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Ray Lyon - Biography

Born on April 18, 1957 in Newport News, Virginia, Ray began playing piano when he was six years old. A resident of Boca Raton, FL for many years, he has recently relocated to Waynesville, NC, a small town in the mountains of west North Carolina.

Education & Influences

As a youth, Ray studied classical piano with the renowned Argentinean concert pianist Raul Spivak. He also studied jazz piano with Vince Maggio (University of Miami) and Chuck Marohnic (Florida Atlantic University).

Collegiate studies were at Palm Beach Community College, Eastman School of Music, University of Miami (FL), and Florida Atlantic University where he graduated in 1982 with B.F.A. in music (jazz arranging and composition).

Musical influences and inspirations: (in no particular order) Antonio Carlos Jobim, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jan Hammer, Gino Vannelli, Bela Bartok, Wayne Shorter, Isao Tomita, Vince Mendoza, Toots Theilemanns, Pat Metheny, Igor Stravinsky, Lyle Mays, Mark Isham, Brad Meldhau, Yellowjackets, Claude Debussy, Claus Ogerman, Liz Story, Weather Report, George Benson, George Duke, John Rutter, and almost anything with a lot of reverb.

Performances & recordings

Besides being a veteran jazz keyboardist and pianist on the south Florida music scene for many years, Ray was a member of guitarist Randy Bernsen's Ocean Sound Band and recorded on three of his albums along with such luminary jazz artists as Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. Ray has also performed with jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter Ira Sullivan, saxophonist Ed Calle, and flautist Nestor Torres.

Engineering & Producing 

 
Ray has been actively involved with recording engineering since 1980, and has owned and operated his own studio, Balsam Pillow, since 1992. He was also a co-owner of Spectrum Recording Studios, a popular south Florida recording studio, for several years.
 
Ray has produced, recorded, mixed and and/or mastered projects for Erin O'Donnell, Jackson Bunn, Randy Bernsen, Nestor Torres, Richard Brookens & Yellow Bell, Pam Rozell, Athenas, Vicki Richards, Scott Marischen, Billy Bones, Relative Viewpoint, Matt Johnson, Rick Krive, Valerie Z. & Paris, Warner Brothers Publications, Abaco Music, and Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale, among others.

In 1993, Ray released his debut CD, "Farewell To Shadowlands", on his own label, Burning Blue Records. His second project, "Figures Of The True" was released in June of 2000. Ray’s latest CD, “Beginning To See”, continues to develop and expand the contemporary jazz stylings found on his earlier projects. 

Other Interests

Besides music and recording, Ray enjoys traveling, reading, bible study, meteorology, and spending time with his wife, Stephanie.

Future Plans

Ray is continuing work on two new original projects. The first, entitled "In The Day Of Small Things”, is scheduled for release in 2008. Additionally, he is composing and recording a CD of prayer and meditation music called "Lucid Dreaming".

Contact information

Ray Lyon • email: balsampillow@bellsouth.net • phone: 828•734•7569