KEEPIN' THE MUSIC ALIVE - LITTLE RAY JIMENEZ

Text courtesy of LATINO LA:

Ray Jimenez Valentine Volo

Saturday, February 15, 2014
8:00PM

Recording artist Lil Ray Jimenez aka Mr. Shake, Shout & Soul will be returning for a Valentine Souldies Review special performance. Included on his set list will be songs he recorded starting at the tender age of 11 years young to his features with the major record company Columbia, including; There Is Something On Your Mind, Loretta, My Girl, I'll Keep On loving you, My Rainbow, Leave Her Alone and others. 

Lil Ray Jimenez started his singing career at the age of 7 years young when his elder brother convinced a local high school band to let him sing on stage. After the exuberatant delivery of Elvis Presley's Hound Dog and Ready Teddy by Little Richard, the self taught singer would be a regular performer for the Delano based Rhythm Kings. Mastering the sounds from a juke box by artist like Presley, Richards and Fats Dominos, Lil Ray earned the billing moniker of Lil Elvis.

His musical studies would lead him to the mastering of rock-n-roll, R&B, Blues and crooning alike. At the age of 11, he was approached by Ed Cobb of the Four Preps to record the 1957 version of There's Something On Your Mind, originally recorded by Big Jay McNeely. By the time he reached 15, Lil Ray had committed to his singing career and made the move to Los Angeles where in short time he would perform for Otis Redding and make his way onto the Los Angeles circuit having the opportunity to study first hand the performances of Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton and Ray Charles. 

In 1962 he released Shake! Soul! & Shout! backed with Soul Stomp! accompanied by the Premiers of Farmer John fame on the Impact label for Tony Hilder. Eventually Lil Ray would become a member of the legendary East LA band, Thee Midnighters recording a response to Mary Well's My Guy, called My Girl with the flip side featuring his own recording, Loretta. Shortly after, Lil Ray exited Thee Midnighters to continue pursuing a solo career.

Lil Ray continued to develop his style of uptempo, Blues, R&B and crooning which would lead him into his next few projects including the formation of Little Ray & the Progressions. A professionally polished band which recorded the Benny King classic standard, I who have Nothing, pressed opposite of the Arthur Lee song, I Been Trying. The group then evolved into The Little Ray Motown Revue which included the production of two bands, the Epic's and the 4 Clef's, and an all female back up vocalist group called the Rayettes who performed throughout the Los Angeles iconic venues including the Montebello Ballroom, the Big Union Hall, the Huntington Park Ball Room, the Boulevard Theater and the Shrine Auditorium. 

Lil Ray's ability to develop talent as well as perform, lead him into the ultimate entertainment gig of writing and producing for Columbia Records. Relocating for the label to New York, he would rejoin forces with another East LA band who had migrated to the Big Apple on behalf of the label called Cannibal & the Head Hunters. With them, Little Ray would produce several songs that were never released. After two and a half years, Ray returned to Los Angeles where he would rejoin forces with his Midnighters counter, Willie G in the formation of the gospel group, God's Children. Since then Lil Ray has continued to make his way through the greater Los Angeles area performing for various private and public bookings while running his own recording studios.

Currently Lil Ray still owns and operates Sanctuary Studios which he houses in his two story building in Los Angeles, California. The building has been completely renovated by Lil Ray himself to accommodate the numerous projects has embarked upon including the development of a video section of his studios. Along with running the studio and producing projects for others, Lil Ray has a renewed vigor in taking his show on the road again thus returning to Riverside since his last stop in 2012 for the University of California at Riverside's Chicano Student Programs 16th Annual Radio Aztlan Music Festival where he performed to a sold out audience.

This years performance will be taking place in Downtown Riverside at the Mission Tobacco Lounge located at 3630 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92501. Doors open at 8pm with a performance time of 9pm. The venue has an intimate limited occupancy making this another Lil Ray Jimenez sold out event. Tickets prices are $20.00 per person and available at the venue box office.

For more information please contact Pablo Trevino at (951) 662-1385 or emailtripp@trippproductions.com .

Sponsored by: Tripp Productions / Vatos Y Viclas Magazine

Category	Music
When	Saturday, February 15, 2014 8:00PM
Where	Mission Tobacco Lounge 3630 University Avenue Riverside, CA 92501
Admission	Ages: 21 Price: 20.00
Contact	951.662.1385 Visit event website Send email

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