Ray has always been impressed by musicians that “do it all.” Prince, Ben Harper, Lenny Kravitz, Beck, Thom Yorke, and Trent Neznor have always been on endless repeat with him. While Ray once tried to emulate this process of being a solo musician with his first CD, entitled Chautauqua, he soon realized that this was a lonely path. Sitting alone, looping drums and layering instruments served a purpose for a short time. After high school, his band Riot of Joy focused on live acoustic shows around the Detroit area. The band regularly played in Hamtramck coffee houses like Planet Ant (famous for showcasing Jack White in his early years), and the Shadow-Box Cafe before eventually booking shows with an updated band Quarterlife at The Magic Bag, Bullfrogs, The Shelter, The I-Rock Nightclub, Paychecks Lounge, and Token Lounge. No venue was off limits, and he even played shows at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University. It was at this point that the band Quarterlife, morphed into an alternative rock band and would record their studio album entitled “What’s your Poison.” Keeping five musicians in their early 20s together would soon prove difficult, especially after careers got in the way. New musicians would eventually cross paths in new towns, forming The Split-level Band. After ten years of songwriting, the publication of his first post-modern thriller entitled Split-level, and a move to a new town enabled Ray to form a band of merry musicians. Little did he know that he would soon be composing songs that accompanied his fictional works. Ray is inspired by classic musicians (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Ben Harper, and The Black Crowes), but has deep respect for Hip-hop, Alternative Rock, and Jam Bands.

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