SUGARAY RAYFORD
IN CONCERT!
Part 109 of the No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series!
Saturday November 5, 2022
Sugaray Rayford
“A colossus of an entertainer with a voice so big it could knock a house down, yet at times, so tender it could ‘move you to tears‘.” – UK Vibe
– Live and Onstage @ World Records Saturday November 5, 2022
Part 109 of the No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series!
“Sugaray Rayford’s the total package — brilliant songwriting, energetic performances, inimitable vocals — and In Too Deep reveals every facet of his marvelous gifts to us.”
— NO DEPRESSION MAGAZINE.
Sugaray Rayford returns with In Too Deep (CDs at World Records), the follow up to his 2020 Grammy® nominated Somebody Save Me, an album which also earned Rayford two major Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer and Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year (2 straight years).
Combining classic soul melodies with funky R&B grooves, raw blues power and mashed up with modern sensibilities, the album takes on issues, such as PTSD, civil rights and social justice. With vibrantly detailed arrangements tailored to showcase Rayford’s deft portrayals and interpretations, In Too Deep is a poignant album that seeks to inspire and uplift.
Albumism described Rayford as having “a sound that’s undeniably fresh and inspired,” while PopMatters declared it “will appeal to fans of Gary Clark Jr. and Chicano Batman.”
At his core, Sugaray Rayford is a galvanizing uniter. His live shows are a party. Some conversations may be had, and some self-reflection may occur, but at the end of the day, people leave feeling a sense of joy and togetherness.
In Too Deep
Somebody Save Me (CDs at World Records) “features a killer band and was recorded live, giving a sweaty, urgent vibe that is tough to capture, but magic when it happens.” (Soul Tracks). “With an all-star cast of musicians from the bands of Dwight Yoakam, Jakob Dylan and Mavis Staples, plus the horn section from Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the soulful blues, gospel and R’n’B coalesce into a 10-track rave-up that should satisfy fans of all three genres.” (Goldmine Magazine)
If you listen closely to Sugaray’s music, or even better, attend a concert, you will hear a mélange of black roots music including soul, blues, funk, gospel, jazz, rock n’ roll and even shades of reggae and hip hop.
“Think back to, say, the Golden days of Chess and people like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters; then factor in the sound of classic soul men like Solomon Burke and add a sprinkle of the big voiced icons like Teddy P and you’re getting near to the sound of Sugaray Rayford. Float that over an authentic soul backing in the manner of Daptone and Stax and you’re getting near to the sound of ‘Somebody Save Me’.” (Soul and Jazz and Funk)
Somebody Save Me
Sugaray Rayford, has won the prestigious B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, the Soul Blues Male Artist Award.
Sugaray was blown away by his wins, “I am so honored and humbled that the fans of the blues have awarded me with The B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. And, winning Soul Blues Male Artist back to back years with the talent in that category is truly amazing! I am so grateful.
Eric Corne, Rayford’s writer and producer, added, “Seeing Sugar win The Entertainer of the Year on top of the Grammy nomination for “Somebody Save Me”, just makes me immensely proud.”
Soul blues singer Sugaray Rayford returns with a driving up tempo track that pushes the envelope much like he did on his 2020 Grammy nominated album, “Somebody Save Me.” An undulating surf guitar and playful percussive B3 organ create an expansive backdrop for stream-of-consciousness lyrics delivered with a dramatic flair. While the roots of the song are blues and soul, the production and instrumentation put a fresh spin on things.
Homemade Disaster
Dark Night of the Soul
Sugaray Rayford ‘s early years were full of turmoil. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer. “She suffered and we suffered,” Rayford says. “Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives improved. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul.” Rayford began his musical career at the tender age of seven, singing and playing drums in church, and his gospel influences definitely shine through in his music. The soulful rasp and emotive vocal style hint at his first-hand experience with hardship, and a childhood marked by poverty and loss.
As an African American youth growing up in poverty, Rayford, like many in these communities, saw two paths out, drugs or the military. Rayford chose The Marines and served for 10 years. But Rayford doesn’t fit widely held perceptions of the military as is evident in the lyrics of songs like “Time to Get Movin’” or “Dark Night of The Soul.” Sugar recalls, “Eric (Corne) and I talked about the traditions of soul music and the powerful social messages of artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Sly Stone, Sam Cooke and James Brown. We both felt strongly about social justice and wanted that to be a focus of the music.
I’ll Play The Blues For You
You and I
But to offset the darker side we wanted to be sure to include songs expressing light and love and that’s what you get with “You and I”, “Is it Just Me” and the two beautiful ballads, “My Cards Are on the Table” and “Somebody Save Me.”
Sugaray has fronted his own band since 2010, called the Sugaray Rayford Band. This band is currently made up of world-class musicians who tour extensively internationally: Alastair Greene on guitar, Drake “Munkihaid” Shining on keyboards, Allen Markel on bass, Lavell Jones on drums, and Aaron Liddard on sax. Ralph Carter is Suga’s writing partner, joining the band on bass for live gigs on occasion.
In the studio and in person, Sugaray Rayford is developing a reputation as a force to be reckoned with and an artist to watch in the coming years. So, “Sit back and listen to one of today’s best blues-soul singers. Even better, attend one of his live performances where his energy can totally galvanize an audience.” (Elmore Magazine)
The Revelator
Sugaray at World Records 2018
Sugaray Rayford – Live and Onstage
@ World Records Saturday November 5, 2022
Buy your tickets at World Records
during business hours:
Wednesday – Friday 11 AM to 5 PM
Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM
• In Person
2815 ‘F’ Street Bakersfield, CA
• By Phone
661-325-1982
WORLD RECORDS – 2815 ‘F’ Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 – 661-325-1982
Where Music Matters Most since 1982