Mostly me, plus Linda Washington on harmony vocals, and whatever friends I can hijack! Frequent suspects include drummers Roger Gillespie and Jay Miner, pedal steel ace Ron Epperson and keyboard players Jeff Little and Tim Forsythe.
Live Dirt! Linda and I perform regularly as an acoustic duet act at events all around the Victor Valley. Here are two live recordings from our shows:
Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love".
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and Gram Parson's "She"
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Linda Washington and me
Influences
Gram Parsons, the Beatles, early Steve Earle (too political these days, Steve), Dwight Yoakam, Eddie Cochran (with his bright orange Gretsch!), Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, early Elvis and way too many other dead rockers.
Gram Parsons, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam
Sounds Like
Someone Beating A Mule With An Electric Guitar. . . . but I'm working on it.
NEW CD COMING SOON!"PLAIN AS DIRT" is on the way! It features the very best of the songs I wrote in 2008. If you've seen us live, you've heard them, including "99 Years Of Tears", "Loud Music, Stupid People And Beer", "This Old Guitar", plus a few of our very best cover songs. Watch for it soon!
Meantime, our last CD "Suburban Legend" is available as a internet download or as a physical CD from CD Baby. Here's the link:
It's also available on Amazon and iTunes! You can get the entire album or individual tracks by clicking the logos!
Charlie Ray is a songwriter, guitarist and singer -- raised on Rock & Roll, but knocked sideways by the music of Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam and kicked over the alt-country cliff for good by hearing Gram Parsons. If you're a big fan of Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift or Kenny Chesney, you have definitely stumbled onto the wrong page. But if you prefer your country a lot less slick, and a little less good-looking, read on.
Charlie is a long-time radio veteran, currently on-air at K-FROG Country, 95.1 in San Bernardino, California. First and foremost a songwriter, he's a storyteller who's been around long enough to know a good tale when he hears one. He currently has more than 100 songs to his credit . . . and a few that aren't a credit to anyone.
Linda Washington is a schoolteacher, a gifted singer and a willing partner in crime. She has a crystal-clear alto voice, Emmylou's gift for harmony, Patsy's way with a lyric and -- fortunately for Charlie -- Tonto's sense of loyalty.
Together they perform regularly in Southern California, especially in the High Desert area that they both call home. On any given night you can find them singing sad country songs in sweet harmony, with voices that seem to say . . . "Buy something, willya?".
My wife, Holly, is a romance writer with two novels published -- "Love On The Air", and "Meg's Confession". They're both available at Amazon.com, other on-line stores, and larger bookstores. (And they're both great!) Holly writes as Sierra Donovan -- using our kid's names as her pen name. Awww! Check out her sites: sierradonovan.com and her MySpace page
Hey I hope you had a great day! I've been real busy recording new songs since American Idol! I am so excited cuz I just found out you can buy my new song 'MY COWBOY' on iTunes! Just click on my Banner and it will take you to iTunes....and please write a review & rate my song :D (5 Stars...pleeeease) when you're there.
Thanks for all your support and help me spread the word!
Make sure you check out my Upcoming Shows on my page cuz I would love to meet you at one of them. Love ya and God Bless, The One & Only Mishavonna :D
I hope your show today rocked dude. Circumstances beyond my control prevented me from getting there. Many apologies.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing your show and playing the spot after you guys at the Ponderosa next month. I locked in with Shorty today. Here's the 411 on that for your friends and fans:
Where: The Ponderosa is a restaurant and bar in Apple Valley that features live music on a stage. It has an excellent sound system and showcases acoustic and electric music well. There are food and drink specials and an annual haunted house you'll see in October. There is no age limit at this show so bring the kids.
When: Friday, 10/16/2009 9:00 PM Cost: $8 Includes Haunted House admission Hope to see you all there. It's gonna be an awesome show.
Hey Charlie, I'm planning to be at the Hesperia Lake show. I'm real excited about it in fact. You guys always sound great live. Get back to me on the Ponderosa thing with Shorty, it looks like his profile has been deleted. Before I promote it, I want some verification. Thanks man, see ya Saturday. By the way ... did you know you are the 2nd link that pops up on Google when you type "Charlie Ray?" That's pretty amazing to me. Seems like a common name. Good job.
Yeah it was good seeing all you guys there too. had a blast being there, and just hanging out with my family and the church family. I miss home. I miss it alot. But congrats on you guys playing at the hesperia days! you guys will rock. I would love to be there and play with u guys. I want to see some pics and stuff from the show. I move into my apartment next week God willing.
It was such a pleasure sippin' coffee and devouring German Chocolate cake at your show tonight dude. The way you and Linda performed "Land of the Living" was amazing. I'm proud we wrote that together. I have it on top priority to get in a studio, either yours or elsewhere we decide, and get on the tracks like Woody Guthrie. Sarah and I had a wonderful time and we will be back again to see you play. I ramble so I'll stop now but watch for a blog post ;) OH ... one last thing ... the bridge rocks AS-IS ... a keeper.
Hi Charlie my friend..I'm glad to know there's someone other than Theresa Brewer that appreciates good T.V.! And of course i like country music..Have you ever heard of "Hillbilly Heaven"by tex Ritter?Well..the list can go on for about a mile and a half.But on a serious note..Thanks Charlie for the comment and friendship!
I wanted to say thank you for your position with KFRG to allow The Working Poets the opportunity to play the Ontario Mills Mall KFRG Summer Concert Series !! We had a great time !! Tons of people going to & fro.
Thanks for the mail. The Gram Parsons Tribute from you is great. I like it. Yes, you could make me ferry happy with a copy from the rehearsal-cd from GP. Maybe can't I make you happy with some music that you like....?
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