Houston, Texas

Ray is originally from Knoxville, TN but has lived in Houston, TX for the past 24 years.

In the early to mid-60s and while attending the University of Tennessee, Ray played with a top notch Rock & Roll Band, the Pyramids. On occasion, the band backed such noted entertainers as Ike and Tina Turner and the Drifters and was the number one band for the fraternity and sorority circuit throughout the state of Tennessee. They once passed up an opportunity to add Dolly Parton to the band as a singer. Ask him about that story!

Ray is known locally in Houston as the Dancing DJ, and is currently Dance Director for the Bay Area Whip Dance Club of Houston, TX. Vice President - National Association of Rhythm and Blues Dee Jays. Vice President – National Fast Dance Association, member of allswing and Global DJs.

Ray was a 2000 inductee into the National Boppers Hall of Fame and a 2005 inductee into the National Living Legends of Dance in Virginia Beach. Ray was Allswing DJ of the year for 2006 and inducted into the Wetzel Swing DJ Hall of Fame at this year’s 2008 Grand Nationals in Atlanta.

He has provided artistic consultation to Don Wise for his latest CD, “Swingin’ Up A Storm”; “Let’s Dance USA” volumes 1, 2, 3 & 4. Ray is currently consulting with Johnny Williams on his upcoming CD, simply titled, “Vol. 2”.

Dance events to his credit: Southwest Whip Club Novice Invitational; Dance Houston Championships; Texas State Dance Championships; Southwest Regional Dance Championships and Dallas DANCE; Back To The Beach, in Jacksonville, FL; New Orleans Swing Dance Extravaganza; Smoky Mountain Boogie in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN; Bop On The Lake in Hot Springs, AK; Atlanta Swing Classic and Tropical New Years Eve, Orlando, FL. Also, the Michigan Classic, Nashville Classic and again this year for an exciting weekend with the Tampa Bay Classic.