Biography

Ray Cardwell grew up in a family bluegrass band. His father, Marvin Cardwell, was a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and Ray credits him as the single greatest influence on his musical journey. “I’m a sixth-generation musician. My family has been part of the Missouri Ozarks music world since the mid-1800s.” His father fronted one of the first live music shows in Branson, MO at Jesse James Confusion Hill in the 1960s as Marvin Cardwell and the Country Boys. Ray started singing at church and on his father’s show at age three. In elementary school, he began playing guitar and saxophone. Ray played banjo and sang in The Cardwell Family bluegrass band from 1975 to 1982, performing regionally on a variety of stages including Silver Dollar City, Fort of the Osage, Dogpatch USA, and various concerts hosted by Ozarks musicologist, Max Hunter.

In the 1980s, Ray developed musical interests outside his family band and ventured into rock and reggae, working out of Springfield, MO and throughout the Midwest as a musician, front man, keyboardist, and sax player. He relocated for a time to Hollywood, CA with the Springfield-based band Resonance and played saxophone for celebrated songwriter Jack Lee (The Nerves, and writer for Blondie, Pat Benatar, and Paul Young). In 1992, he met some bluegrass enthusiasts from Columbia, MO and returned to bluegrass with the regional band Slick Nickel. In 1994, he moved to Nashville as a member of the critically acclaimed, nationally touring bluegrass gospel band New Tradition. He recorded two albums with the group: one for the Brentwood label (Old Time Gospel Jamboree) and one independently released (Following the Son). In mid-1996, Ray left Nashville to raise a family back in Missouri and returned to college to finish a degree in Music Education. While attending Lincoln University, he performed with National Honor Choirs at both Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

As a band and choral director, Ray led students to several national competitions with top ratings. While teaching, he also played with the indie band Squigglefish—a popular rock/blues/reggae power trio at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

Ray’s return to bluegrass came in 2015 when producer/guitarist and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Pat Flynn heard a demo of Ray’s original songs. After meeting with Pat, Ray decided it was time to return to his roots.

His debut CD Tennessee Moon (2017) on Pinecastle Records was met with high praise, with ten songs charting across Bluegrass, Americana, Gospel, and Folk charts.

Ray’s sophomore CD Stand On My Own was released on May 24, 2019. "Time To Drive" debuted at #1 on Bluegrass Today’s Grassicana chart and remained in the Top 15 for six months. "Alright" also debuted at #1 on the Grassicana chart, and "Hurricane Rain" reached #2 before making its way to #1. The title track Stand On My Own debuted at #4 on the same chart.

His third CD Just a Little Rain was released on September 25, 2020, on Bonfire Music Group Records. "Born To Do" debuted at #1 in September 2020, "Take Me To the River" debuted at #13 in August 2021, and "Standing On the Rock" made the Top 10 on Bluegrass Today’s charts on September 17, 2021.

In 2021, Ray was invited to be the bass player and vocalist with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Traffic) member Dave Mason.

Ray currently tours and records with Dave Mason while also pursuing his own recording career. He lives in Jefferson City, MO, where he enjoys spending time with his children and granddaughters.

His latest release Singing Tree is out now via Americana Vibes! Listen here: raycardwell.ffm.to/singingtree