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), 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, Beethoven, show tunes), the church organ my Dad brought home, my uncle Bill playing bluesy harmonica, my cousin Geraldine playing the accordion, 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 gramophone, 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, Beethoven, 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 online @E-MUSIC.COM
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 e-music.com
HEY! I heard a Flash song (Monday Morning Eyes) on the radio..(Yes, Genesis,ELP, and friends channel)..Here's a link that's been transforming lives http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/directory.cgi?genre=prog%2fart%20rock
Ello Matey, I hope the FLASH rehersals are going well. So great to see you and Colin together again on the videos posted on the FLASH my space page. Looking good my friend. Luv always, Sid x
Hey Ray, the new Flash tunes are great!! I posted your news & blog onto progarchives, and there is a good bit of supportive chat about the Return of Flash!
Well it would have been great to see a full 'Flash reunion'! Not many four man groups had the musicality or excitement that Flash had. But at least you are keeping the flame burning and it is burning bright my friend!
The more I listen to the new 'FLASH' tracks the more amazed I am at what you and Colin have accomplished. It is so clear how much influence your writing had on Flash. To say it was 'Banks' band would be an injustice to you, your writing/musicality and Colins vocals and lyrics. The new tracks should put paid to any suggestion that it was Banks band. Pete might indeed add some fast guitar licks and soaring solos, should he want to join you, but what you have done is show just how much of a collaborative process Flash really was. And because it was, you have lost none of the magic, just gained more groove and more depth. I am loving the new FLASH tracks. When do we get some more?
Hey Ray, Sherry sent me the links to your YouTube clips with Colin! Ha ha ha, what a scream!! Your fans all anxiously await your new tunes, take care!!
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Pleased to virtually make your acquaintance! Thank you for joining my circle of cyber "PROG" friends, for excepting my add and for sharing your Awesome Music with me. Good Compositions, Sound, Vibes and Atmosphere!! I really enjoyed listening!! It is a real pleasure to have discovered your music!! Maybe someday you’ll play Toronto.
K E E P ~ O N ~ P R O G G I N’!!
Take care my friend be safe, may God keep you and yours blessed. Have yourself an excellent week full of inspiration. With Respect and Admiration from Toronto, Canada.
