Jimi Ray

James R. Humphreys
a.k.a. Jimi Ray
Recording Technician / Producer
Information Technology Specialist
Drums / Bass / Axe / Vox
(ASCAP)




STREAMLINERS
I was born in Muskegon, Michigan. My musical career started at the age of 11 playing trombone in school band. At 12 years old I developed an interest in percussion. Using buckets and trash cans with old beat up drum heads taped to them, I began to practice drumming every day. With my brothers, and using this home made contraption, I soon formed my first band, The Streamliners. (Well, we called it a band!)

DESTROYER
With a part time job and help from my parents I purchased my first drum kit and I switched to percussion in school band. A string of groups followed, including Destroyer (see article & photo Muskegon Chronicle / December 16, 1983) [which included Ravenna natives Terry Hines, Jr., Darrel Uhrbrock and Bret Hines].

X-URBIA
In 1984 while attending Central Michigan University I helped form a Mt. Pleasant, MI college style rock/ska/reggae combo dubbed X Urbia. Our most notable accomplishment was being hired as the studio band for a number of locally produced cable TV shows. (Incidentally, I also worked in the MHTV television studios.)

BLUES PERSUASION
In 1986 I befriended Doug Houseman. We soon pieced together the Blues Persuasion, a precursor to the Big House Blues Band. The Blues Persuasion also featured a horn section, Joe Shields (drums) and Todd Lane (guitar).

FROZEN HOUSE
In the longest lasting collaboration of my life, Doug and I performed and recorded music of various styles under the group name Frozen House right up until the Big House Blues Band required all of our attention.

R-EAZY
While continuing work with Doug Houseman, I joined the Muskegon based variety band R-Eazy, alternating between bass and percussion. Ardie Neumann's R-Eazy band had many Muskegon musicians in its ever evolving line-up, including Tucker Roberts (guitar/bass), Louie Kiel (keys), Tony Keck (guitar) and Tim Bengtsson (guitar). I re joined R-Eazy for a period lasting from 1991-1993 (again alternating between bass and drums).

TIGHT FIT
In 1988 I was added to the Tight Fit line up, playing with the group until 1991 and again when the group reformed from 2005-2006. Tight Fit's members also include the Muskegon natives Jane Bassett (vocals), Augie Miller (guitar/vocals), Joe Locke (guitar/vocals), Jay Carr (bass/vocals) and Tzer (keys).

BOOTLEG BLUES BAND
In 1993 Doug and I pieced together the BootLeg blues band, which is the group that has morphed into the Big House Blues Band. BootLeg also included well known Muskegon musicians Kathy Jo Eacker (drums), Mark Wright (keys) and Chris Houseman (guitar).

BIG HOUSE BLUES BAND
I am a founding member of the Big House Blues Band, an impressive 9 piece Blues Rock group that sees radio airplay not only in the Grand Rapids/Muskegon area, but in countries including Canada, Macedonia, France, Argentina, Poland, England, Brazil and Belgium.

VINYL WALL STUDIOS / METAL STANDARD CORP
I also perform the role of producer and engineer in my demo recording studio/video suite, Vinyl Wall Productions (www.vinylwall.com) in addition to working full time as an Information Technology Specialist in Holland, MI (www.metalstd.com).

INFLUENCES
Some of my many influences include: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Keith Moon (The Who), Eric Carr (Kiss), Stewart Copeland (Police), Ronnie Tutt (Elvis Presley's TCB Band), Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Robert Cray, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen.