Little Ray Ybarra, fine blues guitarist, is a native of Oak Cliff, Texas (same breeding ground as Stevie and Jimmy Vaughn). Born in 1967, he started playing music at the age of 10...as a drummer in the school band. At the age of 11 he was in his first professional group "Axis" playing parties and school dances.
In 1983 Little Ray picked up the guitar and started gigging around the Dallas Metro area with bands "Terra Firma" and "Cold Blue Steel". He also did some jamming with Anson Funderburg (a big influence on his style) and other area bluesmen. Moving to Crowley, Louisiana, he began playing with blues and zydeco players Guitar Gable, Rockin' Sidney, Jivin' Gene and many others.
Finally moving to the Beaumont, Texas area, he performed and toured with Ervin Charles and formed his own group "Little Ray and The Blues Sonics". They have been playing the Texas Gulf Coast and South Louisiana performing shows with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Omar & The Howlers, Eddie Kirkland, Tab Benoit and many more. In the Spring of '99 Little Ray performed in Europe with Paul Orta & Lazy Lester. In addition to his first CD album, "Hot Rod Blues", Ray has performed on recent recordings by harmonica player Roy Mannio, and on the new album "Objectiv Lune" by Paul Orta.
Here's what the Critics say about "Hot Rod Blues" and Little Ray:
"Outstanding guitar work of Little Ray, doing an excellent job" -Blues Access, Fall '99
"Better-than-average Texas Blues" - Arsenio Orteza, Times Of Acadiana, June '99
"Little Ray is versatile, demonstrating as much affection for the funky Texas format as for the nastier Chicago stuff. He gets some great tones out of his guitars. Roadhouse blues for a roadhouse band" -Walter Pierce, The Daily Advertiser, April 23, 1999
"South Texas chop-top blues blast down the track. Little Ray really rocks out in a 50's blues style thats semi-rockabilly with lots of roadhouse mud". - Blues Revue, September 1999
Catch him and the band live when you have an opportunity.
For information on ordering his "Hod Rod Blues" CD album, click on How to Order
