It’s easy to learn about people through Wikipedia but there are so many things you won’t find in there.

We have lost someone irreplaceable.. someone who was a one in a million artist, performer, mother, grandmother, daughter and friend to so many. I heard her guitarist, Bobby Murray, say that Etta believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself. It occurred to me that she had a way of doing that through her whole life - collecting and building character in others the way a college does. Etta was my college, music was our religion.

There is no way to relay the depth of love and closeness we experienced together during her most difficult and ultimately most triumphant years, rebuilding a life in shambles following her treatment for heroin addiction.

As many of you know, I first met Etta at age 19 and Etta was a tender 36 years old when I began playing with her. She believed in me before I knew there was a ‘me’ to believe in. She went all in, hiring me as her trusted musical director and guitarist when she couldn’t afford to carry her own band with her.

We traveled around California, often by car with me in the back seat, her 4 year old son, Donto at my side. We would pull into a club at 3 or 4 pm, I would meet the club owner and rehearse the local band he had assembled for Etta at soundcheck. We would then break for dinner, play 2 hot shows, and do it again in the next State or city. I grew up fast because she trusted me. With me, she had a loyal friend who would never tell her , “no” or “I can’t”.

Yes, everybody worshipped at the Church of Etta, young and old, famous and nearly famous. All the greats wanted to be near her, to share a stage with her and to warm themselves near her fire.

Because of that fact, I was playing with my idols as a kid on her stage. Because of her I learned to be trustworthy, loyal and professional. She showed me the ropes and in return I paid my dues with her. She shared her spotlight and her fire as I watched, played and learned. From Santa Barbara to San Francisco, from Boulder to Montreux, to touring with the Stones.

There aren’t enough words to relay the gratitude I feel for having known Etta. She is gone now, but her music and memories of us together burn bright as ever.

I love you Etta, rest in peace.

Love,
Brian

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Here are some links for those of you who would like to hear and/or see Etta James (with a toe-headed me in tow) back in the day:
“Live From San Francisco”: Recorded at the Boarding house in 1981, released initially in 1994, (and co-produced by yours truly). This was recording during a hot run of club dates, not long after opening for the Rolling Stones on “Some Girls/Emotional Rescue” tours. Etta was on FIRE and the band was tight, lean and mean. An essential Etta James album.
http://www.amazon.com/Live-San-Francisco-Etta-James/dp/B0000000LS
http://www.rhapsody.com/album/Alb.128805

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Video: 1982 w/ Etta James. Leading the Hollywood Rock and Roll Revue through 9 minutes of transcendent music w the Empress of R&B. This was special because the band were great friends of mine outside of Etta’s music world and I got to share her with them that night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ0zdF0bRPM

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At Monterey Festival in ‘75..Starts w Bobby Blue Bland , then Etta at 2:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=KfZvJ5mQ9r4

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In Germany, for television broadcast in1977, she was 39, I was 22.
#1"Misty”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhNitWAwEe8&feature=related

#2 “I’d Rather Go Blind”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1adWlI7t8g&feature=related

#3 “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nqOYvkKpbc&feature=related

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Early clip from around 1961: US TV “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgiDQZH0Yiw&feature=related

I SO wanted a Frenchie four years ago and after buying all the stuff -the cool food bowls, bed, toys, etc - the dog I wanted was sold on the morning I was going to pick it up… It really bummed me out.

I then started going to the local Animal Shelter to look for a dog almost every day, for months. One night at a party, a dear friend came up to me and said, “I heard you’re looking for a dog. How would you feel about a French Bulldog?”

After retrieving my jaw from the floor, I said, “are you kidding, that’s what I’ve been looking for!” About a week later, her neighbors who were having personal problems and could not keep their dog anymore allowed me to adopt my little buddy, Charlie.

I’ll never forget him strutting up Main St with his big smile, beside his buddy, “Kegger”, a St. Bernard. From that day, Charlie was mine! He has truly become THIS man’s best friend. It’s been a life changer, with so much fun and love coming at me every day. He just needed some guidance, patience, lots of love and an ocean view*. [ha!]

I’m so pleased to have improved the life of another little being who was not being loved and cared for the way he deserved. Adopting brings a satisfaction which can’t be matched by buying a dog from a breeder, as I had intended to do. There are so many sweet, adorable pets waiting to be adopted and loved in your area right now.

For this Valentine’s Day, join me and my dog, Charlie in supporting the Pet Adoption Fund, the largest non-profit, no-kill animal rescue organization in Southern California. I have designed a new wristband, check it out! They’re avaialbe to pre-order now…

The Magnet image from my two solo albums, Mondo Magneto and This Way Up has been set into a cool, thick metal logo tag also featuring my Brian Ray logo. The tag is then snapped onto a flexible wristband.

This limited edition bracelet is available to pre-order, in advance of Valentine’s Day, as a way to show some love to adoption for pets. You can join the “club” by wearing this limited edition bracelet, while contributing to the happiness, love, and respect of our animal friends! A major portion of each wristband sold will go directly to the Pet Adoption Fund: www.petadoptionfund.org.

These cool matte black wristbands are made in the USA from hypoallergenic 100% silicone with pewter alloy tags. Please select large or medium size wristband, which arrives with tag attached. There are 100 of these special Brian Ray / petadoptionfund.org bracelets available for $9 USD apiece [plus S&H] with shipping, to anywhere on the planet. They will go fast, so don’t wait… Shipping starts on January 23rd in time for Valentine’s Day.

Love,
Brian

*Ocean view optional.

I took a big chance in booking my first ever solo tour, my Tourette del Sol in Central and South America. The people who joined me there showed me the best time ever, on fun nights while working our tails off together.. It couldn’t have been more satisfying.

It was a risky, challenging move.. Being up on stage in foreign continents, was thrilling beyond words and made all the more delicious when I witnessed people who barely spoke a word of English, half a world away, singing the words to my songs in the clubs and theaters we played…Holding up signs with the lyrics on them and smiling like the South American sun.. truly a memory which will last forever.

I am struck again and again with the mind-blowing notion that music unites us all in a way that I never felt so deeply as I did in this last year. Whether watching fans sing my lyrics, or Paul’s incredible fans crying while singing his beautiful music, I see that emotions and humor travel at the speed of light. We have a visceral, almost involuntary response to music.

I feel so blessed and thankful to the fans and friends who show us the love they feel for the music we share. I am blessed to have the intense, undying support of so many of you for my solo music and videos, your feedback is my nourishment, my payment for the years I have spent doing what I love, Without you, there is no music, without you, no me…

I love you all, thanks for the best year EVER!

Here, for your enjoyment is my free download, AIF file for the single edit of, “Very Happy Song” (#occupy mix) featuring an acoustic intro from an interview in 2009, and Charlie Chaplin’s speech from “The Great Dictator”.. relevant to the days we live in.

Please enjoy, and share.

Happy Holidays to you all,
Love,
Brian

I thought about it and decided to write one anyway. In fact she inspired the tone of the whole album to be more positive in tempo and lyric and I’m grateful for that, but I couldn’t help but write a sardonic and sarcastic lyric for this one, given the times we are in today.

When the #occupy movement started out with less than 100 protesters in Zuccotti Park, it resonated for me as a musician who struggled to make a living for most of my adult life. I have been plugged in to politics since I was a kid and now realize I’m a total political geek!

On a recent trip to NYC, I grabbed a cab to see the burgeoning protest at Zuccotti for myself and sang along to my song while walking thru the occupy camp.

Brian French at Tempo Entertainment cut together the footage along with protest scenes from all over the USA.

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with success, wealth and capitalism, it is only the perversion of capitalism at the hands of our elected officials, with bank deregulation which has led to this fissure in the center of our country with huge income disparity. The less advantaged see their chances at the American dream dissolving in front of their eyes, while the rich have watched their incomes accelerate exponentially, with tax codes favoring only the richest. Our planet’s health has been imperiled by the reckless disregard for climate change, in favor of profit, with resulting extreme weather affecting us all now.

This video is a simple document of the times we live in, from my point of view..

These are the voices of the 99%.

It is not partisan, it is not an attack on our great country. It is a music video. My father fought in WWll to protect my right to say whatever I want about where I see our country today and I will never back down from my right to say what I feel.

Thanks for your support.. Stay tuned for more!

“Very Happy Song”
Written by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber
The musicians are: Davey Faragher - bass, Pete Thomas - drums, Adam MacDougal - keys, Russ Irwin and Jason Paige - backing vocals, Brian Ray - lead vocals, guitars, shaker.

Recorded and Mixed by Joe Zook

All the best,
Brian Ray

We started off in Panama with 2 rehearsals, a guitar clinic outreach for kids and parents and our first show. Backing me up on tour was Nube 9, a great band from Buenos Aires, who I sat in with last May, while on break from touring in S. America.

At first it was a little rough, with lots of work to do to put the show together but with dedication and hard work from all involved, we had a great show, notwithstanding the noisy amps and a few surprises on opening night.

The opening show in Panama

The Nubes did a fiery opening show, then announced me and together we ripped into a set of material from my 2 solo albums, Mondo Magneto and This Way Up. I also did a cover of Smokey Robinson’s “The Tears of a Clown” and Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” (written for my sister, Jean Ray). I’ll attach a picture of my setlist for you to check out! Nube 9 did a great job preparing on their own before joining me in Panama and really delivered when the lights went down!

On to Buenos Aires…

The next day we flew into Buenos Aires for 3 nights in a row. The first, at The Cavern Club had sold out in 23 minutes and was a real rush. The audience sang along to almost every song of mine, and I was blown away!

Still having a noisy amp and trying not to show it became a theme by this time, hahaha! ACTING! The crowd was lovely, so many kind people who have supported my solo stuff for the last years from so far away.

On to Tigre…

Next was Tigre, a sweet city about 45 minutes away from town in a newly renovated Theater Pacheco. We had a press conference there with the Minister of Culture for the theater opening. He gave me a cool book and wooden boat model too. Good guy! The sound and lights were very good, state of the art.

Next night was the Roxy Disco back in Buenos Aires, a standing room rock club. By the time I played my set at 1:00 am the place was stuffed and again, I was thrilled - grinning ear to ear - because you freakin’ cool rockers knew my songs, at times better than I did!

On to Sao Paulo… oh wait…

Ok, so now.. ahhh, day off, the first real day off after 6 long hot late nights straight, before our flights to Sao Paulo, right? Nice.. but then I get an email from my buddy and tour manager, Martin that says, “All airports are closed and flights cancelled due to a Volcano ash cloud blowing over Buenos Aires…” NOOOOO!! I spent the day trying to find a way out to play our last show, in Brazil! So much planning, all for naught? Awww, no!

Well, as luck on our Tourette del Sol would have it, the wind carried the ash cloud over some other city so we could continue our gypsy wagon rock show in Sao Paulo. Flights left on time.

“HEY!”

The last show brought a terrific, big crowd.. Can you imagine my surprise when they all raised signs with “HEY!” on them for my song, “Hey Miranda” and again for “This Way Up”. Everyone at Na Mata Cafe was wonderful to work with.. Again, great sound and lights.. Killer local crew and impressive fans too.

I’m blown away by the energy of the great fans in Central and South America who discovered my solo material through my tours there with Paul, my videos, my site. They now make up a huge part of the cool fans and feedback on my site. I’m a lucky sap to have met so many of you on this, my first EVER solo tour.

Big Thanks to Nube 9

BIG thanks to Nube 9 for the musicianship, support and laughs, Martin Urionaguena for the planning and hard work, Cliff (at Na Mata), Priscilla Ann Fauza, Sara Bassan, Joy Yoros, David M. Benaim and Turko for all of your love and support.

Mostly, huge thanks to the fans whose love for real, live music transcends the miles and language differences between us, to find a way to join me and sing along to my songs with the energy of the Volcanos. I do it all for people like you.

Live DVD coming soon!

Stay tuned for a live DVD with highlights of my Tourette del Sol, coming soon! I hope to take my show to a town near you all in the future, the world is waiting and I can’t wait to meet more of you. Until then, take care of each other and rock onwards!

With love,
Brian Ray

So, without further ado, here are the VIP winners.
(You may notice I’ve made room for more winners where possible)

Panama City, Panama ~ Latitude 47:
Tomás Augusto Grimaldo Varela+1
Stefan Bran+1
Grace Dalice+1

Buenos Aires ~ Cavern:
(all single passes, due to being over sold out already)
Julio Cesar Diaz
Pablo Grabarnik
Monica Beatriz Vasta
Juan Manuel Bertolino
Brenda Giménez

Tigre ~ Teatro Pacheco:
Matias Perconti
Patricia Lucanera+1
Angelica Sagurie +1
Monica Frusto +1
Marcos Liniers+1

Buenos Aires ~ Roxy Disco:
Ferno Vigo +1
Daniel Urtubey +1
Marcos Liniers +1

Sao Paulo, Brazil ~ Na Mata Cafe
Clarissa Carvallo +1
Gabriela Pine de Camargo+1
Kristina “Brazil”+1
Adriano Nunes +1
Heitor Crespo +1

Cheers all,
See you soon.. let’s rock the house!

Brian

I will be giving away 2 pairs of VIP tickets for each of the shows on my tour!

All you need to do is tell me, here in my comments section, why YOU should be chosen by me to attend! I will look at every comment and chose, then announce to everyone who my guests will be. I would ask you add in your comment which show you prefer and only enter if you can actually attend a show.

The winners will be announced by me on Friday October 7th here on my website.

Good luck & see you soon!

Brian

As of this printing I have had 232 comments and 160 likes on my Facebook page, as well as hundreds of invites on my @brianrayguitar page at twitter… That’s astounding!

I have heard from the Netherlands, Mexico, all over the USA, Germany, Japan, the EU, Ireland and Glasgow, various cities in South America, Central America and Canada too, just to name a few glorious cities and countries. WOW..

Ok, just so you know I wasn’t expecting that and I don’t mean to tease you. I wish I COULD play everyplace on the map, that would be terrific! I only have a 2 week window for my solo shows, so I can’t do all of the fine destinations you suggested. In fact, it’s hard to plan for solo tours considering my (always exciting!) schedule, so please bear with me.

As of now, I will be playing 5 shows in South America in October with Nube 9, the phenomenal Argentinean band who backed me while on our last tour break in Buenos Aires.

Panama City, Panama

• October 11: Latitute 47

  Bella Vista, Urbanización Marbella, Calle 47 No. 25

  

Buenos Aires, Argentina

• October 13: The Cavern

  Paseo la Plaza - Av. Corrientes 1660 - Buenos Aires

  

• October 14: Teatro General Pacheco

  Santiago del Estero 185 - Gral. Pacheco, Tigre

  

• October 15: The Roxy Disco

  Av Casares y Av. Sarmiento, Buenos Aires

  

Sao Paulo, Brazil

• October 18: Na Mata Cafe

  Rua da Mata 70 - Itaim Bibi - Sao Paulo

  

I will announce a contest soon to win 2 tickets to each of these shows as well as a meet and greet after the set! Different names will be chosen for each show, so everyone has a chance.

Please join us there and rock with me if you can make it. And I’ll do my best to get to the rest of you in good time! Thank you again for the feedback.

Love,
Brian

Vitoria Muniz

Tomas Fernandez Calvo

Silvia Lunazzi Baldi

Pablo Carballo

Nathan

Jennifer Pastecchi

Francois Lange

Danny

Anne Hoover

Could the nine of you please send an email to info@brianray.com with your full name, your mailing address and the CD you’d like (you can choose either This Way Up or Mondo Magneto).

Congrats to you all!

Fiona

I am thrilled to have received entries from all over this planet: Russia, Rio, Buenos Aires and all of S, America, Mexico, USA, EU and the UK. You are all so generous and talented, I never thought it would be so hard to choose just one. All of the different images, photos, drawings, fonts and paintings were moving, original and right on point. You are true winners to me, one and all.

After a week of deliberating I have decided on this cover by Clay Howard because it had the mood, the whimsy and the feeling the song has to me when I listen to it.
This cover will be seen worldwide.

Almost all of your submissions are featured on the “b side” cover and each of your works will stay up on my flicker page as well.. To the other people in the Top 10 I am offering a gift: your choice of “This Way Up” or “Mondo Magneto” CD’s sent to you, with free shipping as a thank you from me and the Whooray Records team.

All the best to you and thank you for making this release of my new single, “Under The Sun” so special and memorable. I hope you enjoy the music and my new video w rare live recording footage.

Video for “Under The Sun”

Download an mp3 of “Under The Sun”

Let’s all get out and enjoy the Sun.

Thanks for your support!

Love,
Brian