Brian Ray, a top contemporary guitarist and a member of Paul McCartney’s band, celebrates’the release’of his new solo CD ‘This Way Up’ tomorrow night, October 8, at 8 p.m. at the Roxy Theater in West Hollywood. This is the follow-up to Ray’s ‘Mondo Magneto’ (2006), also on his label, Whooray Records. ’It’s going to be an exciting night with special guests, give-a-ways, a raffle, merchandise, and live video feed,’ says Ray, who spent his childhood in Pacific Palisades, graduating from PaliHi in 1973. All proceeds from ticket sales and raffles benefit MusiCares. Tickets are available at the box office (310) 278-9457. Ray, 55, moved to the Palisades with his family in 1966, but his musical future was already set. ‘When I was 3, my sister [who was 15 years older] Jean, would play 45s of various artists such as Elvis, Little Richard and the Everly Brothers,’ Ray says. ‘I remember wanting to be Elvis because of the reaction he got from other people.’ Ray says that Jean, who was half of the ’60’s duo Jim & Jean, ‘was probably the most important and influential person in my life.’ Ray began playing guitar at 9 and by 13 he was writing music. At 15, Jean invited him to play at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Later, in the ’70s, he played with his sister Catherine’s (PaliHi ’70) band called The Group With No Name. Gene Simmons (bassist for Kiss) produced the demos that would get the band signed with Casablanca. Ray’s association with the Troubadour turned out to be a lucky one, leading him in a new direction. It began in the most unlikely way. As one-fifth of Bobby Pickett and the Crypt Kicker Five, Ray found himself playing the ‘Monster Mash’ at a fundraising benefit hosted by Phil Kaufman (road manager for Gram Parsons), who took Brian in and would soon introduce him to Etta James at a rehearsal at the Troubadour. Etta was on the brink of a comeback, ‘so full of fire and intensity,’ Ray says. That brief introduction would, only months later, lead to a 14-year career as Etta’s musical director and guitarist. Throughout the 1980s, Ray concentrated on his writing and collaborated with musicians such as Peter Frampton and Rita Coolidge, as well as his songwriting partner for 13 years, Steve LeGassick. His collaboration with LeGassick catapulted his songwriting to the world stage in 1987 with the Smokey Robinson award-winning hit, ‘One Heartbeat.’ LeGassick and Ray co-wrote a song which they intended to submit to Robinson. Even after being told, ‘thanks, but no thanks,’ they decided to send it anyhow. That song ‘One Heartbeat’ became the title track on Robinson’s next album. It is now nearing three million airplays. Previous to working with McCartney, Ray had been on tour in France with artists Mylene Farmer and Johnny Hallyday. Abe Laboriel Jr., a drummer who had worked with Ray, mentioned that McCartney was looking for a guitarist who could easily switch between bass guitar and guitar. After meeting with McCartney’s producer for ‘Driving Rain,’ Ray joined McCartney for the halftime concert at the NFL’s Super Bowl in 2002. Ray flew down to New Orleans to play one song, ‘Freedom,’ with Paul’s band. At the end of the concert, Brian thanked Paul and the band for the opportunity, thinking that was it. However, later that evening, Paul gave Brian a hug, and welcomed him to the band, telling him to ‘Stick with Abe [Laboriel, drums] and Rusty [Anderson, lead guitar] and they’ll show you the ropes.’ With that, Brian was in. He has been a member of Paul McCartney’s band’ever since. As Ray continues to travel with McCartney, he manages to squeeze in other projects. One of his guitar instrumentals, a tribute to Les Paul at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami, has been nominated for consideration for the Grammy’s in the ‘best rock instrumental’ category. ’I feel blessed to live and work, truly following my passion,’ says Ray, who lives in Santa Monica.
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