Fan Photos

Barb Potter took these photos recently in Manchester and Liverpool. Thanks Barb for sharing them with the rest of us! Click on photos to view full size.

Brian Ray surprised by fans

Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray's fans not only remembered his birthday on Wednesday, but they did it in a special way.

As fan Julie Clark told us, " A group of us who call ourselves the Whooray Team teamed up recently to honor guitarist Brian Ray on his birthday by making a group-effort donation to MusiCares, an organization that Ray also supports." She said team members from four countries participated,  from the West Coast of California to coastal Virginia and many states in between.

Read more HERE

Very Happy Song, by Brian Ray

About This video
Here’s my music video for “Very Happy Song” from my second solo CD, “This Way Up”. This song was written in response to a dear friend asking for me to write a happy song.. I told her I don’t like happy art, that all good art comes from struggle, pain, alienation or heartache.

I thought about it and decided to write one anyway. In fact she inspired the tone of the whole album to be more positive in tempo and lyric and I’m grateful for that, but I couldn’t help but write a sardonic and sarcastic lyric for this one, given the times we are in today.

When the #occupy movement started out with less than 100 protesters in Zuccotti Park, it resonated for me as a musician who struggled to make a living for most of my adult life. I have been plugged in to politics since I was a kid and now realize I’m a total political geek!

On a recent trip to NYC, I grabbed a cab to see the burgeoning protest at Zuccotti for myself and sang along to my song while walking thru the occupy camp.

Brian French at Tempo Entertainment cut together the footage along with protest scenes from all over the USA.

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with success, wealth and capitalism, it is only the perversion of capitalism at the hands of our elected officials, with bank deregulation which has led to this fissure in the center of our country with huge income disparity. The less advantaged see their chances at the American dream dissolving in front of their eyes, while the rich have watched their incomes accelerate exponentially, with tax codes favoring only the richest. Our planet’s health has been imperiled by the reckless disregard for climate change, in favor of profit, with resulting extreme weather affecting us all now.

This video is a simple document of the times we live in, from my point of view..

These are the voices of the 99%.

It is not partisan, it is not an attack on our great country. It is a music video. My father fought in WWll to protect my right to say whatever I want about where I see our country today and I will never back down from my right to say what I feel.

Thanks for your support.. Stay tuned for more!
“Very Happy Song”
Written by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber
The musicians are: Davey Faragher - bass, Pete Thomas - drums, Adam MacDougal - keys, Russ Irwin and Jason Paige - backing vocals, Brian Ray - lead vocals, guitars, shaker.
Recorded and Mixed by Joe Zook

All the best,
Brian Ray

Attention radio stations, and fans of Brian Ray!

If you are a radio station (mainstream, Internet, etc) and you play Brian Ray's music, send me your radio info (URL, etc) and your station will be highlighted and linked to on this blog. Email: brianrayfans(at)gmail.com

Fans of Brian Ray, call and/or email your favorte radio stations and ask them to play Brian's music! If we want to see more of Brian, we need to get the word out about his wonderful music!

To learn more about Brian Ray, click here Whooray Records

Thanks!

Smokey Robinson has kudos for Brian Ray

Smokey Robinson was recently interviewed by Mike Ragogna for the Huffington Post. Smokey was asked about a song he co-wrote with Brian Ray:

MR: Also, didn't you co-write something with Brian Ray, Paul McCartney's guitarist?

SR: Yeah, we did a song called "One Heartbeat." Brian had "One Heartbeat" done, basically, when he brought that song to me. He's a hell of a guitarist and a great songwriter. That particular song was practically done.

Read the complete interview here Smokey Robinson on the Huffington Post

Video: This Way Up

*Be sure to leave a comment about the video, and please share the link with your friends!

Hot performance video of the title track to Brian Ray's 2010 album "This Way Up" [released Aug 2010 on Whooray Records/Sony ICON] featuring Abe Laboriel, Jr on drums doing his impression of the crazy drummer from the ZZ Top cover band video.





Song written by Brian Ray and Tonio K., produced by Brian Ray. Video directed by Brian French, concept by Brian Ray, Brian French and Linda Cevallos. Also featuring Jenn Oberle, Pete Thorn, Linda Cevallos (choreographer), Lindsley Allen and Kelleia Sheerin.

Contact Jamie Talbot at Sanctuary Mgmt at http://www.sanctuarygroup.com and Brian Ray at http://www.brianray.com

Review: Brian Ray Rocks The Roxy

On October 7th, 2010, my husband and I flew from coastal Virginia to coastal California. Los Angeles, to be exact. The occasion: To attend the October 8th album release party for Brian Ray’s second album This Way Up. Many reviews and interviews always include the intro “Guitarist/bassist for Paul McCartney.” In a way this is too bad, although the coolness of such a gig cannot be denied. But Ray is a major talent in his own right (and write). And Mr. McCartney is lucky to have him by his side.

That was evident in his energetic show, which lasted about an hour or so (far too short in the estimation of every female in attendance!). His songs are witty, clever, ironic, and sometimes sad. He had us at the opening chord and we'd have stayed all night if the show lasted that long.

Starting off with Happy Ending, which is on the new album, Ray shows that he’s not only a master with the guitar but also with writing hooky, catchy songs that will long be stuck in your brain. The voice ain’t bad, either.

“I Found You” is another song from Ray’s second album and is, again, hooky and catchy. “Hello Lonely” is one of those achingly beautiful songs that everyone can relate to, and was exquisitely done by Ray and his phenomenal band members.

A personal favorite of mine was Vinyl, from his first album Mondo Magneto. Again, a song many of us who grew up listening to our vinyl albums (the good old days) can relate to. Hearing it live, watching him and the band perform this song, was probably the highlight of the show for me.

Go see Brian Ray whenever you have the chance. You’ll hear wonderful songs from the heart and soul. You’ll hear a band that absolutely rocks. And you just may be lucky enough to meet one of the nicest rock ‘n’ rollers on the planet. Simply put, Brian Ray rocked the Roxy, and he rocked us. Let him rock you, too.

Was it worth the trip to fly all the way across the country to attend Brian Ray’s album release party? All I have to say is I’m ready for the next album and the next party…

Julie Clark

Julie Clark is a freelance writer living in coastal Virginia.