Ray Warleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Warleigh
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| Birth name | Raymond Kenneth Warleigh |
| Born | 28 September, 1938 Sydney, Australia |
| Died | September 21, 2015 (aged 76) |
| Genres | Jazz, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone, flute |
| Years active | 1960s - 2000s |
| Labels | Philips, Vinyl Records, Music House, psi, Rare Music, Acrobat, Jazz In Britain |
Raymond Kenneth Warleigh (born September 28, 1938 – died September 21, 2015) was a talented musician from Australia. He was known for playing the alto saxophone and the flute.
Contents
Ray Warleigh's Musical Journey
Early Life and Move to England
Ray Warleigh was born in Sydney, Australia. In 1960, he moved to England. There, he quickly became a very popular musician. Many bands and artists wanted him to play with them. He was known as a "session musician." This means he played on recordings for other artists.
Playing with Famous Musicians
Ray played with many important jazz and blues artists in the UK. These included Alexis Korner, Tubby Hayes, and Ronnie Scott. He also worked with Soft Machine, Georgie Fame, and Kenny Wheeler.
Beyond jazz, Ray also played with famous pop and rock stars. He recorded with Mike Oldfield, Nick Drake, and Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones. A jazz critic named John Fordham said that Ray brought a special touch to every project. He also played with Dusty Springfield, Marianne Faithfull, Scott Walker, and Stevie Wonder.
His Own Albums and Collaborations
Ray Warleigh released his first album in 1968. It was produced by the singer Scott Walker. A few years later, in 1971, Ray played the flute on "Sunday," a song from Nick Drake's album Bryter Layter. His flute playing on this song was very beautiful and calm. It was different from the louder flute music heard in other bands at the time.
Ray remembered Nick Drake as a normal person who loved music. He said they just went to the pub for a beer.
Ray's last album, Rue Victor Massé, came out in 2009. It was an improvised album with drummer Tony Marsh. Critics loved it, saying Ray's saxophone and flute playing sounded amazing.
In 1973, Ray joined a Latin jazz band called Paz. He played with them for eight years. They had a weekly show and recorded several albums. Ray was also a skilled sailor. He enjoyed sailing with his friend, Dr. Gillian Ross. Ray Warleigh passed away from cancer on September 21, 2015.
Ray Warleigh's Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Ray Warleigh played on:
- 1968: Ray Warleigh’s First Album (Phillips)
- 1968: Fall Out - Terry Smith
- 1970: The Lady and the Unicorn - John Renbourn
- 1971: Bryter Layter - Nick Drake
- 1975: Bundles - Soft Machine (guest appearance)
- 1977: Reverie
- 1978: One Way - Tommy Chase-Ray Warleigh Quartet
- 1980: Land of Cockayne - Soft Machine
- 1980: Wonderin' - Rollercoaster
- 2009: Rue victor massé (Psi)
With Kenny Wheeler
- Dream Sequence (Psi, 1995-2003 [2003])
