Ray Gelato

b. Ray Keith Irwin, 25 Oct 1961, London, Britain. As a kid, Ray Irwin noticed music through the record assortment of his dad, an American soldier stationed in Britain. The music included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr. and golf swing rings from the 40s, in addition to 50s rock and roll ‘n’ move and R&B, using the rings led by Louis Jordan and Louis Prima showing to be specifically influential. Within the second option’s case, Irwin was attracted to the innovator’s singing also to the tenor saxophone playing of Sam Butera. In 1979, Irwin began monitoring the tenor saxophone and the next calendar year was sufficiently proficient to try out professionally using the Dynamite Music group, a group which was inspired by Costs Haley. In 1982, Gelato teamed up being a duo with French guitarist Patrice Serapiglia, who known as himself Maurice Chevalier, plus they called their music group the Chevalier Brothers. One of the pioneers from the revival appealing in London in R&B as well as the leap rings from the 40s and 50s, the music group expanded to some five-piece. After earning a talent competition at London’s Camden Palace, the music group toured extensively in the united kingdom and Europe. At the moment, the music group included Gelato (tenor saxophone/vocals), Chevalier (electric guitar), Clark Kent (bass), John Piper (d. 2000; drums), and Roger Beaujolais (vibraphone). Just the drummer utilized his true name. It had been at Chevalier’s urging that Gelato not merely followed the name where he continues to be known since, but additionally began singing frequently. Quickly established over the London picture, the music group’s international popularity spread through performances on the Montreux Jazz Celebration, the North Ocean Jazz Celebration, along with a tour of Japan. Soon after this, Chevalier still left to be changed by pianist Marc Adelman, and Beaujolais still left the music group to start out a solo profession. In 1988 the Chevalier Brothers folded and Gelato produced his own music group, a seven-piece group, which he called the Giants Of Jive. Kent and Piper continued to be, and quickly Adelman too arrived up to speed. The music group’s enormous recognition in Italy was in charge of a 1992 Carnegie Hall engagement, that was for an Italian tv unique. Ray Gelato AS WELL AS THE Giants Of Jive folded in 1994 and the first choice promptly established a fresh group, the Ray Gelato Giants. The brand new music group retained a number of the unique quirkiness and most of its powerful stage presence however the materials moved nearer to the center of the road, sketching its repertoire through the music popularized by performers such as for example Nat ‘Ruler’ Cole, Duke Ellington, Dean Martin, and Sinatra. However, Gelato’s singing continuing showing allegiance to Prima and his tenor saxophone playing to Butera. Even more jazz celebration engagements implemented, including Umbria, Montreal, Molde, Marciac and San Sebastian. There have been also travels of the united states and Italy where Gelato’s reputation was unabated. In 2001 the music group opened up for Robbie Williams and his Golf swing When You’re Being successful concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall and the next year performed at Paul McCartney’s wedding ceremony. Gelato in addition has played at personal parties hosted with the wealthy and famous, not really least Queen Elizabeth II. Having previously produced several hugely well-known appearances on the Umbria Jazz Celebration in Italy, the music group came back there in 2003. By the first 00s, Gelato’s music group included Danny Marsden (trumpet), Richard Busiakiewicz (piano; who spent some time working with Gelato since 1994), Alex Garnett (saxophones; with Gelato within this music group since 1996 and in addition in the sometimes formed Challenging Tenors group), Andy Rogers (trombone), Tom Gordon (drums), and Kent (bass; who’s also Gelato’s business partner). Gelato continues to be hugely successful, getting a market and keeping his dominance inside it through effort, good musicianship along with a flair for showmanship.