Richard Delvone Ray
Encyclopedia
Richard Delvone Ray is an American musician. He was born on February 19, 1974 in a poor family in Los Angeles
. At the age of 17, he dropped out of high school for drugs and a rock band. By the time he was 20, he had three records released with SST Records
. He is the lead singer of the band Confront James
, with former Black Flag
and Gone
guitarist Greg Ginn
. Confront James
has released 5 CDs on SST Records. Richard's solo project is a "one man performance art show" in which he presents his poetry and musical abilities in an avant guard style. Mixing influences of Frank Sinatra
, Sly Stone
, Fishbone
, acid jazz, techno, Cuban and world music, along with turn tables, effects and loops, he works in his unique poetry style to create something totally new and different. "The future from now" as he calls it. When performing live, the stage is set up as a living room with his music coming from old stereos and radios and visuals presented on computers and televisions, as he switches from keyboards, upright bass, percussions and woodwinds while reciting his poetry or singing his songs.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. At the age of 17, he dropped out of high school for drugs and a rock band. By the time he was 20, he had three records released with SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
. He is the lead singer of the band Confront James
Confront James
Confront James is a Los Angeles musical group. Its leader is Greg Ginn, who plays guitar and bass on all records. It also includes Richard Ray on vocals, and Andy Batwinas on Percussion. All Confront James records were released by SST Records...
, with former Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and Gone
Gone (band)
Gone is a three-piece punk-based instrumental rock band, formed by Greg Ginn in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, Black Flag.-Biography:...
guitarist Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
. Confront James
Confront James
Confront James is a Los Angeles musical group. Its leader is Greg Ginn, who plays guitar and bass on all records. It also includes Richard Ray on vocals, and Andy Batwinas on Percussion. All Confront James records were released by SST Records...
has released 5 CDs on SST Records. Richard's solo project is a "one man performance art show" in which he presents his poetry and musical abilities in an avant guard style. Mixing influences of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Sly Stone
Sly Stone
Sly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
, Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
, acid jazz, techno, Cuban and world music, along with turn tables, effects and loops, he works in his unique poetry style to create something totally new and different. "The future from now" as he calls it. When performing live, the stage is set up as a living room with his music coming from old stereos and radios and visuals presented on computers and televisions, as he switches from keyboards, upright bass, percussions and woodwinds while reciting his poetry or singing his songs.