Ray Davies (trumpeter)

Ray Davies
Born(1927-10-07)7 October 1927
Swansea, Wales
Died20 July 2017(2017-07-20) (aged 89)
Occupations
  • trumpeter
  • bandleader
  • composer
  • musician
SpouseDiane Davies
Childrenincl. Rhett Davies
Musical career
Also known asRay Kendall, Chico Rey
Genres
InstrumentsTrumpet, Flugelhorn
LabelsDansan Records, DJM Records, Fontana, Philips, Pye

Ray Davies was a Welsh trumpeter, session musician, and bandleader, active from the 1940s to 1970s.[1] Much of his work featured on the Boosey & Hawkes stock music library,[2] experiencing a surge in popularity during the 1990s lounge revival, and he also frequently conducted the BBC Radio Orchestra, as well as playing for the BBC Big Band.[3][4] He is the father of record producer Rhett Davies, and served as chairman of BASCA from 2004 to 2010.[5][6]

During his childhood, he played in local military bands,[7] after which he attended the Royal College of Music. After finishing his education, he began to play trumpet for a large number of orchestras, big bands, and theatres across London, including that of Frank Cordell.

In the 1960s, he took part in a session for Reader's Digest, which, wanting a British response to Herb Alpert, led to Davies forming his band. This group was known as Ray Davies and The Button-Down Brass (or The Button-Down Brass Featuring The Funky Trumpet of Ray Davies), and it released a series of popular easy-listening albums, as well as covers of television and film theme tunes.[8]

At the same time, he also entered the pop scene, playing trumpet on records such as It's Not Unusual, Downtown, and Shirley Bassey's version of Big Spender.[8] Known for his short temper, he became an accomplished songwriter, and he was consulted by many pop bands, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, on musical arrangements.[9]

He died at the age of 89, on (2017-07-20)20 July 2017.[9]

  1. ^ "News: RIP Bandleader Ray Davies". The Reprobate. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Production Music by Ray Davies | Audio Network". Audio Network. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  3. ^ Latham, Peter (18 May 1967). "Weather: News followed by Breakfast Special". Light Programme. BBC. BBC Light Programme. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  4. ^ Race, Steve (18 March 1987). "Steve Race Presents...". Steve Race Presents... BBC. BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Ray Davies 1927-2017 | PRS for Music Members Benevolent Fund". www.prsformusicfund.com. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Ray Davies RIP - M Magazine". M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  7. ^ Russell, Ron (September 1946). "Stairway To The Stars". Universal Jazz. pp. 15–16.
  8. ^ a b "Vocalion SACD New Releases - June 2017 - duttonvocalion.co.uk". www.duttonvocalion.co.uk. June 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  9. ^ a b Delaney, Roy (Winter 2017). "Tributes". The Musician. pp. 159–161. Retrieved 15 April 2018.