Ray White
Encyclopedia
Ray White is a soul vocalist
and rock and blues guitar
ist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa
's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar
and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis
on later tours in 1980 and 1984. White's vocals can be heard on Zappa in New York
(March 1978), You Are What You Is
(Sept 1981) as well as others. One of his most well known albums with Frank zappa, consists of the double album/rock opera: Joes garage
[acts 1,2 and 3]; in which Ray White takes the part of Joe. Although well known for his harmonies with Ike Willis, Willis is not in this particular album. White can also be found on a The Torture Never Stops
and Does Humor Belong in Music?
; the former a DVD set in one of zappa's last tours [without Ike Willis], and the latter being a VHS filmed at the pier in New York, this video shows the band when Ike Willis was part of the ensemble, and therefore some vocal harmonies can be found on the VHS.
White has also worked with jam-oriented groups like KVHW
, Don't Push the Clown and Umphrey's McGee
since his contributions to the Zappa band, and has more recently worked with a variety of Michigan artists, including former Rare Earth
drummer Bob Weaver
, as well as members of the funk/fusion combo Generic Produce.
In summer 2007 Ray White joined Dweezil Zappa
as a special guest for the Zappa Plays Zappa
Tour.
Ray White appears on Ed Englerth's song "I Forgot Who I Am" for Ed's new CD Restless Ghost on BlueSideDownStudios Recordings in 2008.
Ray quit Zappa Plays Zappa via email
according to a Dweezil Zappa blog
post on 4/1/09.
Beginning December 27, 2009, Ray joined Project/Object on tour of the northeast and north central US, along with Ike Willis, Andre Cholmondeley, keyboardist Eric Svalgaard, bassist David Johnsen, and drummer Jim Ruffi.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and rock and blues guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis
Ike Willis
Ike Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa's band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 for personal reasons, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two...
on later tours in 1980 and 1984. White's vocals can be heard on Zappa in New York
Zappa in New York
Zappa in New York is a live double album by Frank Zappa. It was recorded at a series of concerts at New York City's Palladium in December 1976. It was released by Zappa's DiscReet Records label in 1977, then quickly withdrawn. A second version was re-released in 1978 with changes ordered by...
(March 1978), You Are What You Is
You Are What You Is
You Are What You Is is a double album by Frank Zappa. It was originally released as a two-record set in 1981 and later by Rykodisc as a 20-song CD. The album relies on a heavy use of overdubbing. This album was the first one to feature material recorded using Zappa's home studio Utility Muffin...
(Sept 1981) as well as others. One of his most well known albums with Frank zappa, consists of the double album/rock opera: Joes garage
Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage is a 1979 rock opera by Frank Zappa. Zappa stated that along with Lumpy Gravy, this album was one of his finest achievements. It was originally released as two separate albums, the first comprising Act I, and the second part as a double-album which made up Acts II & III. All three...
[acts 1,2 and 3]; in which Ray White takes the part of Joe. Although well known for his harmonies with Ike Willis, Willis is not in this particular album. White can also be found on a The Torture Never Stops
The Torture Never Stops
The Torture Never Stops is a live DVD by Frank Zappa, posthumously released in 2008.It's made up of footage from one of Zappa's annual Halloween concerts at The Palladium in New York City, on October 31, 1981...
and Does Humor Belong in Music?
Does Humor Belong in Music? (video)
Does Humor Belong in Music? is a one-hour Frank Zappa concert video composed of live performances at The Pier in New York City along with a few interview segments. It was released on VHS by MPI Home Video in 1985 and reissued on DVD in 2003 by EMI...
; the former a DVD set in one of zappa's last tours [without Ike Willis], and the latter being a VHS filmed at the pier in New York, this video shows the band when Ike Willis was part of the ensemble, and therefore some vocal harmonies can be found on the VHS.
White has also worked with jam-oriented groups like KVHW
KVHW
KVHW was an American rock band that was active and toured nationally from January 1998 through December 1999. The band's name came from the last names of its four members: Steve Kimock , Bobby Vega , Alan Hertz , and Ray White...
, Don't Push the Clown and Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
since his contributions to the Zappa band, and has more recently worked with a variety of Michigan artists, including former Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
drummer Bob Weaver
Bob Weaver
Bob Weaver was one of the USA's first TV weathermen.-Biography:Weaver was born in New York City. He moved to Florida to attend the University of Miami...
, as well as members of the funk/fusion combo Generic Produce.
In summer 2007 Ray White joined Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger...
as a special guest for the Zappa Plays Zappa
Zappa Plays Zappa
Zappa Plays Zappa is an American tribute act led by Dweezil Zappa, the eldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted to performing the music of Frank Zappa.- History :...
Tour.
Ray White appears on Ed Englerth's song "I Forgot Who I Am" for Ed's new CD Restless Ghost on BlueSideDownStudios Recordings in 2008.
Ray quit Zappa Plays Zappa via email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
according to a Dweezil Zappa blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
post on 4/1/09.
Beginning December 27, 2009, Ray joined Project/Object on tour of the northeast and north central US, along with Ike Willis, Andre Cholmondeley, keyboardist Eric Svalgaard, bassist David Johnsen, and drummer Jim Ruffi.