SUGARAY RAYFORD Live and Onstage @ World Records Friday April 4, 2025
Schedule
Fri, 04 Apr, 2025 at 07:30 pm
UTC-07:00Location
2815 F St, Bakersfield, CA, United States, California 93301 | Bakersfield, CA
SUGARAY RAYFORDPart 129 of the No Stinkin’ Service Charge Blues Series!
Friday April 4, 2025
Tickets On Sale Now!
• In Person: 2815 ‘F’ Street Bakersfield, CA
• By Phone: (661) 325-1982
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Sugaray Rayford
“Expands on Rayford’s soul blues heritage, elevating the instrumental presentation beyond expectations.” — Relix
– Live and Onstage @ World Records Friday April 4, 2025
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Sugaray Rayford is a man with a message and a larger than life personality and voice to deliver it. Working with producer, songwriter Eric Corne for the past 3 albums, the soul-blues powerhouse has crafted an incendiary sound and narrative, combining classic soul melodies and funky R & B grooves with raw blues power.
Rayford’s new release is entitled ‘Human Decency’. The title track is a simple reminder that our similarities are stronger than our differences and in the end, there is no black or white or left or right, there are only hearts and minds.
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Latest Album! - SUGARAY RAYFORD - 'Human Decency'
Many More Sugaray Rayford Albums at World Records!
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About the leadoff single, “Run For Cover” a song that takes no prisoners, Q Magazine declares, “The bluesey soul of Rayford comes on full steam with this powerhouse single.”
“We’re calling people on their bullshit but we’re having fun with them. That’s my way. I’m gonna tell it to you straight but with love in my heart. I always bring some suga with the salt!” says Sugaray, bellowing with laughter.
An all-star cast lent their talents to the album, including guitarist Rick Holmstrom and singer Saundra Williams who are both from Mavis Staples’s band, along with bassist Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams, Merle Haggard).
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Sugaray Rayford ‘s early years were full of turmoil. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer. “She suffered and we suffered,” Rayford says. “Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives improved. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul.” Rayford began his musical career at the tender age of seven, singing and playing drums in church, and his gospel influences definitely shine through in his music. The soulful rasp and emotive vocal style hint at his first-hand experience with hardship, and a childhood marked by poverty and loss.
As an African American youth growing up in poverty, Rayford, like many in these communities, saw two paths out, drugs or the military. Rayford chose The Marines and served for 10 years. But Rayford doesn’t fit widely held perceptions of the military as is evident in the lyrics of songs like “Time to Get Movin’” or “Dark Night of The Soul.” Sugar recalls, “Eric (Corne) and I talked about the traditions of soul music and the powerful social messages of artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Sly Stone, Sam Cooke and James Brown. We both felt strongly about social justice and wanted that to be a focus of the music.
“Think back to, say, the golden days of Chess Records and people like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters; then factor in the sound of classic soul men like Solomon Burke, Curtis Mayfield, and big-voiced icons like Teddy Pendergrass, and you’re getting close to Rayford’s sound. Float that over authentic soul backing like Daptone and Stax, and you’re getting near to the sound of ‘Somebody Save Me.'” – Soul, Jazz, and Funk.
“Eric and I are both lifelong fans of classic soul and blues, but we also like to push the envelope,” states Rayford. “We want to build on the music, not be a pastiche of classic styles,” adds Corne.
In the studio and in person, Sugaray Rayford is developing a reputation as a force to be reckoned with and an artist to watch in the coming years. So, “Sit back and listen to one of today’s best blues-soul singers.
Even better, attend one of his live performances where his energy can totally galvanize an audience.” (Elmore Magazine)
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Come to World Records:
Wednesday – Friday 11 AM to 5 PM
Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM
• In Person - 2815 ‘F’ Street Bakersfield, CA
• By Phone - (661) 325-1982
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Where is it happening?
2815 F St, Bakersfield, CA, United States, California 93301
