Bio 5/2015
Sugaray was nominated for BB King Entertainer of the Year and Traditional Male Vocalist for the 2015 Blues Music Awards . Sugaray has fronted his own band since 2010, called the Sugaray
Rayford Band . This band is currently made up of world-class musicians. Ralph Carter on bass who is also his writing partner, Gino Matteo on guitar, Drake Shining on keyboards, Lavelle Jones on drums, Allan Walker on sax, and Gary Bivona on trumpet. But the Sugaray Rayford Band is only one of his projects. As of May 2011, Sugaray became one of the lead vocalists for the Mannish Boys , who are under Delta Groove management. This international act performs 6-8 times a year. He sang lead vocals on 9 songs on Double Dynamite the Mannish Boys CD that won Best Traditional
Blues Album in May 2013 at the Blues Music Awards. They are also nominated for 3 BMA’s this year, 2015. His first solo CD Blind Alley was a self-release in 2010, which garnered critical acclaim.
His second solo CD Dangerous , was released on 9/17/2013 under the Delta Groove label and debuted at # 2 on Blues Debut Chart, #6 on the Roots Music Chart and was #8 on The Living Blues
Top Blues Albums of 2013. His 3 rd CD Southside, hit the streets May 19,2015, and is all original music written by himself & Ralph Carter. Southside debuted at the top of the charts and is getting heavy radio play worldwide. He also performed in a musical called “Low Down Dirty Blues” with
Felicia Fields & Chic Streetman at the Milwaukee Rep. It opened March 20 and closed May 24, 2015.
The play is moving on for a run Nov-Dec 2015 at The Cincinnati Playhouse. One review states
"Highly recommended … a unique combination of complete authenticity and theatrical polish." —
Chicago Sun-Times
Below is the journey that has taken Sugaray to this point in his career.
Texas born Caron “Sugaray” Rayford began his musical career as a small child singing & playing drums in church, and his gospel influence can be heard and felt in his music. Rayford's phrasing is intimate and conversational and the soulful gravel in his voice hints at his firsthand experience with hardship. He grew up in
Texas, his childhood marked by poverty and loss. He remembered a sad game he played with his brothers, a competition that determined who was skinniest by counting the number of belt holes left unused. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer. When she died, it was a kind of relief. "She suffered and we suffered," Rayford said. "Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives were a lot better. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul.”
When Sugaray belts out a song, you not only hear it, you feel it. The excitement in the room is palpable when he takes the stage; he is a superb vocalist and entertainer. His dynamic voice is large just like the man. With his old school vocal style, echoes of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass can be heard. At 6’5” he is a big man, but he moves with grace and energy. His fluid dance steps will remind you of the Legendary
James Brown.
His switch to contemporary music began about 15 years ago in the San Diego area, where he sang lead vocals with a R&B/Funk band called Urban Gypsys. With this band he had the privilege of sharing the stage with many notable artists such as The Average White Band, Dennis Quaid, Joe Luis Walker, Kal David, Super
Diamond & Venice, to name a few. After dabbling in blues, Suga realized that the blues was where his heart and soul belonged. So after some soul searching he left the Urban Gypsys and became lead vocalist for Aunt
Kizzy’z Boyz, a Temecula area blues band. Shortly after joining the band in 2004, they released their first CD
“Trunk Full of Bluez”. This band was hungry and did over 200 gigs a year over the next few years and their popularity rose exponentially. Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz represented San Diego (Blues Lovers United San Diego) in
Memphis Tennessee January 26th- 28th, 2006 at the International Blues Challenge (IBC), and brought home the 2nd place prize. The band began playing higher profile gigs and in 2007 released their 2nd CD “It’s Tight
Like That”. In September 2008, the Boyz won the LAMN Jam Grand Slam Urban Artist of the Year title by a landslide; they beat out hundreds of competitors. The band was offered a distribution deal on the spot by RBC
Records. Tabitha Berg wrote, “The band’s most valuable ingredient is that of the band’s dynamic front man
Sugaray, he knows how to read and work a room. While most artists simply perform, exceptional artists are responsive to the mood of the crowd. The energy shifted when AKB took the stage, and they had the crowd on

its feet within seconds.”
After moving to Los Angeles several years ago, Sugaray was asked to host a blues jam at Cozy’s in Sherman
Oaks. It is through this venue that Sugaray met and played with innumerable world-class musicians. Suga’s desire to explore and expand his musical vision has been nourished by these musicians. His solo career has flourished in LA.
He also travels the world singing with other bands like Igor Prado Band, “Big Pete” van der Pluijm, Sax Gordon and several other musical bands.
He has done studio vocals on several projects, such as the theme for Judge Joe Brown , the movie trailer
City Lights , several songs on Person of Interest , True Blood and many other projects.
May 2012 he made his stage debut starring in the Tony award winning play “Ain’t Nuthin’ But The Blues” at the Portland Center Stage in Portland Oregon. He joined members of the Tony nominated New York Broadway cast playing the part previously played by the late Ron Taylor. It had a 6-week run where every show ended with a standing ovation.
Notable Festivals & Gigs
Tremblant International Blues Festival 2015
Notodden Blues Festival 2012
Hondarribia 2011 & 2013
Moulin Blues Festival 2014
Lucern Blues Festival 2014
Doheny Blues festival 2014
Cazorla Spain 2012
Zouk Mikael International Festival Lebanon 2012
Edmonton Blues Festival 2012 & 2015
Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2011
Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival 2011 & 2013
Bronze, Blues & Brews 2013 & 2016
Porretta Soul Festival 2015
Gaildorf Blues Festival 2015
Blues Now Basel Switzerland 2014 & 2015
Blues Sur Seine 2007 & 2013
Bain de Blues 2011
Tour in Brazil & Chile with Igor Prado 2013
Portland Waterfront 2012 & 2014
RK Blues Belgium 2013
Bay-Car Blues 2013
Dubai Jazz Festival 2014
Sement Blues Festival 2013
Blues Under The Bridge 2014
Sunbanks Festival 2015 and many more, see website for complete listing of current & past gigs; sugarayblues.com

Southside  consists  of  all  original  songs  written  by  Rayford  and  his  writing  partner  Ralph  Carter.  This  CD  has  a  Memphis  Stax   feel  to  it  and  it’s  original  soulful  contents  highlight  Suga’s  current  perspective  of  the  blues.  Gino  Matteo’s  guitar  is  as  eclectic
as  the  guitarist  himself.    The  band  is  tight  and  the  grooves  are  intoxicating.
The  Sugaray  Rayford  Band  consists  of:
Sugaray  Rayford  Lead  Vocals
Gino  Matteo:  Guitar
Ralph  Carter:  Bass
Lavell  Jones:  Drums
Leo  Dombecki:  Keyboards
Allan  Walker:  Sax
Gary  Bivona:  Trumpet
Jade  Bennett,  Zara  Davis,  Rachele  Quiogue:  Back  Up  Vocals
Guest  Performances:
John  Thomas  (JT):  Keyboard
Bob  Corritore:  Harp
George  Pandis:  Trumpet
Bill  Bixler:  Baritone  Sax
Recorded  on  tape  at  SlideAway  Studios  in  Shadow  Hills  CA
Produced  By:  Sugaray,  Ralph  Carter  &  Chuck  Kavooras
Engineered  &  Mixed  by  Chuck  Kavooras
Mastered  By  Steve  Holroyd  &  Jorgen  Carlsso
Debuted  at  #5  Living  Blues  in  May
Southside  #11  International  Blues  Airplay  Chart  July
“Wow!    “Southside"  is  tailor-­‐made  for  Soul  Blues  Album  of  the  year.  Remember  this  and  mark  my  words,  it  will  win.  It's  dynamite.  Love  it”
Brian/KRCL  Utah

The artists on Blind Alley:
Nuthin' I Wouldn’t Do (For a Woman Like You) written by Al Kooper
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Jimmy Z: Harmonica & Sax/ John “JT” Thomas: Keyboards/ Alvino Bennett: Drums/ Hank Van
Sickle: Bass
Dark was the Night, Cold Was the Ground written by Blind Willie Johnson
Chuck Kavooras: Slide Guitar/ Sugaray: Vocals
Death Letter written by Son House
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Tim Bogert: Bass/ Bryan Head: Drums
Blind Alley written by Ralph Carter and Caron “Sugaray” Rayford
Sugaray: Vocals/ Gary Mallaber: Drums/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Ralph Carter: Bass/ Phil Parlapiano: Keyboard/ Allan Walker: Sax/ Gary
Bivona: Trumpet/ Alicia Morgan & Francesca Capasso: Back Up Vocals
You Upset Me written by B.B. King
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Lou Castro: Bass/ Bryan Head: Drums Jeff Paris: Keyboard
I Let love Slip Thru My Fingers written by Al Kooper
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Jimmy Z: Sax/ John “JT” Thomas: Keyboards/ Alvino Bennett: Drums/ Hank Van Sickle: Bass
You Can’t Win For Losing written by Arthur Adams
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Rhyhm Guitar / Jim King: Lead Guitar / Lou Castro:Bass / Teddy Andreadis: Keyboards/ Lavell Jones:
Drums/ Alicia Morgan & Francesca Capasso: Back Up Vocals
I’ve Got to Move
Sugaray: Vocals/ Teddy Andreadis: Organ/ Lisa D. Foreman Back Up Vocals
I Sing the Blues written by Sugaray & Chuck Kavooras
Sugaray: Vocals/ Gary Mallaber: Drums/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Ralph Carter: Bass/ Phil Parlapiano: Keyboard/ Allan Walker: Sax/ Gary
Bivona: Trumpet
Overnight Sensation written by Joe Gorfinkle
Sugaray: Vocals/ Chuck Kavooras: Guitar/ Vince Tividad: Bass/ Drums: Patrick Caccia / Clarinet: Geoff Nudell

Artists on Dangerous:
Sugaray Rayford: vocals
Sugar Ray Norcia: harmonica (1, 3), vocals (4)
Kim Wilson: harmonica (8, 11)
Big Pete: harmonica (13)
Randy Chortkoff: harmonica (6, 10, 12)
Kid Andersen: lead guitar (7, 9, 10), rhythm guitar (12)
Franck Goldwasser: lead guitar (5, 6, 11, 13), slide guitar (8, 14), National Steel guitar (12), rhythm guitar (2, 9, 10)
Gino Matteo: lead guitar (2)
Monster Mike Welch: lead guitar (4), tremolo guitar (6), rhythm guitar (1, 3, 8)
Anthony Geraci : piano (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11)
Fred Kaplan: piano (5, 7, 10), organ (2, 13)
AND MORE!
In 2011 Sugaray joined the Mannish Boys for a few shows, and the chemistry was solid and immediate - his powerful and dynamic performances pushed the band to new heights, and the bond was sealed. His work as a featured vocalist under the Mannish Boys umbrella, both live and on their "Double Dynamite" release, made it abundantly clear that he was not only deserving of his own Delta Groove release, but that it was inevitable. So the wheels were put in motion to surround him with the best and most musically compatible blues talent available.
"Dangerous" represents a cross section of classic and contemporary, originals and seldom-heard covers, all representing the truth at the core of Sugaray's blues soul. From the Son House classic "Preaching Blues" and post-war gems from Junior Parker, Gatemouth Brown and Pee
Wee Crayton, to well-honed originals like Sugaray's own "Stuck for a Buck", "Need a Little More Time" and "I Might Do Somethin' Crazy", it's all killer, no filler. Supporting Sugaray is an all-star cast that includes Franck Goldwasser, Willie J. Campbell, Randy Chortkoff and Jimi Bott from the Mannish Boys, plus special guests Kim Wilson, Monster Mike Welch, Big Pete, Kid Andersen, bass man Bill Stuve, veteran pianists
Anthony Geraci and Fred Kaplan, and the only other Sugar Ray available (outside of the boxing ring, anyway), powerhouse vocalist and harp master Sugar Ray Norcia. Of special note is the duet Norcia wrote especially for the occasion, appropriately enough, "Two Times Sugar". So although Sugaray Rayford may be a new name to some, he's definitely no overnight sensation, or this season's 'next big thing' - he's here to stay, right where he belongs.

Reviews
"Sugaray Rayford is a revelation as he powerfully moans the blues…" – Blues in Britain Magazine
"Not many singers can take us from the delta to the modern chitlin' circuit as easily as he does. A big man with a big voice and plenty of personality…" – Jazz & Blues Report
"Whether it's rompin' Chicago blues, Memphis Stax-powered soul, scorching Texas blues or New
Orleans-tinged jazz, Sugaray fields whatever's his way with confident versatility." – Colorado Blues
Society
“The passing of B.B. King didn’t just mean the loss of one of the seminar guitarists of blues history. It also entailed the loss of one of the great blues voices – deep, rich and resonant – and the touchstone for a particular blues style, with a warm, jazzy, big band feel. It’s comforting, then, to find that a band leader and singer like Sugaray Rayford aspires to similar vocal and stylistic capabilities.”Blues Enthused UK
W

Chip Eagle | Apr 28, 2011 |
Sugaray  /  Blind  Alley  /  Self-­‐Released
Do you love unexpected happenings as much as I do? Ever have your boss give you a raise “just because”? Did your wife ever surprise you guys with a bunch of flowers? Well, when I first sized up this disc and saw that the songs were mostly covers from Al Kooper, B.B. King, Arthur Adams, Son House, and others, I was a little hesitant. Then I realized I’d been given a blues gift when my ears were opened up by the sounds coming out of the speakers. What a loud joyous noise!
Sugaray is a Texas gospel man that moved to San Diego and got the blues. Even with all that sun and fun, you can still get down and out. Some of you may know him as the singer from R&B outfit Aunt Kizzy’z
Boyz, who took second place at the International Blues Challenge in 2006. Since then he headed north to
Los Angeles and left the rhythm behind to focus on the blues.

This is his first solo album, and he is backed by musicians who have been staring at some of the biggestnamed behinds in the business. Springsteen, Eddie Money, John Mayall, Vanilla Fudge, Bruce Hornsby,
The Temptations, and Steve Miller all have had these guys backing them. So you get an idea of the pedigree here. This is some serious stuff. They come together like a strong support group helping a new member.
Sugaray could do the public address at a sporting event without a microphone. His voice is that big. So naturally the band needed to step up to the plate, and they hit a dinger here with some hard-driving original rhythms. The rhythms are the audience and Sugaray is the preacher on the album. You know how they say you can change gospel music and R&B by changing the topic from God to women? Well, this album is close to that. Although it is a deeper shade of blue than any gospel album.
Blind Alley starts off at its brightest moment with Al Kooper’s “Nothin’ I Wouldn’t Do (For a Woman Like
You).” The song is strong, upbeat, and contagious. You are hooked from the beginning. A brilliant pick for the first song. As soon as I hit play I knew the album is going to keep playing until the end.
Then the second song is quietly introduced as a dedication to his mother who passed away. “Dark Was
The Night, Cold Was The Ground” clocks in at 1:50, with Chuck Kavooras playing a haunting guitar part and Sugaray moaning through the song. It’s an amazing piece that you have to hear. Now that the hairs on the back of your neck are on end, Kavooras rips into Son House’s “Death Letter.” I think this song is on the overdone list, but this version didn’t do me in. The gritty slide guitar gives it a great attitude, and
Sugaray just might come to tears by the end of the song if it goes on any longer.
The rest of the album blends the gospel, funk, and blues sounds into a wall of sound. The horns riff through the original “Blind Alley” with the subtle accents of the female backup singers at just the right moments. Even clocking in at a hefty 7:22 you wouldn’t mind taking a U-turn and doing it all over again. If you need a healin’ cue up “You Can’t Win for Losin’.” It’s about those dog days we all have, but Sugaray’s delivery is so upbeat your spirits are up in the clouds with angels while this song is on.
There are big voices in the world, and Sugaray is one left standing after a ten-round fight. He has a band that is expressive as a Van Gogh and just as thick in texture. And if you want to know how blue they can get, Sugaray will tell you in “I Sing the Blues.”
Texas born Caron “Sugaray” Rayford began singing in the church, and while he has roots in gospel and soul. In San Diego, he began fronting a funk/R&B band, the Urban Gypsys, but while dabbling in the blues he realized his heart and soul were in this idiom. He started fronting Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz, with whom he made some recordings and competed in the International Blues Challenge. Moving a couple years ago to
Los Angeles, Sugar Ray he hosted up a jam in Sherman Oaks and then hooked up with guitarist Chuck
Kavooras whose CK All Stars became the house band for the jam. The house band is a rotating group of musicians who have played with numerous legends and famous folk like Al Kooper, Slash, Steve
Lukather (Toto) and Mike Finnigan have sit in. Sugaray recently issued “ Blind Alley ” (self-produced) recorded at Kavooras’ Slideaway Studio with a variety of musicians joining them as well as contributing material.
Sugaray is a big man and has an equally powerful voice. The church roots are clearly evident when he sings on a nice varied mix of material. He comes roaring on “ Nuthin’ I Wouldn’t Do (For A Woman Like
You), ” one of two songs Al Kooper contributed here. It features wailing harp, some blues-rocking guitar

and a busy accompaniment that, however, doesn’t smother his personality. With Kavooras’ stark slide and use of tremolo guitar, Sugar renders a field holler moan on the rendition of a Blind Willie Johnson recording “ Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground ,” a performance dedicated to his mother.
Sugaray’s strong sing does justice to Son House’s “ Death Letter ” which opens simple hand clapping and tambourine behind Kavooras stark delta groove before the band kicks in and the guitarist rocks out a bit on his solo.
The title track, which Sugaray co-wrote, takes us from updated country blues to an uptown soul-blues with a funky groove, riffing horns, and a vocal that evokes Artie ‘Blues Boy’ White and the late Little Milton. Phil
Parlapiano’s piano break adds to this tracks strong appeal. Some nice Albert King styled guitar opens the slow drag groove reworking of B.B. King’s “ You Upset Me Baby ,” that again showcases his ability as a singer as provides a convincing low-key reading of the lyrics.
Al Kooper’s soulful ballad, “ I Let Love Slip Thru My Fingers, ” provides an opportunity for him to show another side of his style with some nice saxophone from Jimmy Z. His rendition of a terrific Arthur Adams song, “ You Can’t Win For Losing ,” is another strong soul-blues performance that evokes classic Little
Milton. A short gospel performance with just organ and vocal chorus, “ I Got to Move ,” is followed by the strong “ I Sing The Blues ,” about him being raised in the country and his whole life has been a struggle,” set against a moody horn arrangement as he really reaches deep in the gut for his vocal here. “ Overnight
Sensation ” has a jazzy flavor with some nice clarinet from Geoff Nudell while Kavooras taking a more lowkey approach here.
Sugaray Rayford impresses this listener more each time I play “ Blind Alley .” Not many singers can take us from the delta to the modern chitlin’ circuit as easily as he does. A big man with a big voice and plenty of personality that makes “Blind Alley” a recording to savor. His website is http://sugarayblues.com
/ and this can be purchased at cdbaby.com
. He impressed me enough that I am likely to check out the two discs by Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz that he was vocalist on. Posted by Ron W
If there was honestly truth in advertising, when you looked up the word soul in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Sugaray Rayford. One of the things that I found most impressive was the fact that all the tunes on the disc were written by Rayford and his writing partner Ralph Carter. This is rock-solid soul/blues in the old-school tradition. Songs of love both lost and found bear witness in the hearts of most all of us, unless we have been living in a cave somewhere or under a rock, and, if that is the case, my bet is that that relationship between a man and a woman (or whatever your preferences might be) lies at the root of the problem. Rayford was built for soul music. His voice is big and powerful, yet soothing. I've heard it said that God created Man and Woman and from that union the Blues was born. While not all love results in heartbreak, from a statistical standpoint, the chance of it happening from time to time are astronomical. Soul singers have been spreading the word that it is not a fatal situation and that true love will find a way since the beginning of time. Sugaray is joined on this venture by Gino Matteo, a superb guitarist, Ralph Carter on bass, Lavell Jones on drums, Leo Dombecki on keyboards, Allan Walker on sax, Gary Bivona on trumpet, Jade Bennett, Zara Davis and Rachele Quiogue on background vocals and an array of special guests including John Thomas on keyboards, Bob Corritore on harmonica, George
Pandis on trumpet and Bill Bixler on baritone sax. This is a band of seasoned professionals who know the ins and outs of playing with a band. Plus, for the most part, they have worked together in the past.
The result is a sound that flows like honey and is almost as sweet. If you like old-school soul, Sugaray
Rayford's "Southside" will surely fulfill your needs. This one is a keeper. -- Bill Wilson