Dave Ray began playing the electric bass, guitar and trumpet at an early age,  and now teaches guitar and bass guitar lessons in Austin Texas at the Austin School of Music.  While attending the University of North Texas School of Music, he began to focus on studying the bass, including the upright bass.  Dave rose through the ranks to the UNT ‘3 O’Clock Jazz Band’ before graduating with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1988. 

 

Since moving to Austin in 1989, Dave has performed with many local artists including Texas Music Hall of Fame member blues/rock guitarist Van Wilks, Texas country artist Kevin Fowler, southern rock band Johnny Law, singer/songwriter Mark Jungers, progressive rock band Libra’s Rib, R&B vocalist (and NBC’s ‘The Voice’ alumnus) Nakia, singer/songwriter James Rider, former Johnny Law guitarist Brady Hughes’ band ‘Bird and the Early Worms’, Douche Magouche (the alter-ego of fellow ASM instructor Chris Crossland) and many more.

 

With guitarist Van Wilks, Dave has performed around Texas at many venues, events and festivals including the Dallas International Guitar Festival, SXSW, Gruene Hall, South Padre Concerts By The Bay concert series, the Republic of Texas Biker Rally kick-off party and the Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride & Concert.  He has also performed with Van in Europe, the US Virgin Islands (headlining at the Texas Society of The Virgin Islands Annual Chili Cook-Off on St. Thomas) and in Bangalore, India, headlining the Indigo and Blues Festival at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore, India.  With the Van Wilks Band, Dave has performed &/or appeared on bills with notable performers such as Billy Gibbons, Eric Johnson, Christopher Cross, Robin Trower, Larry Carlton, David Bromberg, the Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock) and many others.

 

Dave worked as sound engineer and taught bass, guitar, and music theory at the original Austin School of Music location on 5th Street from 1996-1999.  In 2000, Dave left the Austin School of Music to accept a position as sound engineer at Ben Blank Audio, and then later accepted the same position at Stinson Recording Studios.  His engineering and production credits include Jim Scarborough, KLBJ’s Local Licks Live CDs 1998 and 1999, Van Wilks, Mark Jungers, David Goldsby, and Libra’s Rib.