We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ray Keys a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ray thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?

So far, I have been able to earn a living pursuing music full-time. I started gigging in my junior year of high school when a group of friends asked me to join their jazz quartet. That’s all I did for a while. While at the University of Louisville for jazz studies there was a point when I would consistently have 7 to 9 gigs a week. I pushed myself too hard so I had to start learning the lesson of moderation and pacing myself. Sometime my junior year, I joined a band called Kiana & the Sun Kings, which kind of started my journey into other genres. From here I joined a bunch of other bands and again had to revisit the lesson of pacing myself. I loved all if it, but being that just while in school was an unexpected struggle. But through these connections I’ve been able to play jazz and popular music for a living. I also play in church regularly. Honestly, I’ve always wanted to play music, but doing it for a living kind of fell into my lap. I’ve always had friends, teachers, and parents that supported me and put me on for gigs and opportunities.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been around music for as long as I can remember. My great grandmother had a piano and I loved Alicia Keys. She’s one of my biggest musical inspiration, hence my name. I took piano lessons starting around age 12 at Mom’s Music, then enrolled in a jazz improv class at the Youth Performing Arts School despite only being in the High School University program at duPont Manual High School. Next, I earned a jazz degree from the University of Lousiville. It’s here that I became obsessed with the fusion of popular music with jazz and began my personal study of artists like Beyoncé, Silk Sonic, Erykah Badu, and Ariana Grande. I’d studied jazz for years so I knew that would always be a part of me. I draw from all of these spaces to write and produce my own music, write and direct for other bands, and play piano in a variety of settings. I have also taught piano off and on for seven years privately, for Mom’s Music, School of Rock, and for the YPAS jazz band.

I think the thing that’s sets me apart is my love of learning and knowledge in and of itself. I feel I can learn from anything and anyone, which helps me pull applicable information to create the best product, whether that be in songwriting or playing. I’m looking for the best way to support the greater goal, not my own interest.

For example, I just completed a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in Music Business at Middle Tennessee State University to gain a better understanding of the music industry and greater business world so that I can better direct myself and eventually, other creatives, to sustainably create and earn a living pursuing their passion. I would like to learn more about the world of marketing and sales forecasting to grow the talent in Louisville. But until then, I’ll continue joining my musical skills and releasing my own music.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Louisville was hit hard in 2020 with the civil unrest after Breonna Taylor. We were also stuck in our houses due to the pandemic. Many of us worked out or practiced non-stop to fill the time. I did both, but I also got up the courage to start writing my own music- for myself. What birthed out of this time of trouble was an EP I titled Brown and Gold. This seven song work exemplifies how I felt about being a Black man in the world, and more specifically Louisville, at the time. The EP was able to help me process my life, goals, and troubles in a way that I didn’t know I could conceptualize. Before then, everything seemed so abstract but that EP helped me keep my feet on solid ground. It’s my hope that others can gain a better understanding of my perspective through the music and can find similar relief as I did.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

This question is pretty cut and dry to me. Support creatives by showing up. Just go to events these creative are putting on, buy their artwork, hire them. Share their work on social media. Bring your friends to support them. Of course everyone wants to go see the big touring act when they come through, but then turnout at local shows put on by your own community is nonexistent. The talent is there. There have been countless times I go to a show and the music is tour ready, yet the venue is empty because the person isn’t famous. I do think this is partly a marketing and promotion issue, but I also think it’s one of culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: Raykeys.com
• Instagram: Raykeysmusic

Image Credits
David Mucker Michael Baker Nick Brewer Trevin Little Jordan Blase Trey Griffin