Ray Davis

Ray Davis is a singer/songwriter on a mission: to personally introduce the world to High-Vibe music and arts. High-Vibe, according to Davis, “celebrates the best and highest ideas about life, humanity, and each individual’s unique opportunity to contribute something good to the world" without pandering to simplistic feel-good formulas or clichés. Davis’ songs speak of personal challenge as well as transformation, of questions along with answers, and use stories and reflection to suggest new ways to deal with old, common issues. It’s powerful soul-medicine for those sick and tired of mediocrity and the status-quo.

 

Davis takes inspiration from such iconic, classic singer/songwriters as James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Bill Withers, and gospel legend Andraé Crouch. Fans find the same attention to melody, creative use of harmony, soulful vocals, intelligent story-filled lyrics, and rich arrangements, but all re-imagined and reflecting Davis’ wide-ranging stylistic influences. Davis gives special credit to pioneering New Thought singer/songwriter Rickie Byars Beckwith, whose Rhythm-And-Joy music combines adventurous and skillful use of multiple styles with Ancient Wisdom teachings. In fact, it is Ancient Wisdom/New Thought studies and practices along with his Christian background that inform Davis’ lyrics.

 

Davis’ latest project is called “The Soundtrack by Ray Davis, Act I” and is the first of a three-EP series to be released in 2015 on his custom label, High-Vibe Records. “Act I” contains six original songs recorded in his home studio. Davis sang, played, and programed most of the parts on the record with notable exceptions being the stellar backing vocals of Reirani Taurima, Nailah Porter, Cheryl Jackson, Angee Hughes and Arnaé Batson. The first track, “The Average Man” features a posthumous contribution by good friend and guitarist Miles Joseph (Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Player, Bob Dylan) whose soulful playing Davis transplanted from his “Ray Davis Live at Kula” CD. And, closer to home, track five, “Her ‘lujah”, a song Davis says was inspired by his fiancée Laurie Wilder’s mother (who passed away three days before he was scheduled to meet her) features backing vocals by Wilder and her two daughters, Lisa Potter and Rebecca Turk.