Born in Tuskegee, AL., Glenn was relocated to Detroit, MI at the age of 3. By the 5th grade he realized music and entertaining was deeply embedded in his soul, thrilling lunch hour audiences playing the bongos on the steps of the academic building. During homeroom period he wowed the classrooms with his group imitating the Jackson 5 during his 7th grade year. Moving back to Tuskegee at 13, he joined the school band and choir in the 9th grade where he starting playing saxophone and singing. By the 11th grade he was playing professionally, performing at various functions and nightclubs, as leader of his band, The Images, throughout the United States. They were influenced greatly by Charles Pollard, who taught the band how to sing, play, dance and put on a show. The audiences couldn't get enough of the fresh, cool style they presented. Also, the hometown, famous Commodores set a great example of what that kind of performance could merit. Glenn sang background vocals on the Commodores' Lady (You Bring Me Up) in 1980.
Moving to Dallas, TX in 1981 with his band, then The Ultimate Force, (same band members) was a rewarding experience. They were immediately recognized as the band to be reckoned with, with their funky, flashy style, and took the region by storm. In 1988, Boz Scaggs was among the audience at one of the band's Dallas performances and informed them that he was firing his band and taking The Force' to Switzerland for the MTV Rocket 88 show; thus starting their overseas experience. After changing their name to Premiere and recording a 2 song album,“Perfect 10”,with LaMusique Records(David Cochrane) ,in 1989,the band moved on to the Asian side of the world to Yokohama, Japan in 1990 and Tokyo in 1991. Glenn took a break from the band in 1992 to perform in Tokyo for one year, solo, and rejoined the band in 1993 to tour Asia; visiting Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Guam, and Singapore along the way. In 1997 Glenn formed another FUNKY-COOL group,SLAM! His concept was well thought out and well applied. They performed in Taiwan and Tokyo. It was a short-lived union but a great band.
In 2013, Glenn recorded his first CD, entitled, 'Voice of My Heart'. It consists of ten popular cover ballads and one original song, 'Midwest Smooth'. 'Midwest Smooth' is a Smooth Jazz Instrumental created through an internet collaboration with the basic track from MaestroP (Miles Warren) of Minneapolis, to Bassist Morton C. Smith, of Tokyo, laying the bass lines, to Glenn, also based in Tokyo, adding the melody line, chorus and harmonies on saxophone. Upon completion, the song was sent to Emmy Award winning engineer (OT) Cedric Freeman, of Indiana, for mixing and mastering. 'Voice of My Heart' is available in Japan stores, HMV and Tower Records, Amazon, and iTunes.
Glenn is now based in Tokyo, Japan as a free-lance artist and has been on tour with Japanese artists as well as appearing on various television programs with Japanese and American artists. |
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| Interests |
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| Scuba Diving, Motorcycling, Physical Training |
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| Saxophone, Lead & Background Vocals |
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Glenn began his career in 1974. His musical and vocal training started at Tuskegee Institute High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. Glenn has performed throughout the United States and the Asia Pacific region with his former bands, Premiere and Slam!
He has also performed as a solo act, and his skills include song writing and arranging. |
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| Artists Performed With |
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| James Brown |
Commodores |
Kool & The Gang |
| Boz Scaggs |
Con-Funk-Shun |
The Barkays |
| The Jetts |
Toni,Tone, Tony |
Ken Hirai |
| Hamasaki Ayumi |
Amuro Namie |
Okamoto Mayo |
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| Recordings |
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| Glenn M. Ray |
Gets Me Started – Single Release
Gets Me Started – Official Video – You Tube |
2022 |
| Glenn M. Ray |
'Christmas with Glenn M. Ray' CD |
2015 |
| Glenn M. Ray |
'Voice of My Heart' CD |
2013 |
| Jasmine One CD |
Back Vocals |
2010 |
| Speed |
Back Vocals |
2000 |
| Duet Love Song CD |
Lead & Background |
1992 |
| Commodores |
Back Vocals |
1980 |
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| Television |
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| Hey, Hey, Hey |
w/ Ricky Martin (Sax)
w/ Amuro Namie
w/ Hamasaki Ayumi |
1999
2000
2002
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| Music Fair |
w/ Ricky Martin (Sax)
w/ Mary J. Blige
w/ Hamasaki Ayumi |
1999
1999
2003
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| NHK Television |
w/ Okamoto Mayo
w/ Itsuki Hiroshi (Sax)
w/ Hamasaki Ayumi |
1998
2001
2002 –03 |
| Beautiful Life (Drama) |
Playing Saxophone |
2000 Season Finale |
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| TV Commercial |
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| VENTUNO COMMERCIAL SONG |
2015 |
| ASAHI COCKTAIL DRINK COMMERCIAL SONG |
2012 |
| DOCOMO SONY EXPERIA TV COMMERCIAL SONG |
2011 |
| SONY WALKMAN TV COMMERCIAL W/JASMINE |
2010 |
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| Tours |
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| Nagamine, Yasuko |
Japan Dance Tour
Vocals & Dancing |
2002 |
| Dancin Station |
Shikoku Dance Tour
Singing,,Playing Saxophone |
1999 |
| Okamoto Mayo |
Crystal Scenery
X-mas Tour
Back Vocals, Dancing
Duet w/ Okamoto Mayo |
1998 |
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| Videos |
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| Midwest Smooth |
Official Original SongVideo |
2013 |
| Bird |
Single Release |
1999 |
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| Events |
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| Huis Ten Bosch |
Music Festival |
2012,2013 |
| Yebisu Beer Festival |
Tohoku Donation |
2011 |
| Tokyo Motor Show |
Mazda Main Stage
Vocals, Team Leader |
2003 |
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| Dinner Shows |
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| Huis Ten Bosch |
Vocals, Sax |
2012 |
| Huis Ten Bosch Xmas Show |
Vocals, Sax |
2012 |
| Yonezawa Daichi Hotel |
Vocals, Sax |
2012 |
| Jal City Hotel |
Vocals, Sax |
2011 -2013 |
| Watanabe, Yasuko |
Vocals, Sax |
Yearly |
| Nagamine, Yasuko |
Vocals |
2002, 2003 |
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| Modeling |
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CD cover for Sony Playstaion game
(Tenshou Gakkuen) soundtrac |
2005 |
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1-10-4-103, Musashino-Shi, Gotenyama, Tokyo, Japan 180-0005
81 (0)90-2306-0643-Tokyo / 1-972-6236-U.S.A.
graysax@me.com |
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