popular standards and jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
s of the Great American Songbook
Great American Songbook
The Great American Songbook is a hypothetical construct that seeks to represent the best American songs of the 20th century principally from Broadway theatre, musical theatre, and Hollywood musicals, from the 1920s to 1960, including dozens of songs of enduring popularity...
. However, Ray differs from many of his jazz vocal colleagues in the fact that he does most of his own arrangements and accompanies himself on the piano.
Early years
Born in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Ray is the only child of Erma Elizabeth Hillman (a beautician) and Raymond Everett Reach, Sr. (a coal miner). Reach began piano lessons at age 6, studying with Giula Williams of E. E. Forbes and Sons Piano Company in Birmingham. Later, he studied piano with Carolyn Pfau and Hugh Thomas
Hugh Thomas (choral conductor)
Joseph Hugh Thomas was an American choral conductor, pianist and educator, perhaps best remembered for his role as conductor of the renowned Concert Choir of Birmingham-Southern College , a highly respected liberal arts college located in Birmingham, Alabama. He served for many years as chairman...
at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. Ray attended Minor High School near Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
, the University of Montevallo
University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1896, it is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Programs are offered through the Michael E...
and the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, among others. At Birmingham-Southern, Ray studied voice with renowned New York City Opera baritone Andrew Gainey, and studied piano with Sam Howard of the concert piano duo, Hodgens and Howard. At the University of Alabama (1977–1980), he served as graduate assistant to noted jazz educator Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and...
, directing the award winning Jazz Ensemble B, and playing piano in and arranging for Jazz Ensemble A. During his time at the University of Alabama, ASCAP presented Ray with the Raymond Hubbell Musical Scholarship, for his contributions to jazz and popular music in America.
Jazz and computer music education
Ray has been an active jazz educator since the early 1970s. While attending Birmingham-Southern College, he created a series of jazz workshops which were hosted by the music department. He has taught jazz courses and computer music (MIDI) courses and workshops at numerous colleges, including Cedar Valley CollegeCedar Valley College
Cedar Valley College is a community college of the Dallas County Community College District , located in Lancaster, Texas in southern Dallas County. Cedar Valley first opened its doors in 1977 and has an enrollment of more than 6,000 students....
in Dallas, Texas, Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
, the University of Montevallo
University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1896, it is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Programs are offered through the Michael E...
, the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
and others. In the late 1970s, Ray was chosen by noted jazz educator Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and...
to be the first ever graduate teaching assistant in the jazz program at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. From 1998 to 2005, Ray was instructor of jazz and music technology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
(UAB) and director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble. He is currently (2005 to present) Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
(AJHoF). As part of his duties at AJHoF, he directs the Alabama Jazz hall of Fame Student All-Star Band. He has also served as a faculty member of the W. C. Handy Jazz Camp
W. C. Handy Jazz Camp
The W. C. Handy Jazz Camp is sponsored jointly by the W. C. Handy Music Festival and the University of North Alabama , and is held annually in Florence, Alabama. Every year, the camp features an accomplished faculty, all members of the W. C...
, and is a regular featured performer at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
W. C. Handy Music Festival
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C...
and a member of the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars
W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars
The W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars is a group of jazz musicians who play annually at the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama. During the last week of July each year, these musicians travel from all over the United States to gather in Florence and perform in various combinations...
. In addition, Reach directs the Fun With Jazz Educational Program
Fun With Jazz Educational Program
The "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program is a program of jazz educational concerts and demonstrations developed by Ray Reach and sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.-History:...
, which was originated through the Alys Stephens Center
Alys Stephens Center
The Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is the center for entertainment and arts education in...
for the Performing Arts, and is now offered through the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
.
Ray has been involved with synthesizers (and later) computer-produced music since 1969, when he purchased his first Mini Moog. With the advent of MIDI, he worked in research and development for Systems Design Associates, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, makers of MIDI music software. Later, he co-founded the American MIDI Users Group (AMUG), which was based at the Dallas Infomart
Infomart
The Infomart is one of the largest buildings in Dallas, Texas . It was the world’s first and only information processing marketing center.- History :...
.
Notable students
As a jazz educator, Ray has taught a number of notable musicians, including:- Kelley O'Neal (saxophonist)
- Beth Gottlieb (percussionist and wife of drummer Danny GottliebDanny GottliebDanny Gottlieb is a freelance drummer who has performed as part of the Pat Metheny Group and Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is also a member of the University of North Florida jazz faculty, where he teaches as a fulltime Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies.- Biography :Danny graduated from the...
) - Ned Holder (trombonist)
- Mark Lanter (drummer)
- Jay Frederick (drummer)
- Peter Wolf (producer)Peter Wolf (producer)Peter F. Wolf is a composer, producer, songwriter and arranger. He was awarded the highest honor for artists from his birth country of Austria, the Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst .- Early years :Wolf studied classical piano at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music...
- Chris Gordon (trumpeter / educator)
- Greg Chambers (saxophonist)
- Dave Miller(saxophonist)
- Bethany Borg, violinist and vocalist with on-the-rise group Act Of Congress
- Carla Stovall, trombonist, euphonium player, currently completing her doctorate in trombone performance at the University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. - Chuck Tilley (drummer), a member of the band SixwireSixwireSixwire is an American country music group from Nashville, Tennessee. The group is composed of Andy Childs , Robb Houston , John Howard , Steve Mandile , and Chuck Tilley . The band's name references the six strings on a guitar. Sixwire recorded one album for Warner Bros...
, who won 2nd place on Fox's American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
spin-off, The Next Great American BandThe Next Great American BandThe Next Great American Band is a reality television talent show. The show premiered on October 19, 2007 and aired on FOX at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times Friday nights...
Recent alumni of Ray's UAB Jazz Ensemble include noted Birmingham Gospel pianist Arthur Beard
Arthur Beard
Arthur Beard was an English footballer who played as a winger. He played in the Football League Second Division for Burnley in 1904. His single competitive appearance for the club came on 10 September 1904, when he played right wing in the 0–4 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.-References:...
, pianist / keyboardist Coleman Woodson and drummer Tim George of Just A Few Cats, the band which gave American Idol Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard , best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol...
his entry into the Birmingham music scene. While Mr. Reach was director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble, Studdard often sat in on his rehearsals.
Performing, conducting, composing and arranging
Ray is a pianist, singer, guitarist, arranger and composer. His skills span numerous musical and stylistic genre, including classical, jazz, R & B, contemporary pop, gospel and country.Jazz and Pop
Ray is a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the Magic City Jazz OrchestraMagic City Jazz Orchestra
The Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
(of which he is the founding director), the Ray Reach Orchestra, the Night Flight Big Band and Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra...
and the Alabama Allstars. He leads his own group, Ray Reach and Friends, and is a former member of the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly UAB SuperJazz), which was the first performing musical ensemble connected with the UAB Department of Music. Ray has performed with and arranged for numerous notable jazz and pop musicians and ensembles, including Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
, Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Jack Sheldon
Jack Sheldon
Jack Sheldon is an American bebop and West Coast jazz trumpeter, singer, and actor. He is a trumpet player and was a comedian on The Merv Griffin Show, as well as the voice heard on several episodes of the educational music television series Schoolhouse Rock.-Biography:Sheldon was born in...
, Mike Williams
Mike Williams (trumpeter)
Mike Williams is an American jazz and big band trumpeter residing in Lapeer, Michigan. He is most noted as the lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra, an esteemed chair which he has held without interruption for more than 21 years...
(lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
), Leonard Candelaria
Leonard Candelaria
Leonard Candelaria is an American trumpeter and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama. Until Fall 2009, he served as Professor of Trumpet and Artist in Residence at the University of Alabama at Birmingham...
(noted classical trumpeter and educator), singer Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, singer Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
, Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
, Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra...
, Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
, Chuck Redd
Chuck Redd
Chuck Redd is an American drummer and vibraphonist. Chuck joined the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980 at the age of 21. The same year, he joined the Great Guitars Chuck has done twelve European tours and five tours of Japan, with the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski, Terry Gibbs and Conte...
, Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe is an American jazz guitarist.Lowe was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 21 March 1922. In the 1930s he played country music and Dixieland jazz. He later played with big bands and orchestras, and on television in New York City. In the 1960s, Lowe composed music for films and television...
, Lloyd Wells
Lloyd Wells
Lloyd Wells is an American jazz guitarist, now residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his work on The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, The Ed Sullivan Show, and later as arranger and Music Director at Opryland USA theme...
, Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin (jazz drummer)
F. Bill Goodwin is an American jazz drummer. Bill has been a professional drummer since 1959, and has performed with many jazz instrumentalists such as: Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Jim Hall, George Shearing and Bobby Hutcherson, and singers such as June Christy, Joe Williams, Tony...
, Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff is a jazz trumpeter, composer and actor. He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He is likely best known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968 to 1973...
, Birch Johnson
Birch Johnson
Birch "Crimson Slide" Johnson is an American trombonist. He is a first call studio trombonist, Emmy nominated composer, producer and songwriter based in New York City. For 10 years, Birch was a member of the "Blues Brothers Band" and appeared, as an actor, in the movie "Blues Brothers 2000". He...
, Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
, Jack Petersen, Galen Jeter's Dallas Jazz Orchestra
Dallas Jazz Orchestra
The Dallas Jazz Orchestra is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as...
(later known as Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra) (DOJO), The Auburn Knights Orchestra
The Auburn Knights Orchestra
The Auburn Knights Orchestra is a jazz and swing big band based out of Auburn, Alabama, home to Auburn University, and is thought to be one of the oldest big band organizations in the world. Formed in 1930 at what was then known as API , the band organized to play for dances and other musical...
, Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
Orchestra, the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
Orchestra, Ladies' Night Out, vocalist Kathy Kosins, vocalist Annie Sellick, vocalist Bethany Smith Staelens, the Temptations Review, featuring Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
and Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
with the Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
Orchestra. During his seven years as director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble (1998–2005), Ray wrote a large percentage of the music that the band played, including 147 big band arrangements and numerous others for vocal groups and jazz combos. His catalogue of arrangements and compositions numbers over a thousand pieces, including arrangements for solo jazz piano, jazz duo, jazz trio, jazz quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octette, nonette and big band, as well as string quartet, choral ensembles and piano plus string quartet.
Festival Appearances
Ray has appeared regularly at numerous music festivals, including the W. C. Handy Music FestivalW. C. Handy Music Festival
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C...
, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Mobile Jazz Festival, the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
The Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival is a one day jazz festival which has been presented annually since 2003 in Birmingham's Historic 4th Avenue District downtown. In past years, it was sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Urban Impact. Beginning in 2011, the festival was presented by...
, Birmingham's City Stages
City Stages
City Stages was a three-day, family-friendly, arts and music festival in downtown Birmingham, Alabama that took place in and around Linn Park from 1989 to 2009. City Stages featured 150 to 200 acts from hip hop to country on 9 to 11 stages. Many of the world's renowned performers and musicians...
festival, and the Denton Jazz Festival, to name a few.
Vocal and choral music
Ray has been a singer all his life, and has been an active choral conductor for more than 35 years. His first public performance was at age four, singing a spiritual song at his home church, Minor United Methodist, near Birmingham. His love for choral music began at Dixie Junior High School, where he sang in the choir under Tom Pinion, and later at Minor High School, under John Fowler. He began formal voice lessons at age 15 with Andrew Gainey at Birmingham-Southern CollegeBirmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
and later entered Birmingham-Southern as a voice major, planning to pursue a career as a professional singer. To this day, Ray refers to his singing, among the many musical skills he possesses, as the "...best thing he does musically..."
During his college undergraduate years, Ray began his choral directing career at Village Falls United Methodist Church. Following this, he was a paid singer at Fairview United Methodist Church, then later was choir director at Norwood United Methodist Church. Subsequently, he sang at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham (under Sam Owens and later under Hugh Thomas
Hugh Thomas (choral conductor)
Joseph Hugh Thomas was an American choral conductor, pianist and educator, perhaps best remembered for his role as conductor of the renowned Concert Choir of Birmingham-Southern College , a highly respected liberal arts college located in Birmingham, Alabama. He served for many years as chairman...
) and was baritone soloist and choir singer at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham under noted choirmaster and organist Joseph Schreiber. He also sang in performances with Birmingham Civic Opera, and, while at Birmingham-Southern, sang lead roles in operas such as The Telephone, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer. It was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, in New York City at NBC studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, where it was broadcast...
, The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
, The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro
Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa composed in 1786 in four acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by...
and others. Ray has held numerous positions as Music Minister and singer at churches in Birmingam and Dallas, Texas, including Community Church (Dallas) (7 years), First Presbyterian Church of Dallas (3 years), Independent Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Alabama, First Presbyterian Church of Bessemer, Alabama (2.5 years) and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Pelham, Alabama (7 years). He has written numerous choral arrangements and compositions and has produced two CD recordings for internationally known choral composer and conductor K. Lee Scott
K. Lee Scott
K. Lee Scott is an internationally known teacher, musician, conductor and composer of sacred music, choral music and hymns, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.-Biography:...
.
During his seven years at St. Francis Epicopal Church, Ray blended styles of music to create a very unique worship music experience. He employed great traditional hymns, classical music, praise and worship choruses, contemporary Christian songs, and sacred music by jazz composers such as Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
. Special liturgical music presentations often featured renowned jazz artists, such as Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
, Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff is a jazz trumpeter, composer and actor. He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He is likely best known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968 to 1973...
and Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra...
.
Ray has taught choral music in schools in Dallas, Texas and in the Birmingham, Alabama area. In the Birmingham area, he was choral director at Minor High School (1991–1993) and at Montevallo and Calera High Schools (1993–1994). His high school choral groups won "superior" ratings (the highest award) at every county and state choral competition in which they participated.
In 2000, Ray participated in the premier performance of a new jazz mass called "Requiem for the Millennium," by composer Gary Hallquist. The piece was commissioned by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, located in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first institution created as a direct act of the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions...
, and was given its debut performance on Good Friday at St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Saint Louis Cathedral , also known as the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans; it has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States...
in New Orleans. The piece was performed by a 200 voice choir, accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The music director is Carlos Miguel Prieto....
, and featured the Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
Jazz Quartet, with Marini on woodwinds, Robert Dickson
Robert Dickson (bassist)
Robert Dickson is an American jazz bassist residing in Atlanta, Georgia. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Robert lived and worked in Birmingham, Alabama for more than 15 years. He holds the Bachelor of Music from the University of Alabama and the Master of Music from the University of New...
on bass, Steve Sample, Jr
Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and...
on drums and Ray Reach on piano.
Ray has written arrangements for numerous choral ensembles, including the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the choirs of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the jazz vocal group Ladies' Night Out and the Hilltop Singers of Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
. In the gospel and contemporary Christian music world, Ray has written arrangements for artists such as Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
, Anetta Nunn and the group Joylight, the resident ensemble at Community Church in Dallas, Texas. Reach contributed arrangements to Butler's 2007 CD and DVD, which was titled "Gospel Goes Classical," and rose to number 2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Gospel charts, and number 3 on the Classical Crossover charts nationally. The recording, produced by Henry Panion, featured Butler, along with Juanita Bynum
Juanita Bynum
Juanita Bynum is an American Pentecostal televangelist, author, actress and gospel singer.-Early life:Juanita Bynum is one of 5 children, from the marriage of Elder Thomas Bynum Sr. and Katherine Bynum. She grew up in Chicago, and received a starring role in Perry Middle School's annual play, My...
, a 100+ voice gospel choir and full symphony orchestra, recorded at the Alys Stephens Center
Alys Stephens Center
The Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is the center for entertainment and arts education in...
.
Orchestral
Ray has done arrangements and transcriptions for many classical artists and orchestras. Orchestras and other classical ensembles he has written for include the Birmingham Metropolitan Orchestra (which featured members of the Alabama SymphonyAlabama Symphony Orchestra
- 1921-1955: Beginnings :The Alabama Symphony Orchestra can trace its beginnings to 1921, when on Friday, April 29, fifty-two volunteer musicians joined to perform at the Birmingham Music Festival at the Old Jefferson Theater...
), the Gospel Goes Classical Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony and the Huntsville (Alabama) Symphony
Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra located in Huntsville, Alabama. The current conductor and music director is Gregory Vajda. Vajda has been the conductor since the 2011-2012 season.-See also:*Alabama Symphony Orchestra...
. Other ensembles and artists who have commissioned his arrangements include the Texas Saxophone Quartet, the Texas Baroque Ensemble, the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
Orchestra, and trumpeter Leonard Candelaria
Leonard Candelaria
Leonard Candelaria is an American trumpeter and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama. Until Fall 2009, he served as Professor of Trumpet and Artist in Residence at the University of Alabama at Birmingham...
.
Musical theatre
For several consecutive years, Ray was commissioned to write arrangements for the annual Induction Gala of the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of FameAlabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame
The Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame was founded in 1998 for the purpose of honoring Alabamians who have made significant contributions to film, television or theatre...
. In this period of time, this hall of fame has inducted such luminaries as Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
, Harper Lee
Harper Lee
Nelle Harper Lee is an American author known for her 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the author as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama...
, Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin was an American musical theater and film composer, arranger, vocal coach, and playwright. He is best known for his score for the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me In St...
, Dean Jones
Dean Jones (actor)
Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...
, George Lindsey
George Lindsey
George Lindsey is an American character actor, best known for his role as "Goober Pyle" on The Andy Griffith Show, as well as for his tenure on Hee-Haw.-Early life and career :...
, Fannie Flagg
Fannie Flagg
Patricia Neal , known professionally as Fannie Flagg, is an American actress, comedienne and author. She is perhaps best-known for the 1988 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which was adapted into the 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes; Flagg was nominated for an Academy Award for...
, Talullah Bankhead and others. He has also arranged and music directed productions for Theatre Tuscaloosa, including And The World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round
And the World Goes 'Round is a musical revue showcasing the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The revue takes its title from a tune the songwriting team wrote for Liza Minnelli to sing in the film New York, New York-Productions:...
and 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
. As a conductor, Ray has been musical director for numerous Broadway-style shows. For example, at Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
he was musical director for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
(by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
), Into The Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
(by Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
) and the Southeastern premier of Children of Eden
Children of Eden
Children of Eden is a two-act musical play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. The musical is based on the Book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the Flood...
(by Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
).
As a composer, Ray has written and arranged five Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children's Theatre. These are listed as follows:
- Rumplestiltskin
- The Perfect Prince,
- The Bravo Bus
- Backstage Baby
- Tuxedo Junction
In addition, Reach has written an opera titled The Wooden Donkey, and numerous choral compositions.
Commercial jingle production
While living in Dallas, Texas (1983–1991), Ray also wrote and produced commercial jingles and film and video scores, for clients such as United AirlinesUnited Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, various radio stations and many others.
Influences
His compositions are greatly influenced by J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, Frederick Chopin, Aaron CoplandAaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Billy Strayhorn
Billy Strayhorn
William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn was an American composer, pianist and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington lasting nearly three decades. His compositions include "Chelsea Bridge", "Take the "A" Train" and "Lush Life".-Early...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
and Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
. His jazz piano and vocal stylings draw from diverse influences, including: pianists Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
and Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, and vocalists Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
, Jon Hendricks
Jon Hendricks
Jon Hendricks is an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is considered one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists...
, Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and Johnny Hartman
Johnny Hartman
John Maurice Hartman was an American bass jazz singer who specialized in ballads and earned critical acclaim, though he was never widely known. He recorded a well-known collaboration with the saxophonist John Coltrane in 1963 called John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, and was briefly a member of...
. As to his arranging role models, Ray names Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin
Hugh Martin was an American musical theater and film composer, arranger, vocal coach, and playwright. He is best known for his score for the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me In St...
(from Birmingham, Alabama, an alumnus of Ray's alma mater Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
), Johnny Mandel
Johnny Mandel
Johnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn.-Life:...
, Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
, Gordon Jenkins
Gordon Jenkins
Gordon Hill Jenkins was an American arranger, composer and pianist who was an influential figure in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s, renowned for his lush string arrangements...
, Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, Sammy Nestico
Sammy Nestico
Samuel "Sammy" Louis Nestico is a prolific and well known composer and arranger of big band music...
, Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
, Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr
Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and...
, Thad Jones
Thad Jones
Thaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen...
and Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
, among many others. Over the last few years, Ray became friends with the late Ernie Stires
Vermont Youth Orchestra with Trey Anastasio & Ernie Stires
Vermont Youth Orchestra with Trey Anastasio and Ernie Stires is a live concert video featuring a performance by the Vermont Youth Orchestra led by conductor Troy Peters along with Phish leader Trey Anastasio and his mentor Ernie Stires. Anastasio studied composition and arranging under Stires...
, pianist, composer and mentor to Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
of the rock group Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
. Together, they have planned recordings of Ernie's music, which as of yet have not come to fruition.
Music production
Ray is president of the Birmingham, Alabama based music production company, Magic CIty Music Productions. He learned music production skills by working with and observing the great producers he worked for over the years in various studios around the Southeast, including (in Birmingham) Sound of Birmingham, Boutwell Studios, Bates Brothers Recording, Audiostate 55 Recording Studio, Prestige Productions and PolyMusic Recording; in the Muscle Shoals, Alabama area: Quinvy Studios, FAME StudiosFAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
; and in the Dallas, Texas area: Sound Logic Recording, Goodnight Audio, Sound Southwest, Crystal Clear Sound, T M Communications, Toby Arnold and Associates, Zimmersmith Productions, Dallas Sound Lab and others. His association with highly skilled producers and engineers in recording studios in Birmingham, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville and other cities, such as Ed Boutwell, Gaston Nichols, Noah White, Kenny Wallis, Eric Bates, Mark Harrelson, Chet Bennett, Phil York, Danny Brown, Blake English, James Bevelle, John Conner, Jr., Dan Rudin and Barry Beckett (of the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers, are a group of American soul, R&B, and country studio musicians based in the town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama...
) and others proved invaluable. His studio experience, along with his knowledge of synthesizers and MIDI technology prepared him well for the classes in music technology which he taught in various venues. His particular combination of musical and technological skills are considered by many of his peers to be rare. One of Ray's primary role models in his production career is noted musician Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
.
Recent and Upcoming Performances
In January 2008, Ray performed as guest artist with the Howard Paul Trio at the famed Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.On March 20, 2008, at the behest of Chuck Leishman, publisher of The Birmingham Weekly, Ray directed the house band at the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards. The house band, known collectively as The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars is a working jazz ensemble, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians Alabama has to offer...
, accompanied noted BAMA Award recipients Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
and Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf (producer)
Peter F. Wolf is a composer, producer, songwriter and arranger. He was awarded the highest honor for artists from his birth country of Austria, the Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst .- Early years :Wolf studied classical piano at Vienna’s Conservatory of Music...
.
From July 20 through July 26, 2008, Ray performed at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
W. C. Handy Music Festival
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C...
, alongside noted jazz players such as guitarist Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe is an American jazz guitarist.Lowe was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 21 March 1922. In the 1930s he played country music and Dixieland jazz. He later played with big bands and orchestras, and on television in New York City. In the 1960s, Lowe composed music for films and television...
, drummer Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin (jazz drummer)
F. Bill Goodwin is an American jazz drummer. Bill has been a professional drummer since 1959, and has performed with many jazz instrumentalists such as: Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Jim Hall, George Shearing and Bobby Hutcherson, and singers such as June Christy, Joe Williams, Tony...
, trumpeter Ken Watters
Ken Watters
Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
, guitarist Lloyd Wells
Lloyd Wells
Lloyd Wells is an American jazz guitarist, now residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his work on The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, The Ed Sullivan Show, and later as arranger and Music Director at Opryland USA theme...
and saxophonists Kelley O'Neal and Rick Bell. This was Ray's sixth year to perform at this annual festival, which this year hosted almost 300 events in a 7 day period.
On August 21, 2008, Ray was featured on the "Tapestry" radio show, hosted by Greg Bass on WBHM
WBHM
WBHM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format during the daytime and mostly classical music overnight. Licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, USA, the station serves the Birmingham area and through repeater WSGN also serves the Gadsden area. The station is licensed to the...
Radio 90.3 FM in Birmingham, Alabama. The show airs every Thursday at 6:30pm Central Time.
On September 27, 2008, The Ray Reach Quartet, featuring saxophonist Gary Wheat, drummer Steve Ramos, Count Basie bassist Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra...
, with guest, New York trumpeter Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff
Lew Soloff is a jazz trumpeter, composer and actor. He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He is likely best known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968 to 1973...
, appeared at the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
The Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival is a one day jazz festival which has been presented annually since 2003 in Birmingham's Historic 4th Avenue District downtown. In past years, it was sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Urban Impact. Beginning in 2011, the festival was presented by...
in Birmingham, Alabama.
On October 3 and 4, 2008, The Ray Reach Trio appeared before very appreciative crowds at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
On March 28, 2009, in his role as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
, was one of the hosts of the Hall of Fame's 7th Annual Student Jazz Band Festival. This year's guest clinician / performers included pianist Bill Carrothers and saxophonist Eric Marienthal
Eric Marienthal
Eric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres....
.
From July 19 through July 25, 2009, Ray appeared at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
W. C. Handy Music Festival
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C...
in Florence, Alabama, sharing the stage with Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin was for many years the announcer and regular character of the Burns and Allen radio program, and subsequently The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show on television from 1950-51...
, Rick Bell, Sonny Harris, Ken Watters
Ken Watters
Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
, Jim Ferguson, Robert Dickson
Robert Dickson (bassist)
Robert Dickson is an American jazz bassist residing in Atlanta, Georgia. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Robert lived and worked in Birmingham, Alabama for more than 15 years. He holds the Bachelor of Music from the University of Alabama and the Master of Music from the University of New...
, Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe is an American jazz guitarist.Lowe was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 21 March 1922. In the 1930s he played country music and Dixieland jazz. He later played with big bands and orchestras, and on television in New York City. In the 1960s, Lowe composed music for films and television...
and others.
March 25–27, 2010, in his role as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
, was one of the hosts of the Hall of Fame's 8th Annual Student Jazz Band Festival. This year's guest clinician was drummer T. S. Monk
T. S. Monk
T. S. Monk is an American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader. He is the son of fellow jazz musician, Thelonious Monk.-Biography:...
.
From July 25 through July 31, 2010, Ray appeared at the W. C. Handy Music Festival
W. C. Handy Music Festival
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C...
in Florence, Alabama, sharing the stage with Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin was for many years the announcer and regular character of the Burns and Allen radio program, and subsequently The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show on television from 1950-51...
, Gary Wheat, Sonny Harris, Ken Watters
Ken Watters
Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
, Jim Ferguson, Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe
Mundell Lowe is an American jazz guitarist.Lowe was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 21 March 1922. In the 1930s he played country music and Dixieland jazz. He later played with big bands and orchestras, and on television in New York City. In the 1960s, Lowe composed music for films and television...
and others.
Partial discography
As pianist / keyboardist, arranger, vocalist and producer:- Ellis MarsalisEllis Marsalis, Jr.Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
and the SuperJazz Big Band. "UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis MarsalisUAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis MarsalisUAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis is a CD, recorded in 2001 by the SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama with guest piano soloist Ellis Marsalis...
" (2001) (co-produced with Henry PanionHenry PanionHenry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively...
), recorded at the Alys Stephens CenterAlys Stephens CenterThe Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is the center for entertainment and arts education in...
. - Ray Reach and Friends. "Especially For You" (1994). Jazz quartet
- Ray Reach and Friends. "Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas" (2005). Jazz quartet, recorded at CBS Recording Studio
- Janet Rubino. "Worthy Sparrow." (2005) A colloection of Christian songs and service music by singer / songwriter Janet Rubino
- Joylight. "Let There Be Love" (1990) Inspirational music. Produced by Ray Reach and Michael Loveless
- Bo Rivers. "Country Blue" (1986) Country music. Produced by Ray Reach.
- Bo Rivers. "She Just Keeps On Lovin' You" (1986) Country music. Produced by Ray Reach.
- Bo Rivers. "Broken Promises" (1986) Country music. Produced by Ray Reach.
As producer:
- K. Lee ScottK. Lee ScottK. Lee Scott is an internationally known teacher, musician, conductor and composer of sacred music, choral music and hymns, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.-Biography:...
. "Christmastide" (2003). Choral music by one of America's premier choral conductor/composers. - K. Lee Scott. "Requiem" (2006). Choral music.
- Uncle Bud's Lectro Wood Experience. Comedic Bluegrass. Production assistance and musician contracting by Ray Reach. Recorded at Bates Brothers Recording and at the studio of John Conner, Jr. in Brentwood, TennesseeBrentwood, Tennessee-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,445 people, 7,693 households, and 6,808 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,889 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.63% European American, 1.89% African American,...
. Glen Duncan on fiddle.
As arranger:
- Jonathan ButlerJonathan ButlerJonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.-Biography:...
and Juanita BynumJuanita BynumJuanita Bynum is an American Pentecostal televangelist, author, actress and gospel singer.-Early life:Juanita Bynum is one of 5 children, from the marriage of Elder Thomas Bynum Sr. and Katherine Bynum. She grew up in Chicago, and received a starring role in Perry Middle School's annual play, My...
with the Gospel Goes Classical Orchestra. "Gospel Goes Classical" (2006). Recorded live at the Alys Stephens CenterAlys Stephens CenterThe Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is the center for entertainment and arts education in...
. Produced by Henry PanionHenry PanionHenry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively...
. #2 Gospel Album in the US. #3 in the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Classical Crossover category. Orchestral arrangements by Ray Reach. - Anetta Nunn (Birmighham Police Chief) "Gospel In Blues" (2007). Produced by Henry PanionHenry PanionHenry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively...
. Horn arrangements by Ray Reach. - Alabama Blues Machine. "Must Be Love". (2008) Produced by Ross Roberts. Horn arrangements by Ray Reach.
As keyboardist and arranger:
- Dick's Hat Band. "Got The Whole Town Talkin'" (1995) Produced by Ross Roberts. Classic R & B. Chuck Tilley, Drums. Horn arrangements by Ray Reach. Hammond B-3 played by Ray Reach.
As Keyboardist:
- Little Jimmy Reed. "School's Out" Produced by Ross Roberts. Blues. Hammond B-3 played by Ray Reach.
- Mark Sallings. (1995) "Let It Be Known - Mark Sallings and the Famous Unknowns" Virtuoso blues harmonica player Mark Sallings. B-3 played by Ray Reach.
- Mark Sallings. (1996) "Talkin' To Myself" Virtuoso blues harmonica player Mark Sallings. B-3 played by Ray Reach. The Famous Unknowns were the house band at B. B. KingB. B. KingRiley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
's in Memphis from 1991 to 1994. - Gary Hallquist, composer. "Requiem for the Millineum" Commissioned by the New Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryNew Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryThe New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, located in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first institution created as a direct act of the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions...
.
As producer, arranger and keyboardist:
- Lou MariniLou MariniLou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
and the Magic City Jazz OrchestraMagic City Jazz OrchestraThe Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
. "Lou's BluesLou's BluesLou's Blues is an album by saxophonist Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra recorded at Bates Brothers Recording in Hueytown, Alabama . This CD was the first recording as a leader by Marini...
" (2001) Liner notes by Bob BeldenBob BeldenJames Robert Belden is an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader and producer. He is noted for his Grammy Award winning jazz orchestral recording titled The Black Dahlia. He is also a past head of A & R for Blue Note Records.Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in...
. - Eric Essix and the Night Flight Big Band. "SuperBlue." (2006). Jazz guitarist Eric Essix, featuring guest saxophonist Lou MariniLou MariniLou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
. - Amy Drinkwater. "With All My Heart - A Journey to the Soul." (2005), Christian jazz vocals, recorded at Bates Brothers Recording Studio
- Mark Dunn. "For The Good Times" (2008). Classic pop, featuring saxophonist Mark Dunn
- Roszetta Johnson. "Christmas Songs With A Touch Of Jazz" (2008). All Arrangements by Ray Reach, with vocals by Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Inductee, Roszetta Johnson.
As producer, arranger, keyboardist, vocalist and guitarist:
- James Clark "Count On Me" (1997). Original songs by singer / songwriter James Clark, recorded at Bates Brothers Recording Studio. Features Don JonesDon JonesDon Jones is an American artist and art therapist, fourth American Art Therapy Association President, Honorary Life Member of AATA, and one of five founders of the American Art Therapy Association.-Life and Work:...
(bass), Steve Sample, Jr (drums), Ray Reach (keyboards, guitar and arrangements), Ross Roberts (guitar), Wayne PerkinsWayne PerkinsWayne Perkins is a rock and R & B guitarist, singer, songwriter and session musician. He was the oldest of six children, a brother and four sisters. Both of his parents sang and played guitar...
(guitar) and the Tuscaloosa Horns - Dr. Dan "Harpdog" Marson. "Blues, Gospel and Jazz Harmonica." (1999) Produced by Ray Reach.
- Chuck "Doc" Snow. "Pray For Me." (2006) Produced and arranged by Ray Reach. Features Ray Reach on vocals, guitar and keyboards and Wayne PerkinsWayne PerkinsWayne Perkins is a rock and R & B guitarist, singer, songwriter and session musician. He was the oldest of six children, a brother and four sisters. Both of his parents sang and played guitar...
on guitars and vocals.
As producer, composer, arranger and conductor:
- UAB Jazz Ensemble "UAB Jazz Ensemble, Volume 1," (2005) A collection of jazz orchestra arrangements, including the classic "Cotton TailCotton Tail"Cotton Tail" is a 1940 composition by Duke Ellington. It is based on the rhythm changes from George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm". The first Ellington recording is notable for the driving tenor saxophone solo by Ben Webster. Originally an instrumental, "Cotton Tail" later had lyrics written for it by...
" by Duke Ellington and original compositions and arrangements by Eric Essix and Ray Reach. Featuring guest artists Ken WattersKen WattersKen Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
and Eric Essix
As keyboardist, arranger and vocalist:
- Dave LogginsDave LogginsDavid Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
, Ray Reach and Various Artists. "The New Course Record" (1995) A collection of songs about the game of golf. Produced by Don Hays and Mike Chapman on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. - Dave LogginsDave LogginsDavid Allen "Dave" Loggins is a singer, songwriter and musician. He is widely remembered for his 1974 composition "Please Come to Boston", which was a top-10 hit in the U.S. for him, and was subsequently covered by numerous other artists. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame...
, Milt JacksonMilt JacksonMilton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
, Ray Reach and Various Artists. "Golf's Greatest Hits" (1996) Another collection of songs about the game of golf.
As producer, composer, arranger, keyboardist and vocalist:
- Ray Reach and Various Artists: "Mr President," (Dallas, Texas production - 1989) A song written and produced for the purpose of benefitting the homeless in the Dallas area. Artists and studios who donated their time and efforts to make this record include: Star SearchStar SearchStar Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
winner Benita Arteberry, the Dallas Symphony ChorusDallas Symphony ChorusThe Dallas Symphony Chorus , founded in 1977 at the request of then Maestro Eduardo Mata, is the official vocal ensemble of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra...
under the direction of Ron Shirey, Sumet-Burnet Recording, Sound Logic Recording and choral students from the Richardson Texas School District (under the direction of Glenda Casey). Song composed by Michael Loveless, Joe Sterling and Ray Reach. - Ray Reach and Various Artists: "Mr President," (Birmingham, Alabama production - 1993) A new production of the song, done by Alabama talent, benefitting the homeless in the Birmingham area. Artists and studios who donated their time and efforts to make this record include: choral students from Jefferson County schools, Chuck LeavellChuck LeavellChuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
(Keyboards), Charlie HaywardCharlie HaywardCharles F. "Charlie" Hayward is a bass guitarist from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, now residing near Nashville, Tennessee. For over 30 years, Charlie has been a member of the Charlie Daniels Band....
(Bass), Chuck Tilley (Drums), Kelley O'Neal (Sax), Wayne PerkinsWayne PerkinsWayne Perkins is a rock and R & B guitarist, singer, songwriter and session musician. He was the oldest of six children, a brother and four sisters. Both of his parents sang and played guitar...
(Guitar), Front Row Productions and Airwave Production Group The promotion of the song was done as a project of the marketing classes of Minor High School and by Rob and Shannon of Magic 96 FM in Birmingham.
"Mr. President" on HBO
Following the 1989 Dallas production of the "Mr. President" (See listing above), the song was featured on HBO's Comic Relief special. On this show, the song was performed by singers Natalie ColeNatalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
and Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, along with New York City public school choral students and a band led by saxophonist Tom Scott
Tom Scott (musician)
Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
. The show was hosted by Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
, Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
and Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
.
CDs Produced by Ray Reach
Jazz:- "Especially For You" by Ray Reach and Friends at CDBaby.com
- "Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas" by Ray Reach and Friends at CDBaby.com
- "Lou's Blues" by Lou MariniLou MariniLou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
and the Magic City Jazz OrchestraMagic City Jazz OrchestraThe Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
at Amazon.com - "Superblue" by Eric Essix and the Night Flight Big Band at CDBaby.com
- "UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis" (Co-produced by Henry PanionHenry PanionHenry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively...
) at Amazon.com - "Christmas Songs With A Touch Of Jazz" by Roszetta Johnson at CDBaby.com
Pop / R & B:
- "Count On Me" by singer / songwriter James Clark at CDBaby.com
- "For The Good Times" by Mark Dunn at CDBaby.com
Contemporary Christian:
- "With All My Heart...a journey to the soul" by Amy Drinkwater at CDBaby.com
- "Pray For Me" by "Doc" Snow at CDBaby.com
- "Glory Town" by singer / songwriter James Clark at CDBaby.com
Classical Sacred:
- "Christmastide" by noted choral composer and arranger K. Lee ScottK. Lee ScottK. Lee Scott is an internationally known teacher, musician, conductor and composer of sacred music, choral music and hymns, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.-Biography:...
- "Requiem" by K. Lee ScottK. Lee ScottK. Lee Scott is an internationally known teacher, musician, conductor and composer of sacred music, choral music and hymns, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.-Biography:...
External links
- Ray Reach - Official Website
- Ray Reach at AllAboutJazz.com
- Magic City Jazz Orchestra at All About Jazz
- Article about "Harpdog Marson" CD, produced by Ray Reach, at uab.edu
- Ray Reach teaches the "A B C's of Jazz" at the 2007 W. C. Handy Music Festival
- Pictures of Ray Reach, with Neal StarkeyNeal StarkeyNeal Starkey is an American jazz bassist residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He has had a long and varied career, performing with many of the most notable names in jazz, including Kenny Barron, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Duke Pearson, Al Cohn, Charlie Rouse, Barney Kessel and many others. He is a...
(bass), Bill GoodwinBill Goodwin (jazz drummer)F. Bill Goodwin is an American jazz drummer. Bill has been a professional drummer since 1959, and has performed with many jazz instrumentalists such as: Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Jim Hall, George Shearing and Bobby Hutcherson, and singers such as June Christy, Joe Williams, Tony...
(drums) and Rick Bell (sax) at the 2007 W. C. Handy Music FestivalW. C. Handy Music FestivalThe W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C... - Ray Reach at Benedetto Guitars, January, 2008 (Scroll down.)
- Ray Reach on WBHM's "Tapestry" webpage
- Ray Reach profile on The Jazz Corner website
- Video: "Cheek To Cheek" by Ray Reach and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
- Video: "Yardbird Suite" (Excerpt) by Ray Reach and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
- Article about jazz education at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in January, 2010 edition of B-Metro Magazine
- Video: Ray Reach sings "This Is All I Ask" at the 2010 W. C. Handy Festival
- Video: Tom Wolfe and Ray Reach play "In A Sentimental Mood" at the 2010 W. C. Handy Festival
- Video: Bill Goodwin and Ray Reach perform Jobim's "How Insensitive" at the 2010 W. C. Handy Festival
- Video: Ike Harris and Ray Reach play "Secret Love" at the 2010 W. C. Handy Music Festival