Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Vonray

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Years active
  
1996–2003

Active until
  
2003

Albums
  
Vonray, Fame

Labels
  
Record label
  
Vonray VonRayKewl Stuff WebsiteMaking Cool Stuff KEWL

Origin
  
Orlando, Florida, United States (1996)

Genres
  
Similar
  
Remy Zero, Flashlight Brown, July for Kings, Diamond Nights, Sheila Nicholls

Vonray part of me plaza theater


Vonray was an alternative rock band from Orlando, Florida. The group formed around singer/songwriter Vaughan Rhea, originally from Tennessee, who had come to Orlando playing as an acoustic coffee shop act. Inspired by grunge music, Rhea put together a band with his brother, Dave, and began playing somewhat harder sounding tunes, though still acoustic-based. Soon after, the band was opening for Third Eye Blind and Seven Mary Three, among other national acts, and released an independent debut album, Panes, as VonRa in 1997. A second independent album release, VonRa, followed in 1999, and a third, Fame, came in 2001.

Contents

Vonray httpsiytimgcomvipKJCbpySiWwhqdefaultjpg

As major-label attention increased, the band scored a high-profile slot opening for fellow Florida-based rockers, Creed, in summer of 2002. The band was signed to Elektra Records in late 2002 and, under the moniker "Vonray," saw their first major label release on Elektra Records in early 2003 (April 8). The band charted a single hit in the US in 2002 with the song "Inside Out," which was featured on the WB Network's television show Smallville, on which the band made an appearance, and its soundtrack; "Inside Out" subsequently peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's US Top 40 Mainstream chart and No. 32 on Billboard's US Hot Adult Top 40 chart. A second single, "I'll Show You," followed but received little promotion from the label and failed to chart. Due to Elektra Records then merging with Atlantic Records, promotion for the band all but ceased, and the band was dropped from the label soon after. A casualty of the merger, Rhea and the band went on hiatus in October 2003.

Due to the success of an online petition, a fan-demanded reunion show happened September 2007 at Hard Rock Live Orlando. The performance was later featured on Orlando's Orange TV 'LiveWire' program, the video of which was awarded as a 2008 winner at the 29th Annual Telly Awards. An intended DVD release of that historic performance was delayed indefinitely.

Vonray Vonray Inside out YouTube

More than 10 years later, still a hometown hero in and around Orlando, Florida, Rhea periodically performs locally at area events and occasionally graces the stage with various incarnations of the much-loved Vonray band.

Members

  • Vaughan Rhea – Lead Vocal and Rhythm Guitar
  • Dave "Boo" Rhea – Bass Guitar and Backing Vocal
  • Garrett Coleman – Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocal
  • Paul Smith – Lead Guitar and Backing Vocal (now with megaphone)
  • Jeff Irizarry – Drums
  • Todd Hackenburg – Lead Guitar
  • Former Members:

  • Dave Smith – Lead Guitar and Backing Vocal
  • Dave "Tinman" Tinny – Drums
  • David Rankin – Guitar
  • Gibb Droll – Lead Guitar
  • Kevin Kirkwood – Drums
  • Ben Tapia – Guitar
  • Discography

    Albums
  • Panes 1997, independent release
  • Von Ra 1999, independent release
  • Fame 2001, independent release
  • Vonray 2003, Elektra Records
  • Extended Plays
  • Live at Sapphire Supper Club (EP) 1998, Limited Edition independent release
  • Singles
    Music Videos
    Other Media Appearances
  • Smallville, Vol. 1: The Talon Mix (Soundtrack) 2001, Elektra Records / Wea
    The Vonray track "Inside Out" was selected for inclusion on the soundtrack album.
  • Songs

    Inside OutVonray · 2003
    I'll Show YouVonray · 2003
    I'm LearningVonray · 2003

    References

    Vonray Wikipedia