Monterey International - Ray Johnston Band Bookings

Ray Johnston is nothing if not determined. His determination to play in the NBA brought him to an open tryout for the Dallas Mavericks and just a day or so, thereafter, he was actually wearing a Mavericks uniform emblazoned the with the number 2. That same determination helped him beat cancer against impossible odds.Now his determination and passion have brought together The Ray Johnston Band, a dynamic group of musicians, led by one very determined front man.He has done the impossible time and again and now he’s taking his show on the road, determined to connect with audiences and share his music. There’s no doubt that he’ll succeed; he’s Ray Johnston and Ray Johnston just about always accomplishes what he sets out to do.

A self-taught guitarist, Johnston crafts catchy, relatable songs that his growing legion of fans have come to appreciate along with his high-energy live show highlighted by the band’s stellar musicianship. “It is important to me, in the live show, to challenge my band and let each musician shine,” says Johnston who has truly surrounded himself with players of the highest caliber, each of whom could easily take the spotlight on their own. But the basketball analogy pervades -- this is a team and the winning is a collective endeavor.

Ray Johnston was always a musical soul. During his senior year in high school in Montgomery, AL, he taught himself classical guitar and later performed with an acoustic Southern rock band in his college years. His primary focus was on athletics, however, until a twist of fate and a grim prognosis brought him back to music with a sharpened passion. Ray has never been one to indulge in self-pity, so when he was told he wasn’t going to live past the age of 33, he started a band. Each day since then, he has won over fans, not just with his inspiring story, but, more importantly, with the pure, positive energy of his music. Ray recalls, with crystal clarity,the first moment that he realized how deeply an artist could reach his audience through live music. When he was just 14, he purchased a $3 ticket to see The Dave Matthews Band. Young Ray was awestruck by Matthews’ connection with the audience and the raw enthusiasm those fans showed. That memory stayed with him and today he still cites Dave Matthews as a major musical influence.

As a young man Ray was singularly focused on his dream of playing in the NBA. He was an all-state point guard in high school, he then played for the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide and he seemed to have a real shot to be picked for the NBA. Ray Johnston, however, was not chosen in the NBA draft. For anyone else that might have been the end of those hoop dreams but for Ray, it seems, there is always a second act. Ray moved to Dallas and stayed in shape by playing pickup games whenever he could while pursuing a career in real estate to pay the bills. In 2004, playing a 3-on-3 game in a Hoop It Up tournament, Ray caught the eye of Dallas Mavericks scouts who invited him to open tryouts for the team. At the end of those grueling tryouts, Ray was invited to be on the team and finally found himself on the cusp of realizing that long-held dream of basketball stardom.

Ray, however, wouldn’t get to wear the Mavericks’ uniform for long. When an ordinary bump on the court turned into a major bleed episode, he found out he had an advanced form of leukemia. For many months he was in and out of hospitals with an often grave prognosis. Of course, this being Ray Johnston, he never gave up hope. His family and his faith sustained him while the long days in the hospital brought him back to his music.

When Ray started performing around Dallas he met the man who would become a guide on his musical journey. He introduced himself to Keith Anderson at the Sambuca Jazz Café in Dallas in the summer of 2006 and the two became fast friends. Keith had been the saxophone player for the legendary Marcus Miller and he saw something in Ray that drew him in. The two soon started performing together and drawing crowds. Ray then received the devastating news from his doctors that the cancer had returned yet again and was informed that he was not likely to live past the age of 33. He recalls that,being faced with this awful news, he was advised to do what he had always wanted to do before time ran out. At that moment, he knew he had to put together a full band and take his show on the road for as long as he had left.

Keith introduced him to Bobby Sparks, Jeff Randall, Cooper Appelt and Mark Lettieri. Ray called on his childhood friend William Barnes to round out the band and in late Summer of 2009, they recorded an album. Sweet Tooth was released independently in September of 2009 and shortly thereafter Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban proposed to tell the story of Ray and his winding road as an athlete, an artist and a survivor. Road Diaries, an episodic documentary chronicling the life and times of the Ray Johnston Band, premiered on Cuban’s HDNet on Sunday April 25, 2010.

The Ray Johnston Band has won rave reviews from audiences throughout Texas, even winning over the jaded industry crowd at the SXSW music festival where they opened for Cheap Trick. This summer they will take to the road throughout the USA, now that agency representation with Monterey International has been secured. Ray has also hired Kevin Lee of Union Entertainment Group whose roster includes such artists as Nickelback, Candlebox, Hinder and Red.

While any other young band starting this journey might be overwhelmed by the odds of “making it,” however that might be defined, Ray Johnston has laughed at the odds time and time before and again stands fully ready to meet any and all challenges head on. "He is the ultimate warrior," says Cuban, who has called Johnston a true hero. "He never is afraid of the fight, and no matter how difficult.” The Mavericks’ #2 has embraced life’s second act with gusto. Today Ray is healthy and eager to hit the road with the Ray Johnston band, intending to show the world just how far determination can take you. He penned the song “Rise and Go” as a testament to his miraculous recovery and a celebration of the life he leads today.


	Ray Johnston Band Responsible Agent: Kevin Daly + http://www.rayjohnstonband.com/ + Myspace Page Ray Johnston is nothing if not determined. His determination to play in the NBA brought him to an open tryout for the Dallas Mavericks and just a day or so, thereafter, he was actually wearing a Mavericks uniform emblazoned the with the number 2. That same determination helped him beat cancer against impossible odds.Now his determination and passion have brought together The Ray Johnston Band, a dynamic group of musicians, led by one very determined front man.He has done the impossible time and again and now he’s taking his show on the road, determined to connect with audiences and share his music. There’s no doubt that he’ll succeed; he’s Ray Johnston and Ray Johnston just about always accomplishes what he sets out to do. A self-taught guitarist, Johnston crafts catchy, relatable songs that his growing legion of fans have come to appreciate along with his high-energy live show highlighted by the band’s stellar musicianship. “It is important to me, in the live show, to challenge my band and let each musician shine,” says Johnston who has truly surrounded himself with players of the highest caliber, each of whom could easily take the spotlight on their own. But the basketball analogy pervades -- this is a team and the winning is a collective endeavor. Ray Johnston was always a musical soul. During his senior year in high school in Montgomery, AL, he taught himself classical guitar and later performed with an acoustic Southern rock band in his college years. His primary focus was on athletics, however, until a twist of fate and a grim prognosis brought him back to music with a sharpened passion. Ray has never been one to indulge in self-pity, so when he was told he wasn’t going to live past the age of 33, he started a band. Each day since then, he has won over fans, not just with his inspiring story, but, more importantly, with the pure, positive energy of his music. Ray recalls, with crystal clarity,the first moment that he realized how deeply an artist could reach his audience through live music. When he was just 14, he purchased a $3 ticket to see The Dave Matthews Band. Young Ray was awestruck by Matthews’ connection with the audience and the raw enthusiasm those fans showed. That memory stayed with him and today he still cites Dave Matthews as a major musical influence. As a young man Ray was singularly focused on his dream of playing in the NBA. He was an all-state point guard in high school, he then played for the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide and he seemed to have a real shot to be picked for the NBA. Ray Johnston, however, was not chosen in the NBA draft. For anyone else that might have been the end of those hoop dreams but for Ray, it seems, there is always a second act. Ray moved to Dallas and stayed in shape by playing pickup games whenever he could while pursuing a career in real estate to pay the bills. In 2004, playing a 3-on-3 game in a Hoop It Up tournament, Ray caught the eye of Dallas Mavericks scouts who invited him to open tryouts for the team. At the end of those grueling tryouts, Ray was invited to be on the team and finally found himself on the cusp of realizing that long-held dream of basketball stardom. Ray, however, wouldn’t get to wear the Mavericks’ uniform for long. When an ordinary bump on the court turned into a major bleed episode, he found out he had an advanced form of leukemia. For many months he was in and out of hospitals with an often grave prognosis. Of course, this being Ray Johnston, he never gave up hope. His family and his faith sustained him while the long days in the hospital brought him back to his music. When Ray started performing around Dallas he met the man who would become a guide on his musical journey. He introduced himself to Keith Anderson at the Sambuca Jazz Café in Dallas in the summer of 2006 and the two became fast friends. Keith had been the saxophone player for the legendary Marcus Miller and he saw something in Ray that drew him in. The two soon started performing together and drawing crowds. Ray then received the devastating news from his doctors that the cancer had returned yet again and was informed that he was not likely to live past the age of 33. He recalls that,being faced with this awful news, he was advised to do what he had always wanted to do before time ran out. At that moment, he knew he had to put together a full band and take his show on the road for as long as he had left. Keith introduced him to Bobby Sparks, Jeff Randall, Cooper Appelt and Mark Lettieri. Ray called on his childhood friend William Barnes to round out the band and in late Summer of 2009, they recorded an album. Sweet Tooth was released independently in September of 2009 and shortly thereafter Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban proposed to tell the story of Ray and his winding road as an athlete, an artist and a survivor. Road Diaries, an episodic documentary chronicling the life and times of the Ray Johnston Band, premiered on Cuban’s HDNet on Sunday April 25, 2010. The Ray Johnston Band has won rave reviews from audiences throughout Texas, even winning over the jaded industry crowd at the SXSW music festival where they opened for Cheap Trick. This summer they will take to the road throughout the USA, now that agency representation with Monterey International has been secured. Ray has also hired Kevin Lee of Union Entertainment Group whose roster includes such artists as Nickelback, Candlebox, Hinder and Red. While any other young band starting this journey might be overwhelmed by the odds of “making it,” however that might be defined, Ray Johnston has laughed at the odds time and time before and again stands fully ready to meet any and all challenges head on. "He is the ultimate warrior," says Cuban, who has called Johnston a true hero. "He never is afraid of the fight, and no matter how difficult.” The Mavericks’ #2 has embraced life’s second act with gusto. Today Ray is healthy and eager to hit the road with the Ray Johnston band, intending to show the world just how far determination can take you. He penned the song “Rise and Go” as a testament to his miraculous recovery and a celebration of the life he leads today. made in chime/PROD Any use of any material on this site, including but not limited to any images, is strictly prohibited without the prior written approval of Monterey International.