Ray's career has included collaborations with: Phil Collins (Genesis), Tony Kaye (Yes), Peter Banks (Yes), Colin Carter (Flash), Mike Hough (Flash), Nicky Hopkins (Beatles, Stones, Rod Stewart), Keith Carlock (Sting, Steely Dan), Sidonie Jordan (John Stewart, Ike & Tina Turner), Jan Akkerman (Focus), Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde), Andrew McCulloch (King Crimson), and many more.
Influences
The BBC, 50's & 60's pop, big bands, the Salvation Army Marching Band, hearing a bass guitar for the first time, hearing (and seeing) a Fender Strat for the first time. The Sputniks, Alvin & The Chipmunks, Television, Skiffle, Radio Luxembourg, my Dad's piano playing (old standards, Beethovan, show tunes), the church organ my Dad brought home, my uncle Bill playing bluesy harmonica, my cousin Geraldine playing the accordian, singing English folk songs at school, hymns at church, English pub songs, my Aunt Beat's 78' record collection of 30's and 40's music and her wind-up gramaphone, the smell of vinyl long players, our family's first Radiogramaphone, my first music teacher Mr Bane, ("Mr Brain", as we called him) Charles Dickens, my sister's records - Elvis, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, The Everly Brothers, The Beatles......they blew our minds and made me want to be a Beatle too - my old friends Stu Murray, Pete Skinner and Bill Bruford in my first real band - "The Breed", Blues of the raunchiest kind, jazz if it was from the heart and not the head, Beethovan, Vaughan Williams, Eric Satie, Debussy, Ravel, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Mingus, Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, Tim Hardin, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, The Graham Bond Organisation, Jack Bruce, Cream, The Spencer Davis Group..............Anything that glowed with originality, energy, harmony, warmth, humour, quirkiness, brilliance and invention.
Sounds Like
Ray Bennett
"WHATEVER FALLS" and "ANGELS & GHOSTS" available on ITUNES
Born in Kent, UK, Ray Bennett grew up mostly in the Sevenoaks area southeast of London. He began playing guitar at age 12 and at 15 started playing bass in a local band, The Breed, with Bill Bruford, then 16, on drums (later of Yes, King Crimson). At 21, after a couple of years at Art College and a brief stint on bass with The Gun (UK number one hit with “Race With The Devil”), Ray, drummer Mike Hough, vocalist Colin Carter and one of progressive rock’s originators, ex-Yes guitarist Peter Banks formed Flash.
Flash had three notable albums on the US charts (EMI-Capitol): Flash (1972), In The Can (1972), and Out Of Our Hands (1973). The single “Small Beginnings”, from their debut album, reached no. 28 on Billboard. All three albums have been reissued on CD and two, Flash, and Out Of Our Hands, are currently available as a double re-mastered CD on EMI-Friday Music. Psychosync, a former bootleg of a live radio concert and an appearance on TV's Midnight Special is available on Voiceprint.
Returning to lead guitar as his main instrument, Ray has recorded two solo CDs on Voiceprint: "Whatever Falls" (2001), a wide-ranging self-portrait employing his versatility on vocals, all instruments, and as producer, and "Angels & Ghosts" (2001), a compilation of solo work and collaborations spanning 20 years, which features performances by Flash, Andrew McCulloch (King Crimson) and Sydney Fox (Empire, Jon Stewart).
In Spring 2005 Ray reunited with Flash bandmate, Colin Carter at the Baja Progrock Festival in Mexico. They continued to perform as a duo and as The Bennett/Carter Band through Spring of 2006, playing their unique brand of original music and classic rock.
Ray recently relocated to Las Vegas, NV in search of "one of the last free places in the US". He is currently writing music for an upcoming CD and live performances.
"WHATEVER FALLS" and "ANGELS & GHOSTS" available on ITUNES
my dream is to get into a great studio with a great "co-" producer... maybe someday soon i can afford it... or you know maybe someone else can afford it for me... ;) ha ha ha ...but seriously...
Hi Ray!!! D'you like to dive into our E-Virtual world and cast to our new Lasting Waves - videoclip? click the image down here, we're waiting for you!!!
Ciao Ray! The Flash album with Tony Kaye is one of the greatest albums of the 70s. many thanks for the add,I'm honorated to met you here. I'm sorry for my english. Flash albums are in the playlist.
Ray; Thanks for the add!!! Great new material,I've alwys admired your writing and playing on the Flash albums,I had the chance to jam with Peter Banks on several occasions in the late 70's. If your ever looking for a bassist on the west coast for live shows look me up!!!
Hey Ray, What are you doing Bro'.Your tunes sounded amazing with this Chadonnay I'm drinking here in New York tonight.I'm feeling like some Indian food right now.Did you handle production on all these tunes? If you did we have to talk. We need some help right about now.Drop me a line. Best Regards, Fred Callan
