88:
25:
274:
Reach has been a singer all his life and has been an active choral conductor for more than 35 years. His first public performance was at age four, singing a spiritual song at his home church, Minor United
Methodist near Birmingham. His love for choral music began at Dixie Junior High School, where he
283:
During his college undergraduate years, Ray began his choral directing career at
Village Falls United Methodist Church. Following this, he was a paid singer at Fairview United Methodist Church, then later was choir director at Norwood United Methodist Church. Subsequently, he sang at First United
288:) and was baritone soloist and choir singer at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham under choirmaster and organist Joseph Schreiber. He also sang with the Birmingham Civic Opera and, while at Birmingham-Southern, sang lead roles in operas such as
279:
and later entered
Birmingham-Southern as a voice major, planning to pursue a career as a professional singer. To this day, Ray refers to his singing, among the many musical skills he possesses, as the "best thing he does musically."
227:
pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and educator, named by AL.com as one of "30 Alabamians who changed jazz history." He serves as
President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City Music Productions.
1049:
1059:
1054:
1114:
275:
sang in the choir under Tom Pinion, and later at Minor High School under John Fowler. He began formal voice lessons at age 15 with Andrew Gainey at
388:(1994) - with Robert Dickson on bass, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Sonny Harris on drums, and Gary Neil McLean on saxophone and flute.
353:
1124:
1109:
1119:
939:
988:
1017:
771:
468:
409:
247:
music, but is perhaps best known for his work in jazz, combining jazz piano stylings with
Sinatra-style vocals. He resides in
708:
1089:
917:
87:
1044:
344:, Reach directed the house band at the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards. From July 20–26, 2008, he performed at the
1084:
365:
63:
1079:
1074:
41:
529:
285:
34:
371:
On April 23, 2018, Reach was arrested by U.S. Marshals in
Alabama for the possession of child pornography.
310:
As a composer, he has written and arranged five
Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children's Theatre:
293:
239:, Motown/soul, gospel, rock, classic rock, country (contemporary and traditional), contemporary Christian,
352:
Radio 90.3 FM in
Birmingham, Alabama. On September 27, 2008, The Ray Reach Quartet, featuring saxophonist
276:
890:
798:
345:
267:
and the
Alabama Allstars. He leads his own group, Ray Reach and Friends, and is a former member of the
432:
260:
1094:
333:
In
January 2008, Reach performed as guest artist with the Howard Paul Trio at the Jazz Corner on
507:
263:(of which he is the founding director), the Ray Reach Orchestra, the Night Flight Big Band, and
1104:
664:
301:
159:
576:
297:
289:
943:
620:
1099:
348:. On August 21, 2008, he was featured on the "Tapestry" radio show, hosted by Greg Bass on
598:
8:
404:
248:
132:
1055:
Video of Blue Lou Marini and Ray Reach at St. Martin's In The Pines, Birmingham, Alabama
992:
775:
472:
334:
268:
918:"Tip led to 4-count child porn indictment against well-known Birmingham jazz musician"
394:(2005) - with Sonny Harris on drums, Chris Wendle on bass and Gary Wheat on saxophone.
1060:
Video of Ray Reach with Ken Watters and friends at the 2012 W.C. Handy Music Festival
93:
737:
259:
Reach is a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the
716:
551:
357:
264:
240:
147:
40:
It may require cleanup to comply with Knowledge's content policies, particularly
437:
337:, South Carolina, a venue he returned to with his own trio on October 3 and 4.
45:
1068:
868:
642:
163:
965:
155:
1045:
Article names Ray Reach as one of 30 Alabamians that changed jazz history
428:
361:
1050:
Video by Jerry Henry done at Nutthouse Recording in Sheffield, Alabama
1039:
869:"Interview with Ray Reach on "Tapestry" on WBHM Radio, Birmingham, AL"
846:
824:
493:
Brown, Angela: "Birmingham Beat – Uncovering the Local Music Scene",
340:
On March 20, 2008, at the invitation of Chuck Leishman, publisher of
232:
224:
151:
307:
In 1991 he returned to Minor High School as the choral director.
284:
Methodist Church of Birmingham (under Sam Owens and later under
749:
236:
231:
Reach has performed and recorded in various genres, including
802:
894:
942:. Countrymusic.about.com. February 24, 2011. Archived from
349:
244:
143:
1032:
204:
686:
33:
A major contributor to this article appears to have a
893:. Justataste.org. September 24, 2011. Archived from
571:
569:
500:
462:
460:
566:
1066:
457:
356:, drummer Steve Ramos, and Count Basie bassist
986:
399:As vocalist, pianist, arranger and co-producer
599:"First United Methodist Church of Birmingham"
1115:University of Alabama at Birmingham faculty
530:"Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars"
466:
64:Learn how and when to remove this message
915:
410:UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis
374:
1067:
891:"Taste of Fourth Avenue Jazz Festival"
392:Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas
18:
774:. Thejazzcorner.com. Archived from
13:
1125:W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars members
1110:Musicians from Birmingham, Alabama
991:. Allaboutjazz.com. Archived from
849:. Bhamwiki.com. September 30, 2007
532:. Bhamwiki.com. September 21, 2009
471:. Allaboutjazz.com. Archived from
424:Uncle Bud's Lectro Wood Experience
14:
1136:
1120:Magic City Jazz Orchestra members
1024:
916:Robinson, Carol (24 April 2018).
796:
621:"Independent Presbyterian Church"
366:Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
801:. Bhamweekly.com. Archived from
667:. Bhamwiki.com. December 8, 2009
510:. Bhamwiki.com. January 26, 2011
86:
44:. Please discuss further on the
23:
987:All About Jazz (June 9, 2010).
980:
958:
932:
909:
883:
861:
839:
817:
790:
764:
742:
731:
701:
687:"Birmingham Children's Theatre"
679:
657:
825:"Birmingham Area Music Awards"
772:"Ray Reach at The Jazz Corner"
635:
613:
601:. Bhamwiki.com. March 30, 2011
591:
544:
522:
487:
360:with guest New York trumpeter
1:
445:
715:. Bct123.org. Archived from
407:and the SuperJazz Big Band.
294:Amahl and the Night Visitors
223:(born August 3, 1948) is an
7:
1090:Jazz musicians from Alabama
989:"Magic City Jazz Orchestra"
277:Birmingham-Southern College
10:
1141:
1011:
346:W. C. Handy Music Festival
221:Raymond Everett Reach, Jr.
112:Raymond Everett Reach, Jr.
433:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
261:Magic City Jazz Orchestra
254:
199:
195:
185:
181:Keyboards, guitar, vocals
177:
169:
139:
116:
106:
101:
85:
78:
1085:American music educators
1040:Official YouTube channel
940:"Glen Duncan profile at"
665:"Birmingham Civic Opera"
450:
368:in Birmingham, Alabama.
1080:American jazz educators
1075:American jazz musicians
799:"The Birmingham Weekly"
552:"Ray Reach and Friends"
508:"Night Flight Big Band"
847:"Rick Bell profile at"
469:"Ray Reach Profile at"
302:The Marriage of Figaro
160:contemporary Christian
102:Background information
497:, March, 2006, p. 121
475:on September 17, 2011
342:The Birmingham Weekly
298:The Barber of Seville
42:neutral point of view
995:on December 23, 2007
797:Davis, Christopher.
778:on February 29, 2012
577:"SuperJazz Big Band"
375:Selected discography
1018:Ray Reach biography
495:Birmingham Magazine
249:Birmingham, Alabama
133:Birmingham, Alabama
92:Reach (right) with
946:on August 15, 2011
805:on August 24, 2021
719:on October 7, 2011
643:"Joseph Schreiber"
386:Especially for You
364:, appeared at the
335:Hilton Head Island
316:The Perfect Prince
269:SuperJazz Big Band
215:
214:
94:Branford Marsalis
74:
73:
66:
37:with its subject.
16:American musician
1132:
1036:
1035:
1033:Official website
1020:Allaboutjazz.com
1005:
1004:
1002:
1000:
984:
978:
977:
975:
973:
962:
956:
955:
953:
951:
936:
930:
929:
927:
925:
913:
907:
906:
904:
902:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
865:
859:
858:
856:
854:
843:
837:
836:
834:
832:
821:
815:
814:
812:
810:
794:
788:
787:
785:
783:
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
746:
740:
738:Howard Paul Trio
735:
729:
728:
726:
724:
705:
699:
698:
696:
694:
683:
677:
676:
674:
672:
661:
655:
654:
652:
650:
639:
633:
632:
630:
628:
617:
611:
610:
608:
606:
595:
589:
588:
586:
584:
573:
564:
563:
561:
559:
548:
542:
541:
539:
537:
526:
520:
519:
517:
515:
504:
498:
491:
485:
484:
482:
480:
467:All About Jazz.
464:
211:
208:
206:
188:
130:
126:
124:
109:
90:
76:
75:
69:
62:
58:
55:
49:
35:close connection
27:
26:
19:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1129:
1095:Music directors
1065:
1064:
1031:
1030:
1027:
1014:
1009:
1008:
998:
996:
985:
981:
971:
969:
968:. Rockgrass.com
964:
963:
959:
949:
947:
938:
937:
933:
923:
921:
914:
910:
900:
898:
889:
888:
884:
874:
872:
867:
866:
862:
852:
850:
845:
844:
840:
830:
828:
823:
822:
818:
808:
806:
795:
791:
781:
779:
770:
769:
765:
755:
753:
748:
747:
743:
736:
732:
722:
720:
711:Rumplestiltskin
707:
706:
702:
692:
690:
685:
684:
680:
670:
668:
663:
662:
658:
648:
646:
641:
640:
636:
626:
624:
619:
618:
614:
604:
602:
597:
596:
592:
582:
580:
575:
574:
567:
557:
555:
550:
549:
545:
535:
533:
528:
527:
523:
513:
511:
506:
505:
501:
492:
488:
478:
476:
465:
458:
453:
448:
377:
358:Cleveland Eaton
328:Tuxedo Junction
312:Rumplestiltskin
265:Cleveland Eaton
257:
218:
203:
186:
131:
128:
122:
120:
107:
97:
81:
70:
59:
53:
50:
39:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1138:
1128:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1026:
1025:External links
1023:
1022:
1021:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1006:
979:
957:
931:
908:
882:
860:
838:
827:. Bhamwiki.com
816:
789:
763:
741:
730:
700:
678:
656:
645:. Bhamwiki.com
634:
623:. Bhamwiki.com
612:
590:
579:. Bhamwiki.com
565:
554:. Bhamwiki.com
543:
521:
499:
486:
455:
454:
452:
449:
447:
444:
443:
442:
426:
415:
414:
405:Ellis Marsalis
396:
395:
389:
376:
373:
324:Backstage Baby
256:
253:
217:Musical artist
216:
213:
212:
201:
197:
196:
193:
192:
189:
183:
182:
179:
175:
174:
171:
167:
166:
141:
137:
136:
127:August 3, 1948
118:
114:
113:
110:
104:
103:
99:
98:
91:
83:
82:
79:
72:
71:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1137:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1105:Living people
1103:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1029:
1028:
1019:
1016:
1015:
994:
990:
983:
967:
961:
945:
941:
935:
919:
912:
897:on 2010-08-24
896:
892:
886:
870:
864:
848:
842:
826:
820:
804:
800:
793:
777:
773:
767:
752:. Jazz Corner
751:
750:"Jazz Corner"
745:
739:
734:
718:
714:
712:
704:
688:
682:
666:
660:
644:
638:
622:
616:
600:
594:
578:
572:
570:
553:
547:
531:
525:
509:
503:
496:
490:
474:
470:
463:
461:
456:
440:
439:
434:
430:
427:
425:
422:
421:
420:
419:
412:
411:
406:
403:
402:
401:
400:
393:
390:
387:
384:
383:
382:
381:
372:
369:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
338:
336:
331:
329:
325:
321:
320:The Bravo Bus
317:
313:
308:
305:
303:
299:
295:
291:
290:The Telephone
287:
281:
278:
272:
270:
266:
262:
252:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
229:
226:
222:
210:
202:
198:
194:
190:
184:
180:
178:Instrument(s)
176:
172:
168:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
142:
138:
134:
129:(age 76)
119:
115:
111:
105:
100:
95:
89:
84:
77:
68:
65:
57:
47:
43:
38:
36:
30:
21:
20:
999:December 17,
997:. Retrieved
993:the original
982:
972:December 17,
970:. Retrieved
960:
950:December 17,
948:. Retrieved
944:the original
934:
922:. Retrieved
911:
901:December 17,
899:. Retrieved
895:the original
885:
875:December 17,
873:. Retrieved
863:
853:December 17,
851:. Retrieved
841:
831:December 17,
829:. Retrieved
819:
809:December 17,
807:. Retrieved
803:the original
792:
782:December 17,
780:. Retrieved
776:the original
766:
756:December 17,
754:. Retrieved
744:
733:
723:December 17,
721:. Retrieved
717:the original
710:
703:
693:December 17,
691:. Retrieved
689:. Bct123.org
681:
671:December 17,
669:. Retrieved
659:
649:December 17,
647:. Retrieved
637:
627:December 17,
625:. Retrieved
615:
605:December 17,
603:. Retrieved
593:
583:December 17,
581:. Retrieved
558:December 17,
556:. Retrieved
546:
536:December 17,
534:. Retrieved
524:
514:December 17,
512:. Retrieved
502:
494:
489:
479:December 17,
477:. Retrieved
473:the original
436:
423:
417:
416:
408:
398:
397:
391:
385:
379:
378:
370:
341:
339:
332:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
309:
306:
282:
273:
258:
230:
220:
219:
191:1964–present
187:Years active
60:
51:
32:
1100:1948 births
966:"Uncle Bud"
438:Lou's Blues
418:As producer
286:Hugh Thomas
1069:Categories
871:. Wbhm.org
446:References
429:Lou Marini
362:Lew Soloff
354:Gary Wheat
170:Occupation
123:1948-08-03
108:Birth name
54:March 2015
924:April 27,
380:As leader
241:classical
207:.rayreach
152:R & B
148:classical
80:Ray Reach
46:talk page
920:. al.com
431:and the
225:American
173:Musician
1012:Sources
237:R&B
200:Website
164:country
150:, pop,
96:in 2004
441:(2001)
413:(2001)
326:, and
300:, and
255:Career
243:, and
156:gospel
140:Genres
135:, U.S.
451:Notes
1001:2011
974:2011
952:2011
926:2018
903:2011
877:2011
855:2011
833:2011
811:2011
784:2011
758:2011
725:2011
695:2011
673:2011
651:2011
629:2011
607:2011
585:2011
560:2011
538:2011
516:2011
481:2011
350:WBHM
245:jazz
209:.com
144:Jazz
117:Born
271:.
233:pop
205:www
1071::
568:^
459:^
435:.
330:.
322:,
318:,
314:,
304:.
296:,
292:,
251:.
235:,
162:,
158:,
154:,
146:,
125:)
1003:.
976:.
954:.
928:.
905:.
879:.
857:.
835:.
813:.
786:.
760:.
727:.
713:"
709:"
697:.
675:.
653:.
631:.
609:.
587:.
562:.
540:.
518:.
483:.
121:(
67:)
61:(
56:)
52:(
48:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
