Hornby Island Blues Workshop

This Texas born bluesman has spent a lifetime dedicated to music. Donald Ray has toured with Blues and R & B artists Philip Walker, Big Mama Thorton, Smokey Wilson, Teddy Pendegrass and The Isley Brothers. Donald Ray took an early interest in music, singing in church and at family functions. At the age of seven, he became interested in playing the drums, beating on whatever he could get his hands on. By the age of fourteen, Donald Ray began his professional career with blues piano legend Nat Dove. Eventually Donald Ray relocated to San Diego where he met quite a few of the L.A. based blues and R&B artists including Lowell Fulsom, Bobby Womack, and Pee Wee Crayton. Soon Donald Ray was called to play weekends in L.A. with Phillip Walker and in 1971 he moved to L.A. to work with the Joe Houston Big Band backing some of the west coast's top blues artists. Donald Ray met songwriter and producer, Perry Kibble who was in the process of developing a group that became known as A Taste Of Honey . In 1979, they were the first Afro - American band to win and be presented with the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Now living in Calgary, Donald Ray has become a well liked and respected member of the Canadian blues community.