a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ray began studying the saxophone at age eight. His diverse education included instruction at Berklee School of Music in Boston, West Virginia University and with renowned jazz pianist, Barry Harris. After college, Ray lived and performed in the Washington, D.C. area where he worked with many members of the elite jazz ensembles, the Navy Commodores and the Airmen of Note. He moved to Florida in 1987 and still resides in Daytona Beach.

    In addition to teaching woodwinds for over 20 years, Ray has performed and recorded with many of today's top artists in the musical venues of jazz, classical, reggae and blues. Some highlights include performances with Les Brown and The Band Of Renown, grammy award winner Phil Driscoll, Tower of Power trumpet player Mike Cichowicz, rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Newhart and a television appearance on the show Jazz Here And Now, which ran in conjunction with the acclaimed Ken Burns Jazz documentary on WCEU channel 15 for PBS. He has also produced a CD Macroism of original compositions featuring saxophone, flute and wind synthesizer.