Ray Cummins


Ray Cummins started playing music at the early age of 5.  This took place in Northern Kentucky.  His first instrument was a 12 base accordion.  By the time he was in the fourth grade, he had studied piano and accordion and had graduated to a 120 base accordion.  By the fifth grade he started playing the trumpet.  By the sixth grade he was playing first chair trumpet in the elementary band.  In the seventh grade he was the only seventh grader playing in the high school band.  By this time he realized he wanted to become a trumpet player like Al Hirt.  He learned to play many of Al Hirt’s songs by ear and one of his favorites was "Walkin".  He noticed that this song was produced by Chet Atkins and written by Jerry Reed but he was not familiar with them at that time.  By the tenth grade he was just starting to study trumpet at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music from the first chair trumpet player of Cincinnati Symphony.  At the age of 16 ½ he became very ill and was bedridden.  Due to his illness he could no longer play the trumpet and his father bought him a guitar and a Chet Atkins’ record album.  The album was "Pop Goes the Country"  featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Hearing Chet play was one of the greatest sounds he had ever heard and experienced.  He dreamed of playing "Alabama Jubilee" like Chet with the symphony.  Today he has 10 songs for symphony and plays that same arrangement with symphonies, so dreams do come true.

By the age of 21,  he started playing with RCA recording artist, Kenny Price.  Kenny lived in Florence, KY which is in Boone County. He had the big hit on RCA, "Sheriff of Boone County".  He toured with Kenny as a featured guitarist with package tours, consisting of people such as Ernest Tubbs, the Osborne Brothers, Cal Smith, Leona Williams, and many others. He did one tour when Billy Bryd came back with Ernest Tubbs.  Kenny would feature Ray every night soloing on the guitar.  Ray would even entertain the Grand Old Opry stars in the hotel room,  dazzling them with his guitar techniques.

Between the tours with Kenny, he played hotels and clubs performing music from top 40 to country.  He also did over 500 recordings as a studio musician including mostly gospel and country.

Ray has performed with the St. Johns River City Band as a guest artist. This is a great brass band that played Carnegie Hall with Chet Atkins, conducted by Sam Fricano. Ray has appeared with them 3 times.

He is currently playing churches, gospel concerts, and more concerts with major symphonies as the guest artist.

Ray has shared the stage with such artists as:

  • Ernest Tubb
  • Kenny Price
  • The Osborne Brothers
  • Cybil Shephard
  • Don Gibson
  • Louie Nye
  • Roy Clark
  • Merle Travis
  • Lenny Breau
  • Betty Jean Robinson
  • Cal Smith
  • Leona Williams
  • Bill Monroe
  • Charlie Louvin
  • Billy Walker
  • Tex Ritter
  • Jim Hutton

The ultimate endorsement comes from Chet Atkins himself.  Chet says  "Ray Cummins is my good friend and one of the best fingerpickers around."  I'm sure you'll agree with Chet as you listen to Ray's masterful guitar performances.  

Visit Ray's web site.

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Discography

 

Precious Memories

  1. Precious Memories  3:31
  2. There Is Power In The Blood  1:57
  3. He Looked Beyond My Faults  3:24
  4. He's The Savior Of My Soul  2:50
  5. Take My Hand Precious Lord  3:00
  6. Rose Ann  3:39
  7. Sweet Hour Of Prayer  3:36
  8. The Old Rugged Cross  3:14
  9. Holy, Holy, Holy  3:44
  10. Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know  3:00
  11. Daddy's Hands  3:14

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Pure Christmas
  1. Jingle Bell Rock  2:08
  2. Winter Wonderland  2:38
  3. White Christmas  2:24
  4. Blue Christmas  2:52
  5. Silent Night  3:12
  6. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  2:41
  7. Noel  1:48
  8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman  1:36
  9. Jingle Bells  2:08
  10. Do You Hear What I Hear  3:35
  11. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S  3:13
  12. Little Drummer Boy  3:50
  13. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer  2:23
  14. Medley: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear/Deck The Halls  1:39
  15. Away In A Manger  1:53
  16. We Wish You A Merry Christmas  0:50

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Plays Guitar Varieties
Cassette
  1. Cascade  2:08
  2. End Of The Road  2:38
  3. Orange Blossom Special  2:24
  4. Mister Sandman  2:52
  5. Colonel Bogey  3:12
  6. Levee Walking  2:41
  7. Precious Memories  1:48
  8. Magic In Your Eyes  1:36
  9. Here Comes The Song  2:08
  10. Sunrise  3:35
  11. The Shadow Of Your Smile  3:13
  12. Jesus Loves Me  3:50
  13. In The Garden  2:23

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Praise Hymns For Guitar
Cassette
  1. Oh How I Love Jesus
  2. How Great Thou Art
  3. In The Garden
  4. The Old Rugged Cross
  5. Alleluia
  6. Further Along
  7. Softly & Tenderly
  8. Amazing Grace
  9. When They Ring Those Golden Bells
  10. Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome
  11. Just As I Am
  12. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
  13. Something About That Name
  14. Waltz For The Lonely
  15. Vincent
  16. America, The Beautiful

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