Ray Defade Jr BIO
Ray started playing professionally at age 15 and by the age of 19 was performing
regularly with legendary jazz saxophonist Eric Kloss. During the mid 1980’s Ray
performed with almost all of Pittsburgh’s best jazz artists, including Michele Bensen,
Max Leake, Kenny Blake, and Matt Ferrante.
In 1987, Ray moved to Nashville and quickly found work doing recording sessions for
independent songwriter projects and performed for 4 years on Opryland’s General
Jackson showboat. During that run he got to perform with special guests Louise
Mandrell and Brenda Lee.
In 1992 Ray returned to Pittsburgh and immediately found a place in the local music
scene, working with blues artists such as Barbara Blue and Chizmo Charles, as well as
many jazz and pop artists. In 1993 Ray performed at the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild
with the world renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman.
In 1994 Ray joined Bill Deasy and Dave Brown to form The Gathering Field. The band
quickly gained a strong following in Pittsburgh and in 1996 released “Lost in America”
on Atlantic Records. After several years of touring and recording, Ray left the band in
1998 and returned to freelancing in Pittsburgh.
During the mid to late 1990’s Ray was in demand as a session player, recording with a
variety of artists including Buddy Hall, Barbara Blue, Dave Pahanish, James Dougherty,
Ford Thurston and many others.
In 1999, Ray joined We Three and performed for several years with the maestro himself
- Vito DiSalvo :) - recording on the albums Con Amore and We Can Dance
After leaving We Three in the mid-2000’s Ray returned to free-lancing, performing with
various musicians including Scott Anderson, Pete Hewlett, and Maureen Budway, He
also has recorded with some of Pittsburgh’s finest singer-songwriters, including Brad
Yoder, Heather Kropf, and bluegrass band Buffalo Rose.
regularly with legendary jazz saxophonist Eric Kloss. During the mid 1980’s Ray
performed with almost all of Pittsburgh’s best jazz artists, including Michele Bensen,
Max Leake, Kenny Blake, and Matt Ferrante.
In 1987, Ray moved to Nashville and quickly found work doing recording sessions for
independent songwriter projects and performed for 4 years on Opryland’s General
Jackson showboat. During that run he got to perform with special guests Louise
Mandrell and Brenda Lee.
In 1992 Ray returned to Pittsburgh and immediately found a place in the local music
scene, working with blues artists such as Barbara Blue and Chizmo Charles, as well as
many jazz and pop artists. In 1993 Ray performed at the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild
with the world renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman.
In 1994 Ray joined Bill Deasy and Dave Brown to form The Gathering Field. The band
quickly gained a strong following in Pittsburgh and in 1996 released “Lost in America”
on Atlantic Records. After several years of touring and recording, Ray left the band in
1998 and returned to freelancing in Pittsburgh.
During the mid to late 1990’s Ray was in demand as a session player, recording with a
variety of artists including Buddy Hall, Barbara Blue, Dave Pahanish, James Dougherty,
Ford Thurston and many others.
In 1999, Ray joined We Three and performed for several years with the maestro himself
- Vito DiSalvo :) - recording on the albums Con Amore and We Can Dance
After leaving We Three in the mid-2000’s Ray returned to free-lancing, performing with
various musicians including Scott Anderson, Pete Hewlett, and Maureen Budway, He
also has recorded with some of Pittsburgh’s finest singer-songwriters, including Brad
Yoder, Heather Kropf, and bluegrass band Buffalo Rose.