Ray Bonneville

Originally hailing from Canada, Ray Bonneville has built a career as a blues singer, musician, and songwriter while earning a Juno Award. His large family relocated to the United States before he entered his teenage years; when the rest of the household later returned north, he remained behind independently. Session work followed, both as a band member and studio player handling harmonica and guitar. Finding those earnings insufficient, he trained as a pilot and accumulated the flight time required for a license. Performances and lessons from figures such as the legendary Muddy Waters and Bukka White shaped his approach. His first recording, On the Main, appeared in 1993. Solid Ground arrived in 1997 and highlighted advancing strengths in composition and performance. Gust of Wind reached listeners in 1999, securing the Juno for Canada’s Blues Album of the Year, with Rough Luck issued the next year. Three years afterward came the folk-tinged Roll It Down, whereas 2007’s Goin’ by Feel presented a darker, smokier atmosphere and included the New Orleans tribute “I Am the Big Easy.” He rejoined that project’s producer Gurf Morlix to create 2011’s Bad Man’s Blood, which earned the International Blues Challenge Solo/Duet of the Year honor in 2012. Extensive touring occupied much of 2013. Returning to the studio with co-producer and engineer Justin Douglas at Shrine Studio in Austin, Texas, he completed Easy Gone, issued by Red House in April 2014.