Don Ray Band - Kickstands Up (2013)

×

Don Ray Band - Kickstands Up (2013)

Close

Don Ray Band, Kickstands Up is a Best Of album compiled of the bands best Biker themed songs. Kickstands Up also features three brand new tracks. The title track salutes the generous nature of the Biker community, The Ride is the sentiment of all Bikers after a long Winter and Eagles and Buffalo is the bands Sturgis Bike Rally anthem. Motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere are rallying around this album.

These Southern Soul Rockers have been turning on crowds at music festivals, rallies and the hottest venues in the country since the release of their first album in 2009. They perform gritty versions of great cover songs along with their most requested originals from their 4 albums that Don Ray has written and co-written with songwriters Curt Ryle (Billy Ray Cyrus, George Jones), Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt), Tony Paoletta (Luke Bryan, Patty Loveless), Jonathan Armstrong (Earl Thomas Conley) and Donnie Lee Clark (Pure Prairie League).

Performing live are singer/songwriter Don Ray along with Jonathan Armstrong formerly of Earl Thomas Conley, Josh Birkhimer formerly of Burning Las Vegas, Jeff Offutt formerly of Chicago Charlie and Little Freddie King, Gary Dales formerly of Leon Russell and from projects with 38 Special and Van Zant.

The band has toured throughout the US and a few highlights are Sturgis Bike Rally at the Easyrider's Saloon, The Wild Hog Music Fest and Rally in Helena AR., Awesome Biker Nights in Sioux City, IA. and performances at some of the nations hottest Blues clubs including Uncle Bo's Topeka, Zoo Bar Lincoln, Canal House Tuscarawas, OH and McKenna's BBQ Omaha.

The band's album, Full Throttle, was produced by Musician's Hall Of Fame Guitarist, Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section).

About Don Ray:

Don Ray was born into a musical family in Sioux City, IA. He left the Midwest for Austin, TX. at age 18. Don played drums and sang for several regionally successful Texas bands including Frenchie Burke. Don’s first break as a solo artist came when a project he was working on was produced by keyboardist Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughan). The first version of Don Ray Band came in Austin as well and included former Asleep At The Wheel musicians Danny Levin and Bill Mabry.

Don moved to Nashville at age 26 to pursue a songwriting career and was soon a staff writer for Square One Publishing on Music Row. He started the second version of Don Ray Band with hit songwriters, Monty Holmes, Don Sampson and Curt Ryle. A few of the co-songwriter credits Don has are with hit songwriters Randy Travis, Monty Holmes (Troubador, When Did You Stop Loving Me, If I Built You A Fire), Curt Ryle (Storm In The Heartland) Kent Blazey (If Tomorrow Never Comes). Don has songs in the publishing catalogs of Square One, Universal Music, Sony/ATV, Warner Tamerlane, PeerMusic III, Minnetonka Music and Malaco.

Today, the musical collaborations of the current group of musicians and songwriters that make up Don Ray Band are unique and have proven hard to put a single label on the results… which have been called everything from "Rockin' Blues" to "Southern Rock" to "Blue Eyed Soul" to "Rock N Southern Country Roll" by some of the nations most notable music writers. One thing all of these writers have agreed upon, however, is that the music is refreshingly original and a pleasure to listen to over and over again.

The Don Ray Band single "Love Is" featuring Shaun Murphy from Bob Seger's Silver Bullet band was submitted for a 2012 Grammy Award.

Don Ray Band Projects:

Album - On Top Of The Heap, 2009 – Margdon Records

Album - Lonesome Rider, 2010 – Margdon Records

Single – Love Is, featuring Shaun Murphy, 2011 – Margdon Records

DVD – Don Ray Band, Live In Nashville, 2011 – Margdon Music Video

Album - Full Throttle, 2012 - Margdon Records

On Top Of The Heap Tour, 2010

Lonesome Rider Tour, 2011

Full Throttle Tour, 2012

Album - Kickstands Up, 2013 - Margdon Records

Kickstands Up Tour, 2013

~ Amazon.com

×

Don Ray Band - Kickstands Up (2013)

Close

×

Don Ray Band - Kickstands Up (2013)

Close