Discovering indie artists such as Ray, that started at an early age and has held on to that passion and grown with it over nearly half a century, is a great inspiration to me, as it should be for many others, to continue striving to reach my goals.
Although country isn’t my favorite music by all means, I enjoyed listening to Ray’s music. Capturing lyrics, bluesy guitar riffs and an inviting voice that belongs on stage. A native to San Fernando Valley and born into “show biz”, Ray William Roldan has been a singer, musician, performer and songwriter since he was just a kid. Encouraged by his grandfather, a professional drummer, and inspired by the Hit Parade magazine, Ray began writing his own songs as poetry. However, Ray wasn’t just a full-time artist. Like many of us he had other “day jobs” as well; everything from commercial art & sculpting to aerospace, engineering and Navy training.
Genres: Country / Rock / Blues
Born in Jersey in July of ’58 to a leather clad biker pop and a Hollywood high school beauty (daughter of show biz folk).
Ray started singing and playing drums as a very young man, receiving guidance from his grandfather who was a professional drummer. He then joined his school choir attending performances until he was expelled for rabble rousing behavior.
Ray diligently read every Hit Parade magazine between the ages of 8 and 14 years of age. He learned the lyrics of the favorite artists of the time. This inspired his ability to put words together.
How does this create a bold and innovative songwriter? Ray always had the creative edge. Being a commercial artist, sculptor and welder, it was one short step to writing poetry. Taking his exposure to music he combined his love for riff creating and his talent with words. The result was his current achievement in writing songs which captivate, intrigue and entertain.
As Ray’s largest satisfaction is a combined desire to do just that and deliver a unique blend in words, his life experience provides the material. And that life experience is being at work from the age of ten to joining the Navy, training as a boiler tech, then as a fireman, auto mechanic, aerospace designer/fitter, to engineer to business owner and contractor and satistactorily, as a father.
[ Sounds Like: Leon Russell, JJ Cale, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ]
5 Star Rating Scale / Composition: 3 / Production: 4 / Arrangement: 3 / Performance: 4 / Hit Potential: 3
All the while, strumming the dobro, slide guitar, rhythm orlead guitar, and playing harmonica. With his love of Americana Roots Rock and Country music, Ray produces songs along these genres. With the firm belief that each of these are related and musically intertwined, both by origin and by their relationship to the Blues (Ray’s favorite genre.)
“Country, Americana, Blues and Rock are family members that belong together. You can’t separate these genres too far and keep them interesting by themselves.” Says Ray when asked which musical approach he uses the most. Because of his certainty of genre relationship he continues to study and research the inspiration in each.
To Ray, the best aspect of music is it’s inherent ability make a story understood and enjoyed carried by the emotion music creates. He knows good note arrangment becomes the vehicle by which stories can be told well and memorably.
Notes and riffs continue to inspire him. Ray, as the consumate storyteller, hears a story in a chord plucked, or a moment out of an ordinary day, an emotion seen or felt; generating support for the words by a certain chosen musical progression.
Ray’s songs reflect his interests in the human condition. From birth to death, love and loss, cheatin’ and being true, celebration and struggle, cool cars and journeys, outlaws and rebels, saints and kindness and the hard workin’ like himself.
“The songs have to be clean and be real. I want the audience to be a part of what is going on and a part of the story. To put them into a good mood where they are happy to be there and the song rings true.”
From the “Sidewalk Songwriter Philosopher” Ray William Roldan.
The accolades continue to pile up. Worldwide interest increases every month. D.J.’s request Ray’s albums and acknowledge his music and his particular style of songwriting. Ray, as an an unsigned artist and a contributing cooperative songwriter is seeking the right relationship with the interested promoters and record label companies contacting him. His goal is to remain honest and creative, writing for others and himself in a way which inspires and satisfies the audience or fans.
Follow Ray William Roldan on the web & these social networks
Reverb Nation – MySpace – Last.fm – Ourstage – Facebook – www.RayWilliamRoldan.com