Ray Reach
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Ray Reach | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. August 3, 1948 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, classical, pop, R & B, gospel, contemporary Christian, country |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments | Keyboards, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Website | www |
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. (born August 3, 1948) is an American pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and educator, who was convicted in the State of Alabama on child pornography charges.[1] Reach has performed and recorded in various genres, including pop, R&B, Motown/soul, gospel, rock, classic rock, country (contemporary and traditional), contemporary Christian, classical, and jazz music, but is perhaps best known for his work in jazz, combining jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals.[2] He resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
Career
[edit | edit source]Reach was a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (of which he is the founding director), the Ray Reach Orchestra, and the Night Flight Big Band.
As a composer, he has written and arranged five Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children's Theatre: Rumplestiltskin, The Perfect Prince, The Bravo Bus, Backstage Baby, and Tuxedo Junction.[3][4]
On April 23, 2018, Reach was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Alabama for the possession of child pornography.[5] The connection between those charges and his Jazz Classes for Children for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is still under investigation. Ray was convicted May 15, 2025.[6] Ray was sentenced on July 9, 2025 to 10 years split with two years to serve in prison followed by three years of unsupervised probation. He was also required to register as a sex offender. [7]
Selected discography
[edit | edit source]As leader
- Especially for You (1994) - with Robert Dickson on bass[citation needed], Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Sonny Harris on drums, and Gary Neil McLean on saxophone and flute.
- Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas (2005) - with Sonny Harris on drums, Chris Wendle on bass and Gary Wheat on saxophone.
As vocalist, pianist, arranger and co-producer
As producer
- Uncle Bud's Lectro Wood Experience[8][9]
- Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. Lou's Blues (2001)[10]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Brown, Angela: "Birmingham Beat – Uncovering the Local Music Scene", Birmingham Magazine, March, 2006, p. 121
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ https://www.al.com/crime/2025/05/popular-birmingham-jazz-musician-and-teacher-convicted-of-possessing-child-porn.html
- ^ https://www.al.com/crime/2025/07/well-known-alabama-jazz-musician-sentenced-in-child-porn-case.html
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).[permanent dead link]
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]
- Official website
- Official YouTube channel
- Article names Ray Reach as one of 30 Alabamians that changed jazz history
- Video by Jerry Henry done at Nutthouse Recording in Sheffield, Alabama
- Video of Blue Lou Marini and Ray Reach at St. Martin's In The Pines, Birmingham, Alabama
- Video of Ray Reach with Ken Watters and friends at the 2012 W.C. Handy Music Festival