Brian Ray
Ray performing with Paul McCartney in 2012
Background information
Born	Brian Thomas Ray (1955-01-04)January 4, 1955 (age 70)[1]
Origin	California, U.S.
Genres	Rock,pop
Occupation	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, bass, vocals
Years active	1972–present
Website	brianray.com

Brian Thomas Ray is an American musician best known as a guitarist, bassist and backing vocalist withPaul McCartney'stouring band since 2002, and formerly as a musical director and guitarist forEtta James. Ray has performed with numerous other artists and leads his own band,The Bayonets.

Brian Ray grew up inSouthern California.^[2] His first musical performances were in front of his peers – at show and tell – setting his own lyrics to the tune of old folk songs.^[3]

By the age of nine, he began playing theguitar. His elder sister, Jean (of folk duoJim and Jean) spurred his interest inrock music through her record collection. Jean invited Brian to play at the LA Troubadour when he was 15 years old. She was "probably the most important and influential person"^[4] in Ray's early life.

In 1973, shortly after graduating from high school, Ray began his musical career as part ofBobby Pickett and the Crypt Kicker Five, playing "Monster Mash" at a fundraising benefit hosted by and forPhil Kaufman. Kaufman took Ray in and would later introduce him to singerEtta James at a rehearsal for the world-famousTroubadour,^[5] just as James was on the brink of a career comeback. That brief introduction would eventually lead to Ray's 14-year career as Etta James'musical director andguitarist.^[2]

While working for Etta James, Ray also shared stages with musicians such asKeith Richards,Santana,Joe Cocker,Bonnie Raitt,John Lee Hooker, andBo Diddley. At this time he also began focusing more on songwriting. Ray spent the late 1980s collaborating with musicians such asPeter Frampton,Rita Coolidge,Nicolette Larson,Michael Steele (ofThe Bangles), and Steve LeGassick, who became a songwriting partner for 13 years. It was this songwriting partnership with LeGassick that would create the 1987Smokey Robinson award-winning hit "One Heartbeat",^[6] which has received over 2,000,000 airplays.^[7]

Prior to working withPaul McCartney in 2002, Ray was working on tour in France with two different French artists,Mylène Farmer andJohnny Hallyday.Abe Laboriel Jr., a drummer who had previously worked with Brian Ray, mentioned that Paul McCartney was in search of a guitarist who could switch betweenguitar andbass guitar (for songs on which McCartney plays piano or guitar). After meeting with McCartney's producer forDriving Rain,David Kahne, Ray joined Paul McCartney for the pre-game performance of"Freedom" at theNFL'sSuper Bowl XXXVI in 2002.^[8]

Ray joined the rest of Paul McCartney's band for theDriving Rain tour in promotion of the album. As of then, he has appeared on McCartney's solo albums, such asBack in the World,Back in the U.S.,Memory Almost Full,New andEgypt Station^[1] as well as three concert DVDs:Paul McCartney in Red Square,The Space Within US, andGood Evening New York City.^[9]

In addition to being a session musician, Brian Ray has also contributed to film scores such as the soundtrack to the filmHeartbreakers in 1984. In 2002, Ray andAbe Laboriel Jr. composed the score for the independent filmThe Failures.^[10] In 2011, Ray joined with Oliver Leiber to formThe Bayonets.

After decades of performing, writing, and recording with musical artists, Brian Ray released his first solo album,Mondo Magneto, on October 16, 2006, through his record labelWhooray Records.

"People have always asked me when I was going to do my own thing", Ray said, "I guess I was just busy."^[2]

Musicians onMondo Magneto includeScott Shriner fromWeezer,Davey Faragher fromElvis Costello's band, as well asAbe Laboriel, Jr.,Wix Wickens, andRusty Anderson fromPaul McCartney's band.

When Ray asked the blues singer and his former bossEtta James if she would sing with him on the album her answer was simple, and immediate – "I'll do anything for Brian."^[11]

Mondo Magneto's record release party was held at The Mint in Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 2006. Ray's live band,Black Unicorn, includes musicians Peter Thorn on guitar, John Button on bass, and Matt Laug on drums. The band performs their music in Los Angeles clubs, such asThe Viper Room and The Mint.

In 2008, Larry Graves and Brian Ray made a video for Ray's song "Coming Up Roses".^[12]

In 2010, Ray released a second album, entitledThis Way Up.^[13]

• The Bayonets

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBrian Ray.

• Official website
• Whooray Records official website
• Maccareport – Brian RayArchived February 13, 2006, at theWayback Machine
• Brian Ray atIMDb
• Brian Ray interview –How To Make Your Band Sound Great book

• American rock guitarists
• American male guitarists
• American session musicians
• American rock songwriters
• American rock singers
• Singer-songwriters from California
• 1955 births
• Living people
• Guitarists from California
• American lead guitarists
• American rhythm guitarists
• American rock bass guitarists
• American male bass guitarists
• 20th-century American guitarists
• 20th-century American male musicians
• American male singer-songwriters
• Paul McCartney Band members

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