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Brian Wray

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Brian Wray
Birth nameBrian Francis Wray
OriginCanada
Died2019
GenresRock, jazz rock, jazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Piano, organ, flute
Years active1960s to 2010s
Member ofBrian Wray Jazz Trio
Formerly ofFive of a Kind
Natural Gas
Motherlode
Truck

Brian Wray was a veteran Canadian musician and musical arranger. He had been a member of three major Canadian bands, Natural Gas in the late 1960s, Motherlode and Truck in the early 1970s. He also worked with Lisa Hartt, Freedom North, Moe Koffman, David Johannesson and other artists. In later years he moved more towards the jazz genre.

Background

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Born Brian Francis Wray, coming from Montreal, he was an organ & piano player. He was once a member of the group Five of a Kind which also had a pre-Mashmakhan Brian Edwards in their line up.[1][2] While he was a member of Natural Gas, he arranged the track "Eleanor Rigby", and arranged the band's hit "All Powerful Man".[3] He had played piano and handled the horn arrangements on Freedom North's self-titled album that was released in 1970.[4] He also played keyboards in Canadian singer, Lisa Hartt's first band.[5]

Like former Truck members, Larry Ernewein and Sandy MacKay (When the band was called Sound Spectrum),[6][7][8] Wray's later in life preference was playing jazz.[9][10]

Career

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1960s to 1970s

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Five of a Kind

During the 1960s, Brian Wray was in the group Five of a Kind which also had a pre-Mashmakhan Brian Edwards in their line up.

Natural Gas

He joined George Olliver's group Natural Gas in May, 1969.[11][12] In January, 1970 while Natural Gas were playing at the Laugh In on Victoria Street, Montreal, the group surprisingly played the "2001: A Space Oydessy" theme. Wrays keyboard playing was noted in an article, "Natural Gas a natural treat" by The Gazette with the writer saying "he plays piano and organ like a man who's being doing it for a long time" adding " adds just the right touch to the band".[13] While in the band he played piano, organ, flute and added his vocals to the recordings.[14] He did the arrangements on the A side of the single, "All Powerful Man" bw "What Do You Want From My Life" which was released on Firebird FR 1806.[15][16] The single got to #76 on May 9, 1970, spending seven weeks in the Canadian charts.[17] It also at #12 on the Top 50 Canadian Content chart on the same date.[18] Their album that featured his arrangements on four tracks (two of them co-arrangements),[19] got into the Canadian Top 10. It also made the Top 50 in the United States.[20]

Motherlode

By March 1971, he was a member of the fifth version of Motherlode. The line up also included Dave Berman (saxophone), Brian Dewhurst (drums), Gerry Legault (bass, vocals), Joey Roberts aka Joey Miquelon (guitar). They didn't get around to recording any material and became part of Truck with the addition of Graham Lear.[21]

Truck

In 1972, and now a member of Truck, he was part of the lineup which also included Jimmy Roberts, Larry Ernewein, Joey Miquelon, Mike Curtis and Graham Lear.[22]

He composed the A side for the group's second single, "Get It Together" bw "Can't Wait (Until Tomorrow)", released on Capitol 72687 in 1972. The B side was composed by James O. Roberts.[23][24] In early March, "Get it Together" was getting spun on Ron Moore's play list at Radio Western in London, while "Can't Wait Until Tomorrow" (the B side[25]) was getting play on Ron Foster's play list at CKLW-FM in Windsor.[26][27] By mid-March, "Get It Together" was on John Oliver's play list at CHEC in Lethbridge.[28] The following week it was in the "Breakout Markets" section and on Ted Hayward's playlist at CJCJ Woodstock.[29]

He also played on the album Truck which wasn't released until 1973.[30] He co-wrote the opening track, "Rollin's On My Mind" with Graham Lear.[31][32] The album entered the RPM100 Albums Chart at #100 on April 21, 1973.[33][34] and at #85 was still charting on May 26.[35]

At some stage in 1973, he left the band and was replaced by Gord McKinnon who was from the group Heat Exchange.[36][37][38]

Further activities

In 1975, he was part of vocalist / flautist Jesse Foster's backing group that also included drummer Jim Norman, guitarist Mike Rodden and electric bassist Keith Jones. Their set called "Life Is Colour" was performed at the Percussion Festival, held at St. Pauls Annex Theatre in Toronto on June 29.[39]

1980s to 1990s

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He played synthesizer on Moe Koffman's 1982 album, If You Don't Know Me by Now..., released in Canada on Elektra XE1-60046.[40] The album which was produced by Domenic Troiano got a good review with Andy Gemza of Medium II saying that Brian Wray played superbly, finding a niche within the band which enabled him to be exploratory on the keyboards without taking taking anything away from the traditional jazz feel that is the norm for a Moe Koffman album.[41] He added piano to Ralph Foster's Voice of Elvis album that was released in 1994.[42] Along with vocalists Rena Gaile and Debbie Flemming, guitarist Brian Legere, bassist Jim Morgan, saxophonist John Macmurchy, Wray was one of the session men on David Johannesson's blues/rock album, Hard Times which was released on Mighty Joe Music MJM-CD111 in 1998.[43]

2000s

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In December, 2000, his group, The Brian Wray Jazz Trio was appearing at The Rex Jazz Bar.[44] In June 2001, they were appearing at the Montreal Bistro.[45] He helped with the arrangements on Canadian jazz singer, Carol McCartney's Be Cool album that was released in 2014.[46]

Death

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According to George Olliver's post on 12 March 2019 at his George Olliver R&B/Blues Facebook page, Brian Wray had died.[47]

Discography (selective)

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Album
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Natural Gas Natural Gas Firebird FB 18 1970 Band member

Arranger on "The All Powerful Man", "Eleanor Rigby",
"Rameses I"[48]

Freedom North Freedom North Aquarius Records AQR501 1970 Piano and horn arrangements[49][50]
Truck Truck Capitol ST 6388 1973 Band member - keyboards, flute, vocals
Co-composer "Rollin's On My Mind", "Sing A Song", "Take A Look"
Composer "Get It Together"[51]
Moe Koffman If You Don't Know Me by Now... Elektra XE1-60046 1982 Synthesizer[52]
Ralph Foster Voice of Elvis Snowball Records SBCD-9402 1994 Piano[53]
David Johannesson Hard Times Mighty Joe Music MJM-CD111 1998 Keyboards, hammond organ[54]
Carol McCartney Be Cool Moxy 2014 Arrangement on "'S Wonderful"[55][56]

References

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  1. ^ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, Brian Wray
  2. ^ The Gazette, Saturday, January 17, 1970 - Page 15 Pop Music, Natural Gas a natural treat
  3. ^ Johnkatsmc5 - Natural Gas "Natural Gas" 1970 Canada Jazz Rock
  4. ^ CATALINA ARTS and MEDIA Summerlea Music, Bands
  5. ^ Record World Magazine International, November 11, 2022 - COVER STORIES, Lisa Hartt Arrival Submitted by Don Graham
  6. ^ Wortley Village jazz&blues FESTIVAL - Sandy MacKay Jazz Quartet with Denise Pelley
  7. ^ The London Free Press, Jun 14, 2022 - Local Arts, Aeolian jazz bash heralds London festival season's long-awaited return - Joe Belanger
  8. ^ The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - TRUCK
  9. ^ CISION PRWeb, JULY 23, 2013 - Featured This Week on The Jazz Network Worldwide is Composer Dave Ostrovsky's New Single "Beatitude In Blue"
  10. ^ The Whole Note, Volume 6 Issue 4 - December 2000/January 2001 - Page 46 HONOURABLE MENTION
  11. ^ The Gazette, Saturday, January 17, 1970 - Page 15 Pop Music, Natural Gas a natural treat
  12. ^ The History of Canadian Rock 'n' Roll, By Bob Mersereau - FOREWORD A Life in Canadian Rock
  13. ^ The Gazette, Saturday, January 17, 1970 - Page 15 Pop Music, Natural Gas a natural treat
  14. ^ The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - NATURAL GAS
  15. ^ 45Cat - Natural Gas (Firebird) - Discography
  16. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 13 Non 12 May 9th, 1970 - Page 10 RPM 100
  17. ^ #RecordsAndCharts - Song ID: (99205) Natural Gas - All Powerful Man
  18. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 13 Non 12 May 9th, 1970 - Page 5 TOP 50 CANADIAN CONTENT
  19. ^ Johnkatsmc5 - Natural Gas "Natural Gas" 1970 Canada Jazz Rock
  20. ^ The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - NATURAL GAS
  21. ^ citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Motherlode
  22. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 17 No. 12 May 6, 1972 - Page 5 SUNDOG PRODUCTIONS SIGN TRUCK
  23. ^ 45Cat - Truck (Canada) - Discography
  24. ^ Capitol6000 - CAPITOL 72687 Get It Together / Can't Wait Until Tomorrow
  25. ^ Capitol6000 - CAPITOL 72687 Get It Together / Can't Wait Until Tomorrow
  26. ^ RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 19 No. 3 March 3, 1973 - Page 31 The Programmers FM ADDITIONS cont'd from pg. 27
  27. ^ RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 19 No. 3 March 3, 1973 - Page 26 The Programmers CAMPUS EDITIONS, RADIO WESTERN/LONDON, 45s
  28. ^ RPM The Programmers WEEKLY, Volume 19 No. 5 March 17, 1973 - https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1973/RPM-1973-03-17.pdf Page 36 BREAKOUT MARKETS, continued from page 34
  29. ^ RPM The Programmer's WEEKLY, Volume 19 No. 6 March 24, 1973 - Page 28 BREAKOUT MARKETS, CJCJ WOODSTOCK
  30. ^ Discogs - Truck (9) – Truck
  31. ^ The Review, November 29, 2013 - VINTAGE VINYL – TRUCK
  32. ^ Discogs - Truck (9) – Truck
  33. ^ RPM The Programmers Weekly, Volume 19 No. 10 April 21, 1973 - Page 26 The Programmers CAMPUS ADDITIONS, RADIO ERINDALE/CLARKSON
  34. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 19 No. 10 April 21, 1973 - Page 15 RPM100 ALBUMS, April 21, 1973
  35. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 19 No. 15 May 26, 1973 - RPM100 ALBUMS, May 26, 1973
  36. ^ The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - TRUCK
  37. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 20 No. 19 December 22, 1973 - Page 15 TRUCK RETURN HOME TO PREPARE A NEW SHOW
  38. ^ Vernon Morning Star, Mar. 5, 2017 - A record 45 years in the making
    Vernon's Craig Carmody finally sees the release of his band Heat Exchange's album, four decades later.
    KRISTIN FRONEMAN
  39. ^ Coda, August, 1975 - Page 34 Percussion Festival, St. Pauls Annex Theatre, Toronto, June 29, 1975
  40. ^ Jazz Music Archives - MOE KOFFMAN — IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW...
  41. ^ Medium II, October 27, 1982 Volume. 9, Issue 6 - Page 9 Sparkling Jazz By ANDY GEMZA
  42. ^ colnect.com - 唱片目录 : Music Record › Ralph Foster: The Voice Of Elvis
  43. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 66 No. 21 - February 16, 1998 -Page 8 New Releases
  44. ^ The Whole Note, Volume 6 Issue 4 - December 2000/January 2001 - Page 46 HONOURABLE MENTION
  45. ^ The Whole Note, Volume 6 Issue 9 - June 2001 - Page 29 HONOURABLE MENTION
  46. ^ All About Jazz, November 16, 2014 - Carol McCartney: Be Cool By Edward Blanco
  47. ^ Facebook, George Olliver R&B/Blues - Brian Wray our keyboardist for NATURAL GAS has passed
  48. ^ Discogs - Natural Gas (2) – Natural Gas
  49. ^ CATALINA ARTS and MEDIA Summerlea Music, Bands
  50. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 26 February 13, 1971 - Page 18 NEW ALBUMS
  51. ^ Discogs - Truck (9) – Truck
  52. ^ Jazz Music Archives - MOE KOFFMAN — IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW...
  53. ^ Discogs - Ralph Foster – The Voice Of Elvis
  54. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 66 No. 21 - February 16, 1998 -Page 8 New Releases
  55. ^ Discogs - Carol McCartney (3) – Be Cool
  56. ^ All About Jazz, November 16, 2014 - Carol McCartney: Be Cool By Edward Blanco
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