Joshua Ray Summey

So, we are all moved in here in Tejas. The lil’ one has adjusted quite nicely, happily and quickly compartmentalizing her life into two parts: Tita’s houuuuuuse and Lina’s houuuuuuse! Her Tita (Grandmother), Pap (Grandfather), Tio (Uncle), Marcuuuuthe (2nd cousin, Marcos), Ruuuuuuuusa (her Great Aunt, Rosa) have enjoyed having her this close as she has enjoyed them in return!  Every day she learns more words and I have lost count. Not because I CAN’T higher than 113; because I choose not to until she can! 🙂 She would rather count to ten five times in English, and six times in Spanish rounded off with a “one, two, threeeeeeee”! In short, she is still smarter than us! LOL

Linda is neck deep in saving the world one child’s education at a time. She is loving it as much as it is overwhelming her. So… well, same sh$% different city! 🙂 Although, she sings constant praise for the entire group of people she has met at her new home in IDEA South Flores! She amazes me every day with how she never quits and can simultaneously vent and praise everything at that same time! (a trick a man will never learn) She is happy and tired as per the ‘ushe’.

As for me, I am being a dad, a custodian, and occasional handy man, all before leaving the house! There is a small army of inanimate animals, stuffed, large of eye, small of mercy, and trying their best to stop me yet I persist. 😉

I am getting my old regular solo gigs plugged back in order to help pay the bills. The Republic 1836, The Pump House, The Cove, and the Uptown Park location of the Tasting Room are letting me pick up where I left off, thank The Flying Spaghetti Monster!! I have contacted an old friend, Gabriel Montoya (check him out!), to help me out in this sect of my calendar.

Band stuff is always appealing and I am happy to (re)announce that Hazy Ray will be doing First Friday in Bryan Texas at The Stafford! As much as I would like it to be more than a one off, it is exactly that. So, DON’T MISS IT!! I am also cultivating combos in Houston, New Orleans, Central Tejas, Dallas, and Nashville in the hopes that I can do trio gigs in these cities at will (after the proper preparation, of course). Alan Green Jr. is still expressing interest in a band, and my interest is reciprocated in full, ya know… because he’s amazing! In the mean time, HIRE HIM!!!! HE’S AWESOME!

In other news, (I’m still going to call him “My”) guitarist/mandolin/consultant is about to add LAWYER to the list!! Ryan Patrick took the bar in Tennessee and knowing him, murdered it, yet we don’t know for sure! I recently went up there to visit Ryan, Mike Tristan, and Mike’s family. As per the usual, we recorded a little. Oliver Watkinson joined us as we reprised ‘Waterdrop’ (off Deep & Shallow by Hazy Ray). We also shot “I Keep Your Letters” (one of a few songs I have written that I prize above the rest) and “Stay and Fight” (co-written by Upright Bassist/Composer: Mitch Curtis). These three charts will (consisting of upright, mandolin, guitar, and vocals) will accompany the title song (an excert from the upcoming album: Lust Story). I will tell you that when I start promotion for it! 🙂 All I can tell you is this: When it’s available, there will be a digital release only. If you want a physical copy, you will have to get it from my hands, and I suggest you have a record player when you do. 7″ 33 only. If there appears to be a demand later for cds and other things, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. 🙂

And now for more emanate bridges: A couple of months ago, I put a video up on YouTube. The ‘Fell on Black Days’ cover was a wonderful part of that performance but there is much more! I decided to put that one up then as a thank you to my fallen hero. With that said, “A Farewell to New Orleans: Josh Ray & Ryan Patrick Live” will be the first release under my name. No over-dubs. Just Ryan being amazing, me singing my heart out, and Mike Tristan mixing the hell out of it! I’ll give you a date when I have it!