We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Ray recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have recently been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. While trying to make it with everything in my soul and physical being in the music industry, I found myself beginning to have to fund my own projects. I had to start thinking as an entrepreneur and not soley like a music artist. So I started on my journey of learning different aspects of what it took to be an independent music entrepreneur , make money and have fun doing it.

I was asked to choreograph for the Stax academy part-time in 2018. In 2021, I was asked to become the vocal instructor part-time. Now, in 2022, I am the Vocal Director for Stax Academy full-time, benefits, salary and all. ( A happy soul)! This major change did not hinder my ability to still do personal music projects. I love it!!!!

It has not always been easy and definitely not like this from the beginning. My parents aided in supporting my dreams as well as my financial needs. Thank God for loving supporting parents.

Some of my past major steps were signing with a label that didn’t work out, filing and finalizing a divorce that stemmed from a failed marriage but all which were learning experiences. The milestones, well , although I can’t say that either were pleasant experiences, they taught me resilience, the do’s and don’ts while making life’s decisions, that everyone does not like you because they smile or grin with you, maturity, coping skills, how to communicate and network, cherishing valuable and real relationships and etc. I came through those two things knowing that believing and knowing that just because one party does not see your worth does not mean that you are not worthy. Trust me, others will.

I’m a firm believer that God gives each of us a path to follow. Yes, I could have tried to speed the process up even knowing what I know now, but God’s plan is not our plan. Patience is the key and working to prepare so that I’ll be ready for whatever God blesses me with when it’s Jessica Ray’s time.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in a musical family. My dad, Ray Griffin, is a bass player who has played on numerous Gold and Platinum records ,played music around the house and in the car. He played on Ring My Bell ( Anita Ward), Taxi ( J. Blackfoot), Down Home Blues ( ZZ Hill) , Members Only( Bobby Bland) and hundreds of others. He was also nominated for two Grammys. He was a Stax musician who was in Watts Stax documentary. He appeared in magazines when he created his own band in 1980, Kilo. Before that he was a founding member of Ebony Web band. He is still playing at age 72 in studio sessions and whenever he is called to do other projects. Although Ray is retired and still playing music, he added another title to his prestigious works, and that is he is an audio engineer for Greater Community Church and Fed Ex. My uncle Donald Brown who is a jazz pianist and composer, played with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Art Blakey, Jazz Messengers, Mulgrew Miller, Harold Maybern, Geoffrey Keezer and James Williams. He has released 16 albums. He did production for Stax back in the day says Kenney Garrett. He retired as a professor at UT Knox.

My aunt played 5 instruments and studied music in Paris for a summer. I don’t know much else about that except that it was a fun learning experience for her. This was my dad’s side of the family.

My mom’s side of the family were doctors, psychologists, stock market kind of people. My granddad loved the Blues and singing the blues. Was he famous? No, but he was to me. He loved playing on his guitar, although he only knew two chords and one tune, he played it well. I would listen to him sing and play while playing beauty shop, not barber shop, but beauty shop with him. He played and I fixed his hair by combing and putting hair ornaments in his hair. ( laughing). My mom loves to sing but only in the shower or our home studio.

There was no getting around music because I was surrounded by musicians and music all the time. I have been singing and performing since age 8. I remember my first time singing in front of people, I was 8 years old. I sung at my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I did it and did it well, so I thought ( laughing). After completing the song, I made a bee-line straight to my mom and just cried my eyes out. I didn’t cry because i thought I had done a poor job but cried because i was so nervous. For some reason, afterwards, I loved everything about music and I knew I wanted to be in music. I went on to complete college with a Bachelors and Masters in Music performance and
Journalism.

I have performed and participated in talent shows, church choirs, party bands, solo shows, tv and magazine interviews and city recognition from our Mayor Wharton (at the time) for representing Memphis with a talent win in New York in 2016. I appeared on BET’s Wild Out Wednesdays. I have opened shows and did a duet with Aaron Nevells. In 2016-2021, I was signed to Mime Records. After that tenure was over, I became an independent artists. I have released several songs along with an album accompanied by several videos. I collaborated with an Opera artist and the former lead singer with the BarKays.

In 2021, I was the lead in my first broadway musical at the Orpheum. It was entitled “A Ferry Tale”. Ive been involved in several tv commercials and co-hosted a Welcome to Memphis series for the city. of Memphis. It is shown in our airport and welcome center for tourists arriving in Memphis. I anticipate doing more commercials and hopefully tv in general. The sky is the limit. When the opportunities present themselves, I’m there.

Although I enjoy performing and proud of what I have accomplished so far, my most proud accomplishment is Stax Academy. I love working with and teaching young minds, They have so much to offer in this music industry and are so talented. I talk with each of them on a daily. I am getting to know a whole new generation of potential Kanye Wests, Jay Zs, Aretha Franklins, Tina Turners and etc. Its simply amazing to watch young talent develop. Im learning as well as from them. I see the sparkle and hope in their eyes that someday they will be the next big star. I know the struggle, the let downs and disappointments from hearing “no” over and over again. I can help them with the core importances of surviving the music industry. They are having a strong support system, healthy dose of positive self-esteem, positive attitude, great personality, loads of confidence and a strong consistent work ethic are the key to surviving this industry or anything.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I am unique in my own right because God created only one Jessica Ray. I still love music, the lows and the highs. I look forward to what that looks like each day and take it in stride. I never give up no matter what, I might pause but never will I give up.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

There is always something to be learned or understood by anyone who doesn’t do what another might. For instance, a 9 to 5 job has always been looked upon as being security for a family. I totally understand and I get it. You always worry about being able to provide for your family financially, food, housing, transportation, insurances, childcare and the list goes on. As a creator, I didn’t hold a tradition job or 9 to 5 for a long time. That meant I had to work 10 times as hard to create income. I did it but it had to be consistent and it was but not consistently the same amount of money.
This meant you had to work harder. The whole point is that you can’t be lazy and you work still. Work is work whether its 9 to 5 or non-traditional. You can’t sleep when there is money to be made or you can’t attend family functions because that opportunity to make money has presented itself. In fact, a creative has to be creative to bring in that income and usually ends up doing more than one job to make that happen.

You definitely need income to survive , no matter what you do because we all have to eat. As long as its legal, it should not matter how you come by your income.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is that I’ve learned some hard knocks from being in the music industry that made me tougher and more knowledgeable about what to do and not to do, how to talk to people in the industry, how to shut -up and listen ( laughing) all while keeping a positive attitude and great personality so that people will want to work with you. I also learned diligence, loyalty and the importance of being true to my myself. This is valuable stuff. Its the preparation of it all and anyone thats starting out in music should not take any of the along the way stuff for granted. I teach some of these things to my students at Stax and thats rewarding when you see them demonstrating in their actions what you have taught them. Wow!

Image Credits
Photographer: Clyde sims Videographer: BNodd