Career
He has played extensively with and the successor Arkestra under Marshall Allen"s direction following "s passing. Foreign a period from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s he led his own band, Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe. His playing with and independently has incorporated, Jazz, R & B, electronica and fusion genres.
He was originally from Trenton, New Jersey and was born December 24, 1962.
His professional start was performing with R & B acts such as Patti LaBelle, The Delfonics and The Stylistics. Ray joined "s band in 1978.
He appears on albums on Saturn Records and on CDs released by Evidence, Enja, HatHut, Rounder Records, Black Saint/Soul Note, Horo Records, Agricultural and Mechanical Records, Philly Jazz and Education Support Professionals-Disk labels. Ray also mixed Mayan Temples, "s last studio session (Black Saint/Italy-1992).
In 1989 he moved to New Orleans and established several music projects, particularly the Cosmic Krewe.
He has released records in the 1990s and 2000s under his leadership. Michael Ray continues to perform with the Arkestra and has appeared with rock-phenom PHISH, live and on two Elektra recordings (Phish, A Live One and Trey Anastasio"s Surrender to the Air). He recently worked on a Public Broadcasting Service soundtrack for producer Delfeayo Marsalis and appears on recordings of Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and avant rockers Iris May Tango.
He has made special appearances with many popular groups including Aquarium Rescue Unit, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Widespread Panic, Porno for Pyros, Colonel
Bruce Hampton and Deep Banana Blackout.