"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."
– DAN WILLGING - Holler / Colorado Blues Society

"Sugaray has a strong, soulful, bluesy voice." – Don Vecchio - Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania

"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..." – Ron Weinstock - Jazz & Blues Report

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.

Texas born Caron "Sugaray" Rayford began his musical career as a young boy singing & playing drums in church. 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."

His switch to contemporary music began about 12 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 2 years ago, Sugaray was asked to host a blues jam at Cozy's in Sherman Oaks. It is through this venue that Sugaray has 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 has done studio vocals on several projects, most recently on the theme for Judge Joe Brown, the movie trailer City Lights and back up vocals for the band The Heavy Pets. He partnered with Chuck Kavooras, a long time LA guitarist and owner of Slide Away Studios. Chuck became the musical director of the Monday night jams. He began booking the artists for the band around Suga's vocals and Sugaray and the CK All Stars were born. The first set of every Monday is performed by this house band, which is made up of rotating members of which are all cream of the crop musicians.

 
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Now Playing:
"Death Letter"


LINKS

ARTISTS WEBSITE:
http://sugarayblues.com/


EPK - DOWNLOAD

ARTIST PHOTOS:
http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/music/
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VIDEOS


Sugaray Rayford with The Mannish Boys featuring Kid Ramos, playing "How Long Will This Last" at the Hondarribia Blues Festival in Basque County, Spain


Sugaray Rayford &The Mannish Boys featuring Shawn Pittman and Kid Ramos, at the Hondarribia Blues Festival in Basque County, Spain


 
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