Occupation(s) Musician Instruments Vocals, guitar | Name Ray White | |
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Genres Rock and roll, blues rock, soul Labels DiscReet Records, BlueSideDownStudios Recordings Associated acts Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa, KVHW | ||
Ray white with zappa at the roxy dec 13th
Ray White is an African American soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in late 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar and vocals, forming a vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis on later tours in 1980 and 1984. White's vocals can be heard on Zappa in New York (March 1978), You Are What You Is (September 1981) as well as others. White can also be found on a The Torture Never Stops and Does Humor Belong in Music?; the former a DVD set in one of Zappa's last tours (without Ike Willis) and the latter a VHS filmed at the pier in New York; the video features White and Ike Willis' vocal harmonies. According to Zappa, White, who was deeply religious, was uncomfortable with the atheistic views of some of the other band members, which led to his departure.
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White has also worked with jam-oriented groups like KVHW, Don't Push the Clown and Umphrey's McGee since his contributions to the Zappa band, and has worked with a variety of Michigan artists, including former Rare Earth drummer Bob Weaver, as well as members of the funk/fusion combo Generic Produce.
In 2007 Ray White joined Dweezil Zappa as a special guest for the Zappa Plays Zappa Tour. White is also a member of the group Banned From Utopia, formed by former members of different formations of Frank Zappa's band who wanted to pay tribute to his work.