JamesRAy's musical influences are as multifarious as the inspirations of his eccentric and variant life story. This very diversity is at the pinnacle of his dynamic and passionate performances. With band, duo or solo his live performances exude a passion like no other.

JamesRAy is the 2003 Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year and the 2002 NZCMA Entertainer of the Year Songwriter award winner. He holds the prestigious ACMA 2002 award for Best Original Song, Best Male Vocalist and the supreme award of Best Overall Performer as well as the reciepent of five top NZ Sun City Music Awards for 2003.

Since coming to New Zealand in 2000, JamesRAy has found a unique niche for himself as a much demanded solo artist, performing to sold out concerts with the likes of The Amazing Rhythm Aces as well as co-billing with such Kiwi icons as Hammond Gamble, Paul Ubana Jones and the Warratahs. Performing on the New Zealand national TV Ones' "The Good Morning Show" and numerous radio shows has allowed him to reach yet a greater audience.

JamesRAy's career began in the hillbilly dance halls and honky tonks of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee with his 'hard living' 1950's rock & country music playing ex-military father playing lead guitar. JamesRAy was surrounded by the croonings of Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Conway Twitty and many other great country artist of the time. Kentucky Bluegrass and Bob Will's Western Swing had it's affair with JamesRAy as well in those impressionable years.

As fate would have it, JamesRAy would have to discover the sounds of Jimmy Buffet and Dwight Yoakam taking him in a yet another direction for his own song writing and performing talents. Eventually making the big move to Nashville, JamesRAy came face to face with his own insurgent influences and the likes of Steve Earl, Jim Lauderdale, Lynard Skynyrd and Ray Kennedy.

Finally, JamesRAy got a super dose of musical persuasion when he accepted an offer to join the Bob Dylan backline crew on their world tour throughout the mid 1990's. By the late 90's JamesRAy returned to Nashville to write with gold and platinum award winning songwriters Kerry and Lynn Gillespie-Chater. Then fate brought JamesRAy to the shores of New Zealand where he still writes and pursues the dream of being a country music star.

Performing all over Europe, the USA, Canada and New Zealand has given this international performing artist plenty to sing and write about. "I just love to perform," says JamesRAy and that's all too evident to anyone that sees his show.

"His fresh approach to acoustic country rock and his brilliant song-writing ability lead me to think that it won't be long before he is a household name in this country. " - D. Edwards of Rock it Promotions.