Kenny "Blue" Ray Talks To The Bluesletter

Texan, now resident in California, Ray gave this interview to the Bluesletter's Texas correspondent, Tone Sommer.

This months Texas Blues News features killer bluesman, guitarist extraordinaire, "Kenny "Blue" Ray. Although KR now lives in San Francisco, he lived in and spent a good deal of time performing in and around Texas for many years.

He has been a member of Marcia Ball's band, recorded with Anson Funderburg & Stevie Ray Vaughan, and is well known amongst the Austin "inner circle" of the blues elite. Kenny is set to perform at the 1998 Robert Ealey Fort Worth Blues Festival with his vocalist & good friend Jackie Payne, a monster singer if there ever was. I will also have the honour of recording several guitar duets with KBR during his layover in Fort Worth, the resulting tracks which may appear on my first JSP Records release and/or Kenny's own Tone King Records.

So sit back and dig what KBR has to say about his music, past, present, and future. And by all means, check out his latest release, on Tone King, "Bless My Axe".

TONE: Kenny, how long have you been playing guitar?

KBR: About 38 years, my Dad played a few instruments, and cards!

TONE: What inspired you to begin playing the guitar?

KBR: Seeing Elvis on TV, then the great music on the radio. I actually heard Wolfman Jack. Slip in some Jimmy Reed, BB King, and The Wolf on Xerb, Chula Vista! Then the "Surf" rage Hit, then The Stones, Butterfield and everyone else.

TONE: Do you remember your first axe? Tell me about it.

KBR: A Stella, my dad bought it, junk! But then I got a 59 Danelectro; 2 Pickups! Black & white! I just got an endorsement from Dan O and will get one from them, just like what I started on in 1961, electric, that is.

TONE: You have an incredible range of tones emanating from your guitar. Are you consciously switching to different tones throughout the song, or does it just happen as a natural part of your playing to a particular mood or feel to different passages in the song?

KBR: Yes, I constantly switch between all 5 tones on a Strat or 3 on a Tele. I use P94 (Gibson, P90's) on 3 Guitars, my favourite single coils, FAT! I also use my Fingers 75% of the time, sometimes 90%, better tone.

TONE: How do you do that little Albert Collins trill at the end of some of your riffs? That sounds so cool. I have tried like mad to do it, I just can't seem to get it.

KBR: If you mean the Fling on the B string (b7 to Root!)? You have to mute the other 5 strings and use a Flamenco type right hand thang.

TONE: You have nine CD's out now. Which one is your favourite and why?

KBR: Well, Tone, My Latest, "Bless My Axe" is tops, because of the great B3 Hammond work of Louis Pain, (Paul de Lay Band), the tenor sax of Rob Sudduth of Huey Lewis, and my guitar work covers Anson, early B.B., Some Wes, some John Lee Hooker, some Hubert, a little Albert King. I like to touch all the bases! Charlie and Little Danny sang 8 tunes, too! This is 50's Duos - The Jimmy Smith type jazzy blues. All right then! (Carl on Sling Blade) um hum!

TONE: Who makes your custom guitars? How many do you have now?

KBR: David Tupper, Makes 'em, and I help a Little! I have 6 and I am getting the REVEREND Avenger! "Lord Have Mercy" A cool Guitar out of Michigan like a Dan O Surf Strat, but a Blues Machine!!! Desert Sand, MOT pick guard and a Maple Neck, 2 Weeks! Also my Dan O will be at the Crib soon!

TONE: You and Jackie Payne are scheduled to play the Fort Worth Blues Festival, We can't wait to have you guys perform back in Texas again. Do you miss Texas? What do you like about performing there?

KBR: I miss Texas a lot! I was born in California, But Texas and Portland, Oregon are both my second homes! People have music in their blood in Texas. A lot of great people there! Best food on the planet. Just use the air conditioner! I'm a capricorn and big like Elvis. I like it 65ºF, cold!

TONE: How do you get that MONSTER Albert King tone? Do you use any different tunings?

KBR: Tone, My Man, I been workin' on Albert King since 1966. Little Doyle Bramhall, a great blues guitarist, once told me I got Albert down the best,This was after we LostStevie. I tune Regular 11-50 high action very light Alder, Warmoth bodies, big Warmoth V Necks, huge frets. I may tune to D and go 12-54 on your record! Then we'll get some serious sound! Look for Tone Sommer on JSP !!

TONE: Tell us about recording with SRV.

KBR: Well, Marcia Ball, who I was with (1980-84) Hired him for her CD. He brought Charlie Watts of the Stones to the Studio. They were fired up Gettin Butts (Cigarette) of old Beer Cans, They was flyin! Stevie Ray blew up one of My Speakers in my 68 Super Reverb I had at the time. SR was a tremendous guitarist, the best I ever heard, although I prefer less notes, He could do it all. I love early Collins(Truckin) and Albert King at The Fillimore. I just tried out an Epiphone Flying V, I may get one and put better pickups in it.

TONE: Tell me about your next project and any other future projects you'd like to mention.

KBR: Next, I am recording "Let The Blues Rule" I hope to do some Recording with Tone Sommer! Jackie and I are at the Monterey Blues Fest, The Ft. Worth Blues Fest, Then I go to Belgium to do the Berchem Blues Fest then Portland For the Waterfront Blues Fest July 4th. I do 2,3 CDs a year. and I am on 32 total.. Or will be soon. God Bless everyone, e mail me, at blueray@earthlink.net Thank you.

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