https://donraysongsandpoems.wordpress.com/

I’ve always had my finger in music, whether singing in the small Alliance church with my parents as a child, to opening for a regional CD release party.  It all began with music lessons at age 4 to finding any music class I could growing up. I’ve been able to both learn and perform in a variety of different levels.  Playing music and sharing my energy with an audience is what I do best.  

After taking several years off from writing and performing I came back to musing during the pandemic as a way to cope with isolation.  My music is heavily influenced by 60’s and 70’s rock mixed with folk, blues, and bluegrass all mix together to create the new Midwestern Style.  I started performing again at Hot Air Brewery in Creston, Iowa.  Since moving to Redding, California I have started to build a following in Northern California.  Come see Gimley “Live and Highly FUNKTIONAL” or check out my latest demos on YouTube or Sound Cloud.   https://linktr.ee/gimleyscreations

A Murder of Crows is a solo heavy metal project from iowa

Interpreter of the American Songbook and composer of song cycles.

I grew up in Creston, kind of a loner and dreaming of making it onto a big stage as a singer.  I never imagined I’d become a singer, songwriter, recording artist and a performer.  I never imagined I’d learn to play guitar, bass, drums, piano, and a wealth of other instruments.  But as I’ve always said, “What ever it takes.”

Some of my family thought that just because I wrote a song about heartbreak, that’s what I must be going through at the time.  Ah wrong-O-bong-O!  I write about what ever inspires me at the time.  If I see two people obviously having issues, I’ll write about how I perceive the problem to be.  It might be from his perspective or it might be from hers, but pay attention cause there will probably be a spin or twist in it somewhere.

I remember being very young standing next to my Moms stereo trying to sing along with the songs that came out of it.  I didn’t know the words but I loved how they painted a picture with their sound.  I wanted to sound just like them.  Sadly it took me years to finally hear my own voice in each song and not another persons.  I don’t expect many people to understand that statement, but it’s my hope that far more than I think will.  At any rate, I have always loved to sing and tell a story with a song.

From Southwest Iowa I've been playing music for around five years now recording my own music and playing local shows.

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