An established songwriter and musician, Ray is also well known in Yorkshire for his appearances on regional television and weekly BBC Radio Sheffield broadcasts featuring his own and other writers' poetry. Born in Rotherham of Irish parents, he still lives and works in the town and tries in his songs to bring the two cultures together; Irish and South Yorkshire; contemporary songs in a traditional idiom. Ray's debut album, Broad Street Ballads (NMCD17) was immediately featured on BBC Radio 3's, Late Junction and saw reviewers drawing comparisons with Dick Gaughan's voice and Richard Thompson's best songwriting. His songs have been recorded and sung by Roy Bailey, Coope Boyes and Simpson, Kate Rusby and John Wright, but there's nothing to compare with his own passionate performances. He has performed at festivals and concerts across the North, Otley to Beverley, Wath to Whitby, Barnsley to Donny, Sheffield's 'Off the Shelf' to Ilkley's Fringe. He has toured Belgium, Holland and Ireland. An organiser and tutor for many years with the Workers Educational Association Ray was a pioneer of the writers' workshop movement helping people of all ages across South Yorkshire's communities and beyond to find their voices, in story, verse or song.
