Bio

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Will Ray Bio

 Will Ray, a Virginia bred musician, producer, writer and recording artist has called Asheville his home since 2005. 22 years prior, he lived in Los Angeles where he worked as a session player with artists like Michael Nesmith, Thomas Dolby, Joe Walsh, Carlene Carter,  Steve Earle and Tom Jones. His songs have appeared on TV shows such as Oprah, the Tonight Show, and the NBA Basketball Championships.

In the early 1990’s he founded The Hellecasters along with fellow pickers John Jorgenson and Jerry Donahue. Their albums and DVD’s have earned them wide praise from musicians and press around the world. Their “Return of the Hellecasters” album was awarded Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Album” and “Best Country Album” awards in 1993.

In the mid 1990’s Fender unveiled several signature model Telecaster guitars: The Will Ray Jazz-a-caster and The Will Ray MojoTele. And in 2002 G&L Musical Instruments began production on two new innovative Will Ray signature model guitars.

Since 2006 BBE Electronics has built & sold a WR signature model chorus pedal built to Will’s specs called the Mind Bender. And Hipshot Products currently builds a Will Ray model B-Bender which is popular with country pickers. In addition Hipshot has also makes and sells Will’s popular Stealth Slide Ring.

As a writer Will has been a regular contributor to Guitar Player Magazine since the 90’s and has had several regular monthly columns in the magazine including “Ebay Strategies”, “Auction Block” and “Ebay Prizes”. For the last three years he has written a monthly column in Premier Guitar Magazine called “Bottom Feeder”.

Will has four popular guitar instructional videos out on DVD:  B-Bender Mania, Stealth Slide Technique, Street Survival Guide to Scales & Modes, and Cigar Box Willie’s Back Porch Blues.

Pharaoh Records has released two solo albums on Will Ray called “Invisible Birds” and “Mojo Blues”, with a third one planned for release in 2013.

To learn more about Will Ray you can also visit him on Facebook and YouTube.