MADCatfish Blues Movie Clip

Artist Spotlight: Ray Bailey

Starting the week of Sunday, July 26, 2015 we will share a video clip that showcases something about the blues, as part a weekly "MADCatfish Blues Movie Clip" series.  We thought we would kick-off the first week with an electrifying "Off the Hook!" performance by Native Angeleno, guitarist Ray Bailey.  He will be featured during the upcoming MADCatfish Blues Festival at Santa Anita Track on Labor Day Weekend.

Everybody who's anybody among blues royalty of a certain age in Southern California, played onstage in Los Angeles at the legendary Babe and  Ricky's 

Excerpt and outake from Babe's and Ricky's Inn, a documentary by Ramin Niami

Blues Club at some point. It was one of the spots where the kings of blues music would drop-in when they were in town - B.B. King, Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Milton and others heavy hitters.  This blues club was a special place where pros and amateurs alike, took to the stage to pay homage to the blues, America's true party music.

Throughout his formative musical development years, Ray Bailey got a chance to meet and play along with many of the heavy hitters, since he basically grew up at the blues club after starting to hang around the place with his guitar at the age of 15.Ray Bailey hasn't yet earned the celebrity status of being a household name,

but he has been lauded as "L.A.'s Blues Virtuoso."  Truly, among his peers, he has earned his place among L.A. Blues Music Royalty.  When he takes the stage at the upcoming 1st Annual Southern California MADCatfish Blues Festival this Labor Day Weekend, you can be assured that he'll be a point of discussion in every household represented in the audience.  Ray Bailey will close both days of this regional blues festival presented at the historic Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, CA.  He's planning a fitting tribute to one of his main inspirations and an international blues music icon, the legendary B.B. King.

The consummate artist, Ray Bailey is putting together a different show, with a different blues band both days.  "Ray Bailey & Friends" on Saturday, followed by "The Ray Bailey Review" on Sunday. MADCatfish Blues Festival could not think of a more fitting artists to put the exclamation point on this inaugural launch of the newest annual celebration of blues music in Southern California.

We'd love to know what you think about how Ray handles this popular blues song.  If you like what you see and hear, pass it along by sharing it on Facebook and other social media.  By all means, stay in touch for announcements on upcoming events and next week's MADCatfish Blues Movie Clip.
 
- La Quetta M. Shamblee