Caron Sugaray Rayford

About me:

SUGARAY & THE CK ALL STARS WILL BE PERFORMING AT BEAUTIFUL LAKE TAHOE MONDAY AUGUST 3RD, 2009. AWESOME VENUE, RIGHT ON THE LAKE, COME SPEND A WEEKEND WITH US! YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT AT:
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SUGARAY & THE CK ALL STARS
Sugaray & the CK Allstars is a diverse group world renown musicians from Southern California, who perform blues & soul. The combined musical history and talent is astounding.

SUGARAY / LEAD VOCALS
Texas born Sugaray began his musical career at the age of 7 singing & playing drums in church and his gospel influence can be heard and felt in his music. Rayford's phrasing is intimate and conversational and the soulful gravel in his voice hints at his firsthand experience with hardship. He grew up in Texas, his childhood marked by poverty and loss. He remembered a sad game he played with his brothers, a competition that determined who was skinniest by counting the number of belt holes left unused. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer. When she died, it was a kind of relief."She suffered and we suffered," Rayford said. "Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives were a lot better. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul." He has performed with many notable artists, including James Gadson, Joe Luis Walker, Kal David, Slash (Guns N Roses), Average White Band, Gerald Johnson, Al Kooper, Super Diamond, Venice & Dennis Quaid to name a few. When Sugaray belts out a song, you not only hear it you feel it. With his dynamic voice, you hear echoes of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass. His fluid dance steps will remind you of the Legendary James Brown. He is currently lead vocalist for Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz, a recently signed up & coming blues band. Sugaray started hosting a blues jam at Cozy’s in Sherman Oaks almost 1 year ago and it is through this venue that Sugaray & the CK All Stars was conceived. Suga”s jam has become the place to be on a Monday night in L.A. Such notable artists as Al Kooper, Jubu, Eddie Baytos, Alex Ligertwood (Santana) Alvino Bennett (Dave Mason), Ben Carey (Lifehouse), Mike Finnigan, Orianthi, Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard), Teddy Zig Zag Andreadis (Guns n Roses, Carol King) Lou Castro, & of course the awesome band members below, have all sat in at the jam. Sugaray is currently working on his first solo poject which is scheduled for release August 2009. He has 2 other CD’s with Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz; “trunk full of blues” & “It’s Tight Like That”.

CHUCK KAVOORIS / SLIDE GUITAR & GUITAR
Born in the blues town of Chicago and raised in Oklahoma and Sacramento, Chuck has long been revered by L.A. guitar players as the “Slide God” since moving from Sacramento to Los Angeles in the late 70s. Besides having a weekly television show in 1977, doing recording sessions for years for April Blackwood Music, and numerous artists, he has appeared with artists such as John Mayall, Les McCann, Keb’ Mo’, Alex Ligertwood (Santana, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express), David Garfield and Friends, Slash, Gilby Clark, Duff, Lenny Kravitz, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Bobby Kimball, Jon Butcher, Michael Landau, Carlos Vega, Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Lee Oskar, C.C. DeVille (Poison), Bill Ward (Black Sabbath), Rick Derringer, Gary Myrick, B.B.Chung King, COCO Montoya, Jimmy Z, Teddy ZigZag, among others. His slide guitar can also be heard on the soundtracks for the feature films Wag the Dog (for Edgar Winter), Made in America (with Ben E. King) and on the TV mini series The Drug Wars: The Kiki Camarina Story for producer Al Kooper. Chuck locally in LA has been seen with his (other) blues band, The Capitol Homeboyz (with Jimmy Z, vocals, harmonica and sax; Teddy Andreadis, keyboards; Vince Bilbro, bass; and Tom Fillman and/or Anastasios Panos, drums) and with Alex Ligertwood’s bands Metro and Border Patrol (with Jason Scheff.) Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz, Sugaray, Justin Randi’s ‘Nothing Personal’ with Joel Taylor and Chris Roy. Drummer Steve Ferrone (Average White Band, Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan and Tom Petty) also plays and uses Chuck on guitar in his own live revue. Chuck has co-written songs covered by Bonnie Raitt , Dave Mason, and Todd Sharp. He also owns and runs SlideAway Music Studio. At this facility he has recorded Record label artists, numerous bands, Solo artists and soundtracks for TV and Movies, publishing companies, and documentaries, performing as the principal or second engineer, producer, and guitarist for the sessions.

GARY MALLABER / DRUMS
Gary Mallaber (born October 11, 1946 in Buffalo, New York) is a Los Angeles session drummer, percussionist and singer. He got his start playing drums in a band from Buffalo, New York, known as Raven. Mallaber was also the drummer/percussionist and backing singer for the 1980's band Kid Lightning, who released an album with Gerard McMahon in 1981 entitled Blue Rue. Mallaber also plays keyboards and sings on many albums by well-known rock artists. He is probably best known for his work as drummer/percussionist, backup singer, and co-composer for The Steve Miller Band. Mallaber was also the main studio drummer for Eddie Money for most of his earlier recordings and has played on many Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison solo albums. In addition to drums, Mallaber plays vibraphone on the Morrison records. He has played on hit singles by Miller, Morrison, Springsteen, Peter Frampton, Poco, Paul Williams, and Kermit the Frog. Some of the many other artists Mallaber has recorded with include Joan Armatrading, The Beach Boys, David Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Bob Seger, Barbra Streisand, Warren Zevon, Hughes/Thrall and Gerard McMahon. Since March 7th (the State Theatre (Falls Church, Virginia) show), Gary has been standing in as temporary drummer for Dave Mason during his 2009 Tour.

RALPH CARTER / BASS
Recording: Eddie Money ( 'No Control', 'Where's the Party'), Alias, Vixen, David Cassidy, Dave Mason, Tim Karr, Doc Lawrence, Steve Stone, MTV 'Catwalk' show, 'The Brady Bunch' movie, N.Y.C. , Nitro and the Swing Kings, including work with producers; E.T. Thorngren, Mitchell Froom, Andy Johns, Richie Zito, Tom Dowd, Ross Vannelli, David Briggs, Rick Neigher, Steve Tyrell. Live Playing/Touring: Eddie Money, Danny Kortchmar, Doc Lawrence, Steve Stone, Jimmy Z, the Swing Kings, Alex Ligertwood (from Santana). Songwriting: Eddie Money 'No Control'(including"Shakin" and the title track), 'Where's the Party' LP's. Vixen, Steve Stone, The Swing Kings, Nitro and the Regulators. Composition/Production; Dancing with the Stars, Starting Over (NBC Reality series), Trantasia (Showtime feature documentary), Sandbox Pictures (Puddle Jumper, The Do Over’ short films), Kidthing (Scores for read along Dr. Seuss books), Music for ‘Dirty Dancing’ 20 year commemorative DVD, Denise Austin, Beach Bodies, Leslie Bixler’s ‘Moon Food’ (production, childrens songs CD). ..