Who is Ray McNally

Biography

Ray McNally is Canadian Songwriter, Composer, Performing Artist, Internet Web Developer, Programmer, Graphic Designer, and a Music Software Developer.  Ray started his music career professionally in 1983 when he formed a punk rock band called "Martin Kane" in Edmonton Alberta.  Performing at various venues: The Ambassador Hotel, The Limit, Scandals, The Orange Hall, Park Hotel, + City Hall with Za, Za and SNFU , Ray performed during demonstration protest against cruise missile testing in Northern Alberta. Eventually Ray headed out west to live downtown Vancouver English Bay in 1987 to find what the music scene there had to offer.  After a few months trying to figure out where things were and getting used to all the street names Ray stumbled into a unique club in Gas Town called "Classical Joint". Ray played there a few times.  1988 - Ray recorded and sang live a song called "Our Community" on Vancouver local non profit radio station located across street from Pigeon Park. Unsure what the station was called or if it is still there. Someone out of the blue asked Ray to come up with something.  This song was used for bringing awareness to improve rental legislation and limit rate increases that landlords back then could raise rents. While living downtown he bumped into members of Tombstone Etiquette (Mike Tandy) also from Edmonton on Robson Street and they asked Ray to back them up at a show at the Railway Club.  It sure was a small world  back then to bump into people you known or met amongst thousand of other musicians out there.  Seems it had to be for a reason, because he also met him again 10 years later on a beach in Gibsons called Bonnie Brook where they both had moved to. Small World eh? In 1990 Ray had the experience to work with Matthew Good as he was starting his career. Matthew was in the process of creating his first band back then.   Ray answered his ad in the Georgia Strait newspaper. At this time Matt was taking extra vocal training and he was very ambitious person to work with.  Within a few weeks of playing together with the band they performed a house concert together.  Matt’s ambition to excel was inspiring to Ray, however at this time Ray’s first born came into his life so Ray left the scene for change of lifestyle: commitments to raise a family while living in Burnaby.  Eventually Ray and family moved to Gibsons, BC to continue writing and start up his own business and has been performing locally for the last 20 years. 2000 Ray McNally produced an independent CD called "Ray In The Dark" with Eric Sorensen. 2007 Ray formed a rock band The Midds www.themidds.com (original members were Ray McNally - lead vocals, guitar; John Geoffrion - bass, Jeff Lucas - lead guitar, Murray Wilson on drums) The Midds took a break in 2009 when Ray was asked to learn how to play drums and form the band The Copper Stills with Grant Olsen and Todd Thompson. Ray reformed the Midds again 2011, this time the talented Grant Olsen joined the band behind the drums. Ray and The Midds have performed various shows on the Sunshine Coast such as: Canada Day celebrations, Music In the Landing, Roberts Creek Legion, Gibsons Legion, Coast Cable TV production - Out Loud, Sechelt Summer Music Series. The Midds took on an acoustic folk approach performing at Friday Night Live at Roberts Creek Legion with inclusion of Fraser Blackley on percussion, Grant put down the drums to play his mandolin, banjo, harp, and trombone.   The music lead the band to perform at Synchronicity Festival, Coast Cable TV- production show for Customer Appreciation Day,  performance at Persephone’s Brewing House, and another Roberts’ Creek Legion show and the future was looking good.  We were looking forward to finish recording then  the Winter January Blues occurred sort of in a way then everyone took on new direction. The Midds have a new member and drummer Jim McEwan who performed with us on Labour Day celebrations in Gibsons.  Grant Olsen and Fraser Ralstone Blackley have stepped aside to take to pursue more folk interests, solo projects, and other commitments though there is nothing wrong with folk, is there? All are great musicians and we have become all good friends. It has been a pleasure playing music with them. The Midds. are recording in February with Garth Richardson at The Farm Studios  a new demo coming soon. - Meanwhile Ray continues to write music on a daily basis. cheers Ray McNally .