Kelby Ray
Musician
Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Kelby Ray started playing guitar in 1994. He took a few lessons in the early years but was mostly self taught by reading instruction books and learning tablature. He played lead guitar with local artists & bands in the late 90’s and early 00’s while recording on various local studio sessions. Ray attended and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2003 with a degree in Music Business and Marketing.
In 2005, Ray started a band called Bang Bang Bang with some high school friends, played rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals. He moved from rhythm guitar to bass in 2006 when we signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records. They changed their name to American Bang, heavily toured the US, released a couple of albums (one produced by legendary producer Bob Rock), and got dropped from the label in 2010.
Subject ID: 31411
MoreBorn and raised in Nashville, TN, Kelby Ray started playing guitar in 1994. He took a few lessons in the early years but was mostly self taught by reading instruction books and learning tablature. He played lead guitar with local artists & bands in the late 90’s and early 00’s while recording on various local studio sessions. Ray attended and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2003 with a degree in Music Business and Marketing.
In 2005, Ray started a band called Bang Bang Bang with some high school friends, played rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals. He moved from rhythm guitar to bass in 2006 when we signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records. They changed their name to American Bang, heavily toured the US, released a couple of albums (one produced by legendary producer Bob Rock), and got dropped from the label in 2010.
In 2011, they regrouped as The Cadillac Black and Ray moved from bass to lap steel, with an emphasis on playing rhythm and bass lines. In 2013, they changed their name to The Cadillac Three, signed a record deal with Big Machine Label Group, have released a few albums, and continue to tour throughout the US, UK, and Europe.
In 2019, Kelby Ray began volunteer teaching acoustic and electric guitar at W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville, TN, and continues to play various instruments on recording sessions at home and on the road.
Some of his biggest influences as a guitarist are Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Douglas, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mike Campbell, Dave Gilmour, and Kirk Hammett.
Some of his biggest influences as a musician are the melodic stylings of Tool, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Janet Jackson, Nine Inch Nails, Hank Williams Jr., and Mariah Carey.
Some of his favorite new artists include LUME, Billie Eilish, Juke Ross, Quaker City Night Hawks, Balmorhea, Bones Owens, Brothers Osborne, William Tyler, grandson, Pvris, and VÉRITÉ.
Kelby Ray plays Orange Amplifiers and used Dunlop picks and strings.
Subject ID: 31411
Subject ID: 31411
