Carline Ray
Carline Ray was a jazz instrumentalist and vocalist. She was a member of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
Carline Ray | |
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Background information | |
Born | Manhattan, New York, U.S. | April 21, 1925
Died | July 18, 2013 88) Manhattan | (aged
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
Instruments | Piano, guitar |
Associated acts | International Sweethearts of Rhythm |
Life
Carline Ray was born in Manhattan on April 21, 1925. Her father was Elisha Ray, a horn player.[1]
She studied piano and composition at Juilliard and earned a Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 1956. After graduation from Juilliard, Ray joined the International Sweethearts of Rhythm in 1946 as a rhythm guitar player and vocalist.[2] After the Sweethearts disbanded, Ray played guitar and sang for Erskine Hawkins and later performed in a trio with fellow former Sweetheart Pauline Braddy.[1] She sang back up for Patti Page and Bobby Darrin, and she performed in choruses conducted by Leonard Bernstein.[2] She recorded with Mary Lou Williams and also worked with Skitch Henderson, Marian McPartland, and Sy Oliver.[3] In 1997, Ray formed the group Jazzberry Jam with pianist Bertha Hope and percussionist Paula Hampton.
Ray married Luis Russell in 1956. Their daughter Catherine Russell is a jazz singer.[4]
She appears in the 2011 documentary film The Girls in the Band.[4]
Ray died on July 18, 2013 in Manhattan.[2] She released Vocal Sides, her first album as a lead singer, the year of her death. The album was produced by her daughter Catherine.[4]
Awards
- Co-recipient of the first International Women In Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award, "A Living Legend" (1996)[5]
- Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival Award (2005)[4]
- International Women In Jazz Award (2008)[5]
References
- Rye, Howard (2006). "Ray (Russell), Carline". In Larkin, Colin (ed.). Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 6 (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J673500. ISBN 9780195313734. OCLC 70062973.
- Yardley, William (July 27, 2013). "Carline Ray, an Enduring Pioneer Woman of Jazz, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- Rye, Howard (2002). "Ray, Carline". In Kernfeld, Barry Dean (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J673500. ISBN 9781561592845. OCLC 46956628.
- Tamarkin, Jeff (July 19, 2013). "Carline Ray, Singer and Instrumentalist, Dies at 88". JazzTimes. Madavor Media. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Awards". International Women in Jazz. 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
External links
- Jazzberry Jam biography
- Biography on All Music
- Video of Ray performing at Women In Jazz Festival in New York City in 2008