Ray Stroud - Guitarist, Composer, Singer

Having played and composed instrumentals for over forty years, Ray uses steel and nylon strung guitars to provide tasteful background music. These tunes mainly draw upon popular romantic ballads and traditional British folk music.

Born in rural Essex, Ray studied piano as a child and continues to enjoy the instrument for recording; but his first love is guitar, which he took up in 1965, inspired by the Beatles. As a teenager he played electric guitar in a band and liked progressive pop and the Tamla, Stax and Atlantic soul artists. At college he switched to acoustic guitar after being captured by the melodic playing of artists like John Renbourn, Donovan and Martin Carthy.

His repertoire is varied; songs and tunes written on acoustic guitar while retaining a liking for the energy and raunchiness of pop and soul. He covers the work of some sixty artists and is known for Beatles, James Taylor and Paul Simon material as well as instrumentals in jazz and folk styles.

Like any artist, he likes to perform his own material which is mainly folk-tinged pop or pop-tinged folk depending on your point of view. Lyrically he draws upon many heroes, most notably John Lennon.

He has played with some great musicians including Sharon Shannon in Galway and Nigel Kennedy (who encouraged him to be a full time musician).

Ray has lived in Malvern, for twenty years. Songwriting and playing was a passionate weekend pursuit while he had a career in operations management. Playing 'full-time' since 2006, his career background means he retains a 'thing' about professionalism.

The guitar is a versatile instrument, well suited for quiet, formal occasions, 'chilled' café ambience, wedding receptions, dinners, events, parties etc.