MUMBAI: 10-year old Orange County-based prodigy Ray Goren has been added to the lineup of the Real Blues Festival Of Orange County 2. The Orange County-based youngster came to the attention of Real Blues founder Papa J while he was performing live recently on Dr. Barry’s Traveling Medicine & Blues Show heard each Sunday over KOCI 101.5 FM. Ray will be performing at Real Blues Festival 2 (his first-ever live performance in Orange County) with longtime L.A. blues keyboardist, Deacon Jones. A brief bio. of Ray Goren:
Ray Goren started playing guitar about two and a half years ago at the age of 8. Ray discovered the Blues when he was searching on YouTube and inadvertently typed “BB” instead of “JJ”, stumbling on a B.B. King video clip. Ray was mesmerized and within hours was listening to Albert King, B.B .King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and others. For the days and weeks that followed Ray spend hours listening to blues while begging his parents for a guitar.
Within days of getting his first guitar Ray was actually playing the Blues. It was as if he had reconnected with a long-lost friend. Six months later Ray played live for the first time, sitting in with Harmonica player Mason Casey who spontaneously called Ray to the stage. Since then Ray has been a regular on the Southern California Blues scene. He has played twice at the House of Blues in Hollywood; has appeared twice on Foxxhole with Jamie Foxx at the Conga Room; appeared at the KJAZZ Long Beach Blues Festival; and at numerous local venues. He has also participated in the local Blues society’s annual “Six String Show Down” with other top guitarists based in Southern California
Related Post
Eighteen months ago Ray was invited to sit-in with Hammond B3 Legend Deacon Jones (band leader for Freddie King and John Lee Hooker). Since then, Ray has become a regular part of Deacon’s band. The connection between Ray and Jones illustrates the power of Blues music by defying age and time Deacon is convinced that Ray has been here before because “no kid can play the Blues like Ray.”
The Blues Festival of Orange County “2,” taking place Sunday, May 15, again this year at The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant, 1120 W.17th St., in Santa Ana Info: (714) 550-6700. Showtime 12 noon-10 p.m. Admission $20. ($5. off with any accredited Blues Society I.D.). $2. from the sale of each ticket goes to the Santa Ana High School Band. A portion of the proceeds and twenty pair of tickets are also being donated to the Santa Ana Chapter of Hear The Music Live, a non-profit organization that provides free live music experiences to foster youth nationwide. Tickets available at both Olde Ship locations (Santa Ana and Fullerton) as well as at www.bluesgonesouth.com. The event will be broadcast live over Errorfm.com (BuddhaMan’s International Experience) as well as U-Steam. Emceeing will be longtime Southern California Radio Personality, Ann The Raven, whose Blues program is heard every Saturday afternoon on KCSN 88.5 FM
Ten great bands are scheduled to perform at RBF 2: Papa J And Friends; Anaheim-based Claude von Trotha Band; Michele Lundeen a/k/a “The Queen of Steam” & Blues Streak; The Scorch Sisters; The Other Mules; K.K. Martin; Oozie Blues; Ron Tanski; Alastair Greene Band; a special guest appearance by the Santa Ana High School Jazz And Blues Band; and just added, 10-yr.-old blues guitarist Ray Goren with Deacon Jones
“The opportunity to have underprivileged kids get a chance to experience a different vision of life is very important to me,” says Real Blues Festival founder Papa J, explaining his desire to aid (foster youth group) Hear The Music Live, as well as having the local High School band perform. “I grew up underprivileged and truly understand what it is like to not have the money to do things some of your friends can do. I did go to school with cardboard in my shoes…my mother has been a foster parent for the last thirty-five years. I have reached out to Santa Ana High School so that younger people can experience the art-form of American Blues. We have also arranged for five teenagers from foster homes (via Hear The Music Live program) to be a part of the road crew to set up the sound for the festival. I want them to see the work that has to be done for this kind of event,” he concludes
A Brief Synopsis Of The Bands & Artists Performing At Real Blues Festival “2” :
*Papa J And Friends: Creator and driving force behind the Real Blues Festival is an exciting performer who won “Entertainer of the Year” at the 2010 Los Angeles Music Awards. An accomplished blues harpist and vocalist best known for his work with OC-based group, Blues Gone South. “Coming up on sixty years of age, Papa J still bounces on stage every night with the energy of a guy half his age… from his contagious smile to his gut-wrenching blues, he puts a thousand percent into making every performance mean something special to every person watching and it sure works on me” (Casey Regan/AMERICAN BLUES NEWS).
*Claude von Trotha Band: Popular Anaheim-based ensemble whose members have longtime names in the Blues world is fronted by multiple OC Music Awards nominee, guitarist-vocalist Claude von Trotha (Rufus Thomas, Elvin Bishop, Edwin Starr). Von Trotha does double-duty as a main component in another highly successful Orange County-based band, Blues Bettie
*The Scorch Sisters: Fronted by powerhouse vocalist, Francesca Capasso, this new arrival on the SoCal Blues scene also includes talented longtime area musicians, keyboardist Alicia Morgan and guitarist Kimberly Allison. They will be making their performing debut at Real Blues 2 and it should be exciting!
*Michele Lundeen & Blues Streak: RBF2 welcomes “The Queen Of Steam,” exciting vocalist Michele Lundeen. The San Diego resident headlined the First National Women In Blues Festival and is a multiple San Diego Music Awards “Best Blues” Nominee
*K.K. Martin: Orange County musician has drawn high praise for his Delta Blues-style guitar prowess. Ever the humanitarian, Martin has organized his own “Blues For The Rising Sun” Benefit April 17 in Long Beach. “A genuine bluesman who believes in keeping it real” (Jim Santella/SOUTHLAND BLUES).
*Oozie Blues: “Old School” blues ensemble from Riverside area returns by popular demand to play RBF2. Vocalist Ray Brooks; guitarist Terry DeRouen; saxophonist Bobby Spencer; bassist Norman Pingrey; and drummer Johnny D are some of the last musicians to have performed in the fabled South Central L.A. blues scene.
*Ron Tanski: Contemporary Blues pianist possesses the playing panache’ of Dr. John and the singularly unique vocal style of Tom Waits. Nominated in the “Best Blues, Roots Or Americana Artist” category for the 2011 Los Angeles Music Awards, this performer is starting to make a national name for himself.
*Alastair Greene Band: Santa Barbara guitarist extraordinaire Alastair Greene fronts his own band and is the touring guitarist for the Alan Parsons Live Project. “The Alastair Greene Band has achieved an elusive result with “Walking In Circles,” waxing a blues-rock album that holds appeal for traditionalists”(BLUES REVUE).
*The Other Mules: From uptown urban sounds to downtown delta, this L.A. quartet first cut their musical teeth at longtime blues haunt Babe And Ricky’s. “Promising new blues band on the Southern California bar-room scene Check ’em out!” – Cadillac Zack, President, Southern California Blues Society.
*Santa Ana High School Jazz & Blues Band: Twenty members strong, this multi-faceted band plays a variety of musical styles including Mariachi, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Blues. RBF2 is proud to welcome these talented youngsters to this year’s event!
