Ray Shulman

Raymond Shulman (8 December 1949 – 30 March 2023) was a British musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. With his brothers Derek and Phil, he co-founded the progressive rock band Gentle Giant.[1] Shulman also worked as record producer in the late 1980s and early 1990s for alternative rock artists such as The Sundays and The Sugarcubes.[2]

Ray Shulman
Shulman performing in 1977
Shulman performing in 1977
Background information
Birth nameRaymond Shulman
Born(1949-12-08)8 December 1949
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Died30 March 2023(2023-03-30) (aged 73)
London, England
GenresProgressive rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals
  • violin
  • viola
  • guitar
  • trumpet
  • recorder
  • keyboards
  • drums
  • percussion
Years active1960s-2023
Formerly ofSimon Dupree and the Big Sound, Gentle Giant

Early life

Shulman was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire to Louis Shulman and Rebecca Laufer, and attended Portsmouth Technical High School. His father was a trumpet player in a jazz band, and that was the first instrument he learned to play.

Career

Simon Dupree and Gentle Giant

After many years of learning how to play the violin and guitar, he was primed for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as a violinist, but his brother Derek convinced him to join his band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, with their eldest brother Phil. They scored a hit in 1967 with Kites. Simon Dupree and the Big Sound later evolved into Gentle Giant in 1970.[3] Shulman was in Gentle Giant from the beginning in 1970 to the last tour in 1980.

Ray Shulman at the Palais Rameau, Lille, France, on 25 May 1976

Shulman was quite adept at other instruments as well, sometimes doubling on violin, recorder, trumpet, acoustic and electric guitars. Shulman and keyboardist-bandmate Kerry Minnear composed or co-wrote much of the music for Gentle Giant.

Producing

He went on to become a record producer in the late 1980s and 1990s, working with the Sugarcubes, the Sundays, the Trash Can Sinatras, Ian McCulloch and the Defects, among others. He also created music for several video games, such as Privateer 2: The Darkening and Azrael's Tear and released two trance EPs under the pseudonym Head-Doctor.

Personal life and death

Shulman died in London on 30 March 2023, at the age of 73.[4] He was said to have been suffering from a long illness. He was survived by his wife, Barbara Tanner, and his two elder brothers, Derek and Phil Shulman. His death was announced via Gentle Giant's social media on 1 April 2023.[5][6]

References
  1. Eder, Bruce. "Gentle Giant: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  2. "Interview: Ray Shulman of Gentle Giant". Spectrum Culture. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. Faber, Michel (11 May 2023). "Ray Shulman obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. "Ray Shulman, One of 3 Brothers in Prog Rock Band Gentle Giant, Dies at 73". Best Classic Bands. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  5. "Gentle Giant". Twitter. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. Scharf, Natasha (1 April 2023). "Gentle Giant's Ray Shulman dead at 73". LouderSound. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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