Sugaray Rayford

Guitar

Franck 'Paris Slim' Goldwasser

Guitar

Sander Kooiman

Bass

Willie J. Campbell

Drums

Doug Jimi Bott

When Sugaray belts out a song, you not only hear it, you feel it. The excitement in the room is palpable when he takes the stage; he is a superb vocalist and entertainer. His dynamic voice is large just like the man. With his old school vocal style, echoes of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass can be heard. At 6'5" he is a big man, but he moves with grace and energy. His fluid dance steps will remind you of the Legendary James Brown. Texas born Caron "Sugaray" Rayford began his musical career as a young boy singing & playing drums in church.

His gospel influence can be heard and felt in his music. Rayford's phrasing is intimate and conversational and the soulful gravel in his voice hints at his firsthand experience with hardship. He grew up in Texas, his childhood marked by poverty and loss. He remembered a sad game he played with his brothers, a competition that determined who was skinniest by counting the number of belt holes left unused. His mother struggled to raise three boys alone while battling cancer. When she died, it was a kind of relief. "She suffered and we suffered," Rayford said.

"Then, we moved in with my grandmother and our lives were a lot better. We ate every day and we were in church every day, which I loved. I grew up in gospel and soul." After moving to Los Angeles, Sugaray was asked to host a blues jam at the legendary blues club Cozy's, in Sherman Oaks. It is through this venue that Sugaray has met and played with innumerable world-class musicians. Suga's desire to explore and expand his musical vision has been nourished by these musicians.

His solo career has flourished in LA. He has done studio vocals on several projects, most recently on the theme for Judge Joe Brown, the movie trailer City Lights and backup vocals for the band The Heavy Pets. He partnered with Chuck Kavooras, a long time LA guitarist and owner of Slide Away Studios. Chuck became the musical director of the Monday night jams. He began booking the artists for the band around Suga's vocals and Sugaray and the CK All Stars were born. The first set of every Monday was performed by this house band, made up of top notch musicians.

Soon after being discovered by Deltagroove CEO Randy Chortkoff, Suga became part of the Deltagroove family. Currently Suga is fronting the Mannish Boys, together with the legendary blues man Finis Tasby. A Deltagroove solo debut is to be recorded in May, 2013.