"PURE CHRISTMAS" CD REVIEW

ST. JOHN'S
RIVER CITY BAND

Ray as guest guitarist with St. John's River City Band, Sam
Fricano conductor.  Chet Atkins played with this band at
Carnegie Hall.  Ray has played three concerts with them.
Look for Ray as guest artist with the Pops Orchestra in your city!

Ray hanging out with Nato Lima. Nato was a guest on the Johnny Carson show 35 times! Nato and his brother were the famous Los Indios Tabajares. Their instrumental hit "Maria Elena" was a million seller. Nato also wrote "Blue Angel".

Ray playing with Les Paul at the Iridium in New York!

"Summer Daze…End of the Road" Review
by Palmer Moore, Ohio Fingerstyle Club!

Hands down, Ray Cummins is the most practiced and accomplished "note-for-note" Chet style guitarist in the world. He has dedicated his whole life to listening to and emulating his (and, our) great hero Chet Atkins. He also was a personal friend of the late master of finger style guitar, and learned a lot of his playing techniques first hand - with Chet's blessing. And, because of this dedication, Ray has mastered the style, sound, clarity and most importantly - the feel of Chet's music. And, he is quite the song writer, as well.

In a nutshell, "Summer Daze" is a great tune - a well written one with a wonderful flowing yet simple "humm-able" melody line. However, it is Ray's performance embellishments that make this recording a candidate for a Grammy in my humble opinion. He "laces" this straightforward little melody (that even I can play) with brilliant impeccably played Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed runs, arpeggios, and licks, and some of his own including his "double-stop" creation.

On listening to it for the very first time it will have you humming along and wanting to pick up your guitar to play along - only to quickly discover that he has licks in it that only a true master of this sport can play - and, those that only Ray Cummins can play that cleanly.... And, to sound exactly like Chet... whew...

The only negative on this album is that it only has two songs on it. But, he is only asking SIX BUCKS for it... And, the other tune "End of the Road" is a beautiful single note line song, as well. Hey, still worth every penny of it...

Performed by: Ray Cummins "Summer Daze" - written and produced by Ray Cummins "End of the Road" - written by LA Reid, Babyface, Daryl Simmons, produced by Ray Cummins and Randy Hauser

Photos, Ray and Friends over the years

Ray and Chet Atkins, quite a few years ago.

Ray playing Chet's Hascal Hale guitar for Tommy Jones back in the 70's. This guitar is in the Smithsonian.

A young Ray Cummins playing his first Hascal Haile guitar. Ray was already playing some concerts of his own and working some with Kenny Price.

Ray Cummins and Ernest Tubb. Ray was playing his Gretsch Super Chet. While working with RCA recording artist Kenny Price, Ray worked around 160 shows with Ernest Tubb. Kenny featured Ray every night. Ray played the Grand Old Opry twice and soloed on the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree Radio Show on WSM. Ernest always treated Ray great and always tried to promote him.

An earlier publicity photo of Ray.

Ray Cummins and Chet Atkins in Atlanta. That is Ray Cummins' head on left. Ray is talking to Chet. Ray was demonstrating for Gretsch. Ray played 30 min while Chet listened. Ray said he kept asking Chet to play and Chet said no, go on and play.
Ray played San Francisco, Dizzy Fingers, Blue Angel, Copper Kettle, and others. Ray said Chet was very nice and it was a lot of fun. Then Chet played All Thumbs , Struttin and Down Home.
This photo was in Guitar Player Magazine.

Hascal Haile was one of the all time great guitar makers. He made beautiful handmade guitars for Chet Atkins and many others including Ray. Ray was very good friends with Hascal and his wife Ravenel. This is Hascal holding Ray's Haile #2.

Ray backstage before a Pops Symphony concert.

Roy Clark playing rhythm for Ray on Dizzy Fingers. Hascal Haile looking on. Both playing Haile guitars.

Ray getting ready to do TV show. Hascal's brother, Tom Haile looking on. This is Ray's Hascal Haile #3.

Ray and Louis Nye doing TV show.

Melody - she is the best fingerpicker!
This is my daughter, Melody, born in 1987. She was probably about 7 months old.

Ray Cummins, guest soloist with the St. John's River City Band, Jacksonville, FL 1988. Sam Fricano conducting. Mr. Fricano was also the conductor for the Mantovani Orchestra.

Ray playing his Dorado.

Ray Cummins with the St. John's River City Band at the Jacksonville Landing. Chet Atkins played with them at Carnegie Hall.

Ray as guest artist with the Symphony. 1989.

Ray and Melody, 1991.

Ray, Melody, Blues guitarist Lonnie Mack and Dumpy Rice doing outside gig. 1995.

Ray and good friend Ed Powers at the CAAS on the Main Stage in 1996.

Ray playing guitar with Prismatone Pickup. Built by friend Mike Zimmerman.

Ray with good friend Tony Rose, Indiana Fingerpickers.

Ray and his new guitar made from mostly baseball bats. Cincinnati, OH on Fountain Square in 2000.

Good friend, Bob Foster, Michiko and Nato Lima, Ray and Ruth Cummins at CAAS in 2001.

Ray doing a TV show in September 2002.

Ray with Mom and Dad at CAAS 2004.

Ray playing his Signature McCullough at CAAS 2005

John Pence, Ray Cummins and Ken Ham. John is the General Counsel for Answers In Genesis. Ken Ham, President/CEO of Answers in Genesis, Petersburg, KY. This is when Ray played a Christmas concert there December, 2005.

Photos of Ray's 2007 tour of Oklahoma and Missouri

Allan and Robin Bremmer - Ray and Ruth Cummins
2007 Oklahoma tour

Bill Hodges and Ray Cummins at Ray's guitar clinic

Group picture of some friends who came to one of Ray's concerts in Oklahoma.
Richard Hudson, who opened for Ray, Michael Johnson, Ray, Lawrence Hinman, Bill Hodges and thanks to Allen Bremmer who booked Ray at this concert.

Praying Hands at Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK

Ray Cummins in front of Praying Hands at ORU

Prayer Tower at ORU

Ray Cummins at ORU

Players from Branson that came to Ray's concert.
Larry Kent, Jerry Ozee, Don Holmes, Ray and Dwayne Friend. Ray is holding his Ray Cummins Signature McCullough guitar.

Photos of Ray's performance, May 28, 2007 Grand Opening Creation Museum

Ken Ham, President/CEO of The Creation Museum, Answers in Genesis, Petersburg, Ky May 28, 2007 opening day. Over 4000 people attended.

Ken Ham introducing Ray Cummins.

Ray Cummins performing at opening day at the Creation museum.

Ray and one of his fans at the Creation Museum

Ray pickin' with good friends Jeff Ramey and John Pence.
Jeff playing his Gretsch Tennessee Rose, John with his Ray Cummins Signature McCullough, and Ray and his Gibson Country Gentleman.

Ray Cummins with singer-comedian-guitarist Jim Stafford CAAS, Chet Atkins Appreciation Society 2007

Ray Cummins and Paul Yandell in front of Chet's Blazer, owned by Paul now. CAAS 2007.

Ray Cummins in concert playing his Signature McCullough guitar.

Pastor Bill Swad and Ray Cummins. Ray has played 4 concerts at his church.

Ray Cummins in concert September 15, 2007.

Ray practicing. This guitar is Glen Hines', Ray's friend in Florida.

Ray Cummins in concert at a Church in Ohio, December 9, 2007.
Ray is playing Recuerdos De La Alhambra.

Granddaughter Trinity with Papa Ray. Ray's first grandchild. Thanksgiving 2007.

Ray Cummins backstage warming up on another new guitar. After Christmas 2007 concert. Contact Ray to order a guitar.