The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Sugaray’ Rayford bringing the blues to Old Saybrook
OLD SAYBROOK — Caron “Sugaray” Rayford will bring his big, soulful blues voice and his equally big persona to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center stage on Friday.
Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$34, available in advance at thekate.org or 860-5100453.
The Kate is located at 300 Main St.
Texas-born Rayford, who is 6 feet 5, began singing professionally about 15 years ago in the San Diego area with an R&B and funk band. But, as often is the case, he began his actual singing career at age 7, singing and playing drums in church.
The gospel influence carries through into his music today.
He turned to the blues in 2004, becoming lead vocalist for Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz, a Temecula, California, band that took second place at the 2006 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Rayford’s first solo release, “Blind Alley,” was a self-released project put out in 2010, which garnered critical acclaim.
In May of 2012, Rayford made his stage debut, starring in the Tony Award-winning play “Ain’t Nuthin’ But The Blues,” joining members of the New York Broadway cast for a six week run.
In 2013, Rayford sang lead vocals on nine songs for the Mannish Boys’ CD, “Double Dynamite,” released on the Delta Groove label. The CD went on to win the Blues Music Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in May 2013.
This year, Rayford is nominated for four Blues Music Awards, including the BB King Entertainer of the Year Award, Soul Blues Male Artist, Vocalist and Soul Blues Album for his latest release, “The World That We Live In.”