Behind the Music
Cray Rail has been playing guitar for thirty years - since the age of 15 – and has been writing original songs for 25. In that time, he’s played coffee houses, pubs, open mics, living room gigs and private parties, solo and in bands.
Part of a musical family, Cray and his brothers and cousins jammed in South and Central Jersey and there are numerous band practice tapes from that era, some of which may be published.
Early Career
In 2000, Cray recorded his first solo acoustic demos (which were also his first digital recordings.) This formed his first album, “Cray’s Cuts.” Recorded in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this marked a milestone in Cray’s career. The sessions were a mix of covers and originals, including one of his best known songs: (Don’t Censor Yourself) Say What You Feel.
In 2005 Cray joined a group of indie musicians called Acoustic Philly and rubbed elbows with other like-minded musicians who appreciated acoustic roots such as Dani Mari, Katie Barbato, Daniel Collins, The Roddies, Josh Larson and many more.
Hittin' the Grove
By 2006 he ran an open mic he ran at the Mt. Laurel Starbucks outside Moorestown, NJ. He enjoyed his time jamming with local musicians such as Jesse Riddle, Flora Eugenie and Skip Flatt. At that time, a radio disc jockey for NJ 101.5 said he heard someone singing in that Starbucks who sounded like John Prine. He was talking about Cray Rail.
Soon after in 2007 Cray recorded an eponymous 5 song EP recorded at the legendary Sine Studios in Philadelphia. That EP was a milestone for Cray and launched a new band The Cray Rail Trio, under his own name.
In 2009 Cray was back as sideman for another Philly area band, Bong Hits For Jesus, where you can hear Cray tearing up a blues solo on their single “High Up.” This single was Cray’s first experience having a song he jammed on played on the radio.
Master of Arts
A show at Pianos NYC gave Cray the impetus to move up to North Jersey to be within the NY metro area and perform there.
After moving to Newark, NJ in the summer of 2009 Cray continued playing gigs at places like Jersey City’s own “The Barracks” with Darren “Deicide” Kramer as well as busking with his acoustic in the NYC subways with Reginald Guitaro Guillaume.
By 2013 Cray was back in the studio with a completely new concept. With tongue firmly in cheek he wrote songs about Willy Lumis from Dark Shadows and drew inspiration from the epic of Gilgamesh with a 5 song EP entitled “Space Bender” from his then-new band Warp Lord. Influenced by two of his hard rock favorites Clutch, Black Sabbath and Corrosion of Conformity.
The Musician Today
In 2015 Cray landed a job as a high school teacher and thus began a long hiatus from music, but he continued to play privately and occasionally in public. There are great recordings from this period and songs written which are yet to be published. However with the establishing of his online presence, CrayRail.com, he is once again playing and recording a decade of new songs.