Smokin' Ray Burnt

There is a New Kid in Town...And he's Smokin' Ray Burnt. He is a Smokin' young guitarist from the highest peaks of the Smokey Mountains. He is a real throwback to the good ol' days of the Instrumental Blues, and he can bust up the Metal/Rock scene in a flash. Is he the next crazy Hendrix or the younger soul of a B.B. King? How about a young James Hetfield or a modern day Van Halen? Maybe...
But by all means. Go on, find out for yourself!

And So it Begins...

Smokin' Ray was born on June 1, 1977, high on top of Smokey Mountain. His Mother and Father were both musicians ( His father played the fiddle, his mother played the accordion.) They had a decent life, poor but not without. His father made sure that he had instruments to play while he grew up. From a drum set to his guitar to the spoons and bongo's. He was taught the bag pipes by his great Uncle Moe. His mother taught him piano.

As the story goes, Ray was struck by lightning when he was 16 and burnt nothing but his soul. Something came inside of him and now he is what he is. He wasn't hurt...He was just destined for something... He was destined to play the guitar. His father always new that he was headed for greatness.

So from high upon the tree tops the first blues song he ever heard was the soft/heavy tone of B.B. King's, 'The Thrill is Gone'. That was like magic to his ears. The next? Jimi Hendrix, 'Red House'. "WOW! He thought to himself, "I have to do that". And so he did. He studied all the greats, even as far back as the great Robert Johnson. He learned from John Lee Hooker, SRV, Leadbelly, Chuck Berry, Lonnie Mack, Johnny Winter, Lightning Hopkins and many many others. Lightning Hopkins, 'Lonesome Dog Blues' scared him to shivers. And that is when he discovered what a hook was.

Tucked away in a little studio he recorded by himself. No one could ever guess what would come out of there next. His tone could fall a mountain, his playing could hypnotise you. His brain...insane.

Over his short span of playing I think that he really developed his own style. Is he Chicago? Blues Rock? Maybe more Texas Style? Perhaps Modern Electric Blues? I don't know, Whatever it is, He calls it the "Smokey Mountain Style". Whether Smokin' Ray is playing clean or dirty you can tell it's him. He is the most original artist today.

As you can tell from his acoustic picture and the way he plays, he likes Heavy Metal, Rock and Punk. He is very much influenced by such bands as Metallica, Megadeth, Nirvana, Green Day, AC/DC, Guns & Roses and more. But his true calling is the blues. All you have to do is hear his songs and you will be shown.

Where does all this lead up to? I don't know. Maybe something new or maybe just a blip on the radar. We will have to see. But until then...

The Legend Keeps Growing.