Carline Ray

Carline Ray (April 21, 1925 – July 18, 2013) was a jazz instrumentalist and vocalist. She was a member of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

Carline Ray
Born(1925-04-21)April 21, 1925
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 18, 2013(2013-07-18) (aged 88)
Manhattan
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Piano, guitar

Biography

Carline Ray was born in Manhattan on April 21, 1925. Her father was Elisha Ray, a horn player.[1]

She entered Juilliard at age 16, graduating in 1946 after studying piano and composition. She earned a master's degree in voice from the Manhattan School of Music in 1956.[2]

After graduation from Juilliard, Ray joined the International Sweethearts of Rhythm as a rhythm guitar player and vocalist.[3] After the Sweethearts disbanded, Ray played guitar and sang for Erskine Hawkins and later performed in a trio with fellow former Sweetheart Pauline Braddy.[1] She sang back up for Patti Page and Bobby Darrin, and she performed in choruses conducted by Leonard Bernstein.[3] She recorded with Mary Lou Williams and also worked with Skitch Henderson, Marian McPartland, and Sy Oliver.[4] In 1997, Ray formed the group Jazzberry Jam with pianist Bertha Hope and percussionist Paula Hampton.

Ray married Luis Russell in 1956. Their daughter Catherine Russell is a jazz singer.[5]

She appears in the 2011 documentary film The Girls in the Band.[5] She released Vocal Sides, her first album as a lead singer, the year of her death. The album was produced by her daughter Catherine.[5]

Ray died on July 18, 2013, in Manhattan, following complications from a stroke.[3][6] A Catholic,[7] she was buried in November 2013 after a funeral service at St Peter's Catholic Church in Manhattan.[2][8]

Awards
  • Co-recipient of the first International Women In Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award, "A Living Legend" (1996)[9]
  • Kennedy Center's Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival Award (2005)[5]
  • International Women In Jazz Award (2008)[9]

References
  1. Rye, Howard (2006). "Ray (Russell), Carline". In Larkin, Colin (ed.). Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6 (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J673500. ISBN 9780195313734. OCLC 70062973.
  2. Scott, Ron (July 29, 2013). "Jazz Notes: Multi-instrumentalist and jazz activist Carline Ray dies at 88". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  3. Yardley, William (July 27, 2013). "Carline Ray, an Enduring Pioneer Woman of Jazz, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  4. Rye, Howard (2002). "Ray, Carline". In Kernfeld, Barry Dean (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J673500. ISBN 9781561592845. OCLC 46956628.
  5. Tamarkin, Jeff (July 19, 2013). "Carline Ray, Singer and Instrumentalist, Dies at 88". JazzTimes. Madavor Media. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  6. "Biography: Carline Ray". AllMusic. n.d. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  7. Simmermacher, Gunther (August 18, 2013). "Setting faith to music". The Southern Cross. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  8. "Jazz Memorial for Carline Ray to Be Held at Saint Peter's Church, 11/18". Broadway World. November 12, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. "Awards". International Women in Jazz. 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
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