Rayjay Music
Hit Composer, Arranger, Producer, Grammy Nominee, ASCAP Member reaching the Top 10, Co-founder Devonshire Sound Recording Studio.
My new single "Our Day Will Come" is now available everywhere! Please share this video, and I hope you enjoy!
https://youtu.be/1-kvh7C95iU?si=TZut5Uhqewhdq9KP
What is "Danny Boy" about?
12/02/2024
All Star Production Team PARAMOUNT RECORDING STUDIOS with Reggie Dozier, Sierra Sparrow and Rayjay to mix up a batch of music!
29/01/2024
Auld Lang Syne currently in release.
Now that "Auld Lang Syne" is out on the streets I look forward to my next release in time for St. Patrick's Day, "Danny Boy - Londonderry Air - Trad." !
07/03/2021
Taking this self-quarantining opportunity to play more and work on strings for some of the tunes on my album in production. Production schedule has been slowed down a lot by the precautions we all have to take but persevere we must and thank god for the availability of music, our precious gift.
28/02/2020
Currently in production on an album. Will keep you posted.
I/m on hiatus for a minute while I get and engine tuneup (bodily engine) but hope to back on my regular schedule soon.
Big thank you to Jeff Hamilton (Clayton/Hamilton band) for the good words at my piano gig Monday! And Sue Raney at another venue a while back. Love ya'll !!!
23/09/2018
Stay tuned for a new release on Tramp Records (Germany) in the fall!
23/10/2015
"Every October the UCLA Faculty Women's Club commemorates Daniel Pearl World Music Days, joining the global network of concerts designed to use the power of music to promote tolerance and humanity. Founded in 2002 to honor Daniel Pearl, The Wall Street Journal reporter kidnapped and murdered by extremists in Karachi, Pakistan, the network now includes more than 11,000 performances in 129 countries.
Ray Dewey is our special performer for this 13th annual observance of Daniel Pearl World Music Days. Mr Dewey is a Grammy-nominated writer, composer, and producer whose long list of credits includes years with The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
Resume
Ray-Jay Music
3641 Crownridge Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818.501.4870
Ray Dewey
* HIT COMPOSER
* HIT PRODUCER
* HIT ARRANGER
* GRAMMY NOMINEE
* ASCAP MEMBER REACHING THE TOP 10
CO-FOUNDER: DEVONSHIRE RECORDING STUDIO
COMPOSER DISCOGRAPHY/NETWORK TV
And I Think About It All The Time - Ernie Watts (GRP Records)
Angels Are Listenin’ – Billboard Hot R&B Singles Sales – Top 10 #4
Banana Daiquiri, Funky, Funky Peacock, Git Down, Gritty, Jive Reggae, Midnight Express, Poppin’, Samba Tu, Sir Doc, Sky High, You Dig -
Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson -
Several hundred NBC-TV Network air plays.
Come Cross Town; Ladyfingers; Sometimes; Angels Are Listenin’; Stop Overlooking Me; Long Time No See; Someone New; Love On the Rocks; Endless; Fallin’; Sexy Stranger
Like Fine Wine album featuring Keni St Lewis (Speak EZ/KES)
Down And Out - The Lovemakers (Island Records)
Face The Music - Robert Winters (Buddah Records)
Girls - The Four Freshmen (Liberty Records)
Give It Up - Walter Jackson (20th Century-Fox Records)
Gotta Have the Money - from Warner Bros. "Breakin II" soundtrack (Polygram Records)
I Love You Mom - The Boys (Motown concert tour); Robert Winters (Buddah Records)
AT&T Mothers Day Musical Greeting
Let's Sail Away - Ernie Watts (Elektra/Asylum Records)
Last Time I’m Saying Goodbye – The Embers (Bluewater Records)
Love For My Love On Christmas Eve - The Whispers (EMI-Capitol Records)
Magic Man - Robert Winters & Fall (Buddah Records); Walter Jackson (20th Century-Fox)
The Fifth Dimension (Motown); Brenda Holiday from United Artists film
"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" soundtrack (Arista); Smooth Grooves Vol. 8 (Rhino) Slow Grind Vol. 1 (Priority Records); WDAS Classic Soul Hits;
Time-Life Collection; BMG Collectables Series; Heartland Music; Warner Bros. Special
Projects – Original LP re-released in CD Format by BMG
- Top Ten R&B - Top 3 R&B in Air plays
Over 1,000,000 units sold and still going, millions of airplays
Make Sweet Love To Me - The Whispers (EMI-Capitol); Best of the Whispers (EMI-Capitol);
Anthology—The Whispers (EMI-Capitol); The O’Jays Vs. The Whispers (EMI-Capitol)
Several re-releases in compilation albums.
Makin' Music - Ernie Watts (Elektra/Asylum)
Show Must Go On – The Embers (Bluewater Records)
Tighten Up - Ernie Watts (Elektra/Asylum)
Touched By You - Robert Winters (Buddah Records)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Ed McMahon, 100 Voice Choir & NBC Orchestra
(LaserLight); NBC Christmas Special and album "Christmas With Friends" (Laserlight)
- Grammy Nomination-Final Five
Whisperin' - The Whispers (EMI-Capitol)
DISCOGRAPHY/NETWORK TV (ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR/KEYBOARDS/PRODUCER)
Anita O'Day (Anita O'Day)
Annette Thomas (Stax)
Aretha Franklin Hits (Alshire)
AT&T Mother's Day Musical Greeting
Bobby Smith (Pl***oy Recs) (Autumn Recs)
Candy Apple (Alshire)
Circle of Five (Alshire)
Danny Cox (Casablanca)
Jackson Sisters (Polydor)
Jewel (Paula)
Jimmy Ruffin (Polydor)
Karen Pree (MCA)
Lovemakers (Island)
Prime Cut (Shady Brook)
Pure Sin & Pleasure (United Artists)
Robert Winters & Fall (Buddah)
Singing Parkers (Key)
Steve C**t Paradox (Amos)
Switch II (Motown)
To Sir With Love II (NBC Movie of the Week)
RECORD ARTIST CREDITS:
Anita O'Day
Bill Champlin
Brenda Holliday
Buster Williams
Clay McMurray
Danny Cox
Ernie Watts
Herbie Hancock
Jimmy Ruffin
Joao Palma
Johnny Bristol
Karen Pree
Keni St Lewis
NBC Tonight Show Band
Phil Perry
Robert Winters
The Boys
The Embers
The Fifth Dimension
The Four Freshmen
The Temptations
The Whispers
Walter Jackson
C0-WRITERS (AND SOME OF THEIR MAIN HITS):
Bruce Fisher ("You Are So Beautiful", "Nothin' From Nothin'")
Clay McMurray ("If I Were Your Woman")
Ernie Watts
Jimmy George ("I'll Always Love You", "Just To See Her")
Johnny Bristol
Keni St Lewis ("Boogie Fever", "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel", etc.)
Pam Sawyer ("Love Child", etc.)
Paul Williams ("Just An Old Fashioned Love Song", “Love Boat Theme”)
MEDIA PERFORMANCES: SCORING, CONDUCTING, ARRANGING or ON CAMERA
A Young Lady Sings – Alice Lon the “Champagne Lady”-- Los Angeles Radio
Breakin' II - Feature film
Do Not Disturb - 20th Century Fox Feature film
Dream Is Alive:20th Anniversary - Walt Disney Pictures
Elizabeth Post - TV Pilot
Ellery Queen - NBC-TV Network
Frasier - NBC-TV Network
Gilmore Girls-WB Network
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka - Feature film
Live! At the Apollo - ABC-TV Network
Matinee Theater - NBC-TV Network
Mobsters - Universal Studios Feature film
Music by The Signaleers - Armed Forces Radio Service
Piano Portraits - Greater Cleveland Radio (age 16)
Signal Corps Hour - Augusta, GA Television
Soul Train - Syndicated
The Governor & JJ - CBS-TV Network
The Magic Hour (Magic Johnson Show) - FOX-TV Network
The Marrying Man - Walt Disney Pictures Feature film
The Rat Pack - HBO
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - NBC-TV Network
3rd Army Special Services Touring Unit
To Sir With Love II - CBS Movie of the Week
West Wing - NBC-TV Network
Will and Grace – NBC-TV Network
PLAYED WITH (OR FOR)
Abe Most
Al Hibbler
Al McKibbon
Alex. Brown
Ali Woodson
Alice Lon ("The
Attilla Sautov
Champagne Lady")
Anita O'Day
Beverly Aadland
Buddy Clark
Buddy Collette
Clarence McDonald
Clark Keen Orchestras
Colin Bailey
Curtiss Counce
David T
Edward Louis Smith
Ernie Watts
Gabe Baltazar
Gene Page
Herb Jeffries
Horace Heidt, Jr.
James Gadsen
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Wyble
Joe Diamond Orchestras
Keith Williams
Ken Berry
Lenny Bruce
Leroy Vinnegar
Lex Golden Orchestras
Louis Bellson Band
Marty Paich
Med Flory
Nathan East
Nino Tempo
Phil Perry
Phineas Newborn, Jr.
Ralna Hendrix
Ray Charles
Red Callendar
Red Mitchell
Redd Foxx
Robert Winters
Roberta Linn
Skeets Hurfurt
Smoky Rogers
Stuff Smith
Victor Feldman
Wah Wah Watson (Melvin Regan)
Warne Marsh
Wayne Henderson
Wilton Felder
"MAGIC MAN"
(Ray Dewey and Jimmy George, writer-producers, Ray Dewey, arranger)
Top Five Single with a Featured Vocalist, Number 3 R&B Single on air play:
"Magic Man...like Al Green's `Let's Stay Together' reaffirms the claims of R&B purists who say "real" soul music is what black crossover is all about." (Black Radio Exclusive)
"Seldom does a record absolutely stop this reporter... `Magic Man' did just that--it is pure music. This is one of those disks that comes along all too seldom, reaches down and tugs at the gut...the lyrics and music (are) outstanding." (Billboard)
"An outstanding love ballad... made especially for the ladies. It's crisp, clear, smooth and mellow; most important of all it has something to say." (Black Radio Exclusive)
"In the best tradition of soul balladeering, Winters'vocals are a blend of strength and suppleness on this exceptional single. More than equal to the latest R&B/pop hits by The Manhattans and Ray, Goodman & Brown." (Cashbox)
"Magic Man is a strong, stately R&B ballad that has become one of 1981's biggest surprises. Magic Man the album...is one of the finest traditional R&B albums released in some time." (Record World)
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON – NBC TV - BAND
Doc Severinson (Leader/trumpet)
Trumpets: Jimmy Zito, Johnny Audino, Conte Candoli, Snooky Young, Maurie Harris, Chuck Finley
Trombones: Gil Falco, Bruce Paulsen, Ernie Tack, Randy Aldcroft
Saxes: Ernie Watts, Tommy Newsome, John Bambridge, Pete Christlieb, Tom Peterson, Don Ashworth
Drums: Ed Shaughnessy, Louie Bellson
Piano: Ross Tompkins
Bass: John B Williams, Joel Di Bartolo
Guitar: Bob Bain, Peter Woodford
Librarian: Shelly Cohen, Don Sweeny
Contractor: Al Lapin
Featured Composer/Arrangers included: Mike Barone, Tommy Newsome, John Bambridge ,
Lenny Stack and Ray Dewey
Producer: Fred de Cordova followed by Peter Lasally, Doc’s Assistant: Shelly Cohen
3RD ARMY SPECIAL SERVICES
Pianists (in sequence): Duke Pierson, Wynton Kelly, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Ray Dewey
Trumpet: Edward Louis Smith
Bass: Jamahl Nassar (George Joyner)
Entertainers: Ken Berry, Jan Paderewski, Flying Zachini Bros., Circus act
Support staff: Leonard Nimoy
MOTOWN GANG (ARRANGER/CONDUCTOR/KEYBOARDS/COMPOSER)
Clay McMurray Producer Alex. Brown Voc Bgs
Norman Whitfield Producer Vanetta Townsell “
H B Barnham Producer Oma Drake “
Ray Dewey Arranger Waters Sisters “
Ben Barrett Contractor Terry Young “
Art Stewart Mixer Valerie Fiddmont “
Reggie Dozier Mixer Mona Lisa Young “
Sid Sharp Concert Master
Kenny “Spider” Rice Drs
James Gadsen Drs
Earl Palmer Drs
Eddie Bongo Perc
Paulinho Da Costa Perc
Bobbye Hall Perc
Clarence McDonald Kbds
Greg Philinganes Kbds
Joe Sample Kbds
Ray Dewey Kbds
Nathan East Bass
James Jamerson Bass
Carol Kaye Bass
Paul Jackson Gtr
WahWah Watson Gtr (Melvin Regan)
David Tee Gtr
And dozens of string players, horn blowers, background singers, 2nd Mixers, etc., etc., etc.
LENNY BRUCE SHOW
Star: Lenny Bruce
Tenor: Nino Tempo
Piano: Ray Dewey
Bass: Curtiss Counce
Drums: George Redman
ANITA O’DAY SHOW
Star: Anita O’Day
Piano: Ray Dewey
Bass: Wolfgang Melz
Drums: John Poole
BEST CASUAL ! ! !
Victor Feldman Vibes/Leader
Colin Bailey Drums
Red Mitchell Bass
Ray Dewey Piano
Alto: Gabe Baltazar – Lead alto with Stan Kenton, worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Oliver Nelson, James Moody, etc.
Piano: Ray Dewey
Bass: Porkie Britto
Drums: Chiz Harris
If It Swings, It’s Music Autobiography of Hawaii’s Gabe Baltazar Pub: Univ of Hawaii Press 2012:
‘Gabriel Baltazar is his name, and people who know their way around the music world recognize him as the man who sits the lead alto chair in Stan Kenton’s Band. Working with him on the gig at Mama Lions are Chiz Harris on drums and Porkie Britto on bass, both formerly with Les Brown, and Ray Dewey on piano.
…at the Mama Lion…I talked the owner into having jazz on Monday nights, (Wednesdays added later) and we had a sweet little quartet, Porkie Britto on bass, Chiz Harris on drums. We called him the Old Man of the Road, Ray Dewey on piano. . .he was a hell of a piano player, played his buns off.”
* With apologies to the many other talented people I have had the pleasure of bumping into during my musical journey but neglected to include on this list.
Nietzsche: Without music, the universe would be madness.
It is the best of all trades to make songs, and the second best to sing them. Anon
Special Memories ~
While there are so many great memories and wonderful experiences that I couldn’t begin to list them all, starting with my first paid job working with my dad’s band at the North Olmsted Ohio Park Pavilion and my first radio shows, “Piano Portraits” at station WEOL when I was 16 , a few stand out and I’m recording them here.
During a recording session at Warner Bros. I had written a Violin solo as part of the sweetening session and, after recording it, Concertmaster on the date, Sid Sharp came over to me and said: “You don’t realize how good this is.”
While studying with famous Orchestrator, Albert Harris, I had written an orchestral cue as an assignment. The scene was a stable of horses in which a fire broke out, about a two or three minute cue. When Albert looked at it he told me: “You don’t realize how good this is.”
After one of my first originals for Doc Severinson and the NBC Tonight Show Band (Johnny Carson Show) the guys in the band shouted out my name as a cheer on air and Tony Randall, Johnny’s guest, was prompted to expound on how television audio needed to be upgraded so the viewing public could appreciate how this music sounded. The band applauded his and Johnny’s comments.
Reggie Dozier, who has mixed probably half of the great R&B hit records in the last several decades told me recently that he learned about the importance of melody in writing from three people: Marvin (Gaye), his brother Lamont (of Holland Dozier Holland, the most successful R&B writers along with Gamble & Huff in the last 40 or 50 years~the Holland Dozier Holland team has sold more records than the Beatles!) and myself.
Not that I’ll ever forget these things, but now they’re written down and can’t be forgotten!
Videos (show all)
