Ray Montford , guitarist, composer

Veteran composer and producer Ray Montford has been mesmerizing listeners in Canada, the US and Europe with his powerfully visual compositions for over ten years. Never one to stay within prescribed limits, Montford ignores the boundaries of the genres, creating evocative, melodic and lyrical music.

Fascinated by music and sound, Ray studied recording, producing, writing and playing on records at Fanshawe College from 1982 to 1984. He displayed incredible talent in all areas, but what truly compelled him the most was musical expression. He also studied music at Humber College in 1986.

He began writing seriously in 1987. By 1991, he had released The Light Within, a limited edition recording, featuring a collection of mostly solo acoustic pieces. The Light Within established him as a musician's musician, and kicked-off a six-year period of intense exploration and experimentation. During that period, he founded Soundhole - a project studio dedicated to producing, engineering and mixing recordings for artists and singer/songwriters - and became a much sought-after studio and live musician.

Between 1994 and 1997, Ray toured extensively in Canada, the US and Europe with pop / celtic sensations The Rankins and later with singer Mary Jane Lamond. Stints with acts as diverse as Andy Stochansky, Katherine Wheatley, The Gravelberries and The Look People, among others, underscored the breadth of his musicianship.

By 1997, he was ready to test his solo experiments publicly. The diverse, richly textured Shed Your Skin, was released to wide acclaim. Self-produced, it features an array of talented guests, transcending the accepted definitions of contemporary guitar-based instrumental music.

In June 2000 his second disc One Step Closer was launched at the du Maurier Theatre in Toronto. Showcasing a pared down, intimate sound, the recording stands as a one-on-one dialogue between music and listener.

Touring Holland in 2001, Ray dazzled audiences, even appearing on Radio 3FM. Closer to home, his music has long been a favourite of CBC Radio's flagship national morning programs 'The Current' and 'Sounds Like Canada'. His work is heard nationally and locally on both the English and French services of CBC television and radio, CTV (national and local), Rogers Cable and Shaw Cable. In June 2002, he returned to the du Maurier Theatre, as the featured performer for a new DVD production, sponsored by f8 Inc.

In January 2003, he shared the bill with the Tony Levin Band (Peter Gabriel / King Crimson), playing two sold-out shows in Toronto and Montréal to an audience that wouldn't let go.

Many Roads, his newest album, is a major work by a mature musician. An intimate, guitar-driven journey, it is an emotional tour de force featuring a stunning collection of some of Canada's most innovative musicians.

In addition to his live performance work, Ray also composes original music for TV and film and remains committed to the Soundhole.

To contact him Ray Montford