Ray Lavender

Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Ray Lavender—also known at times as Ray-L, L.A. Ray, RayBlack, or Earl Ray—recognized his ambition to achieve stardom at a young age. His family relocated to Atlanta when he was eight, seeking expanded prospects for his ambitions. After several years appearing in area talent competitions, he drew the attention of Andrew Bryant, who identified his abilities and guided his development. During high school his father passed away, leading the household to shift to rural Georgia, yet Lavender persisted with his vocal pursuits and eventually teamed with a classmate. That connection brought him to Akon, the singer and producer who placed him on the Geffen-affiliated Kon Live Records roster. Lavender honed his skills by joining the Senegalese-American artist for the opening slot on Gwen Stefani’s 2007 summer tour—prior to Akon’s removal following an incident of inappropriate dancing with an underage attendee during a Trinidad performance—and later that year issued his first album, X-Rayted, which included the singles “My Girl’s Gotta Girlfriend” and “Donkey Kong.”