Ray Pratley

Ray Pratley- Born in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 1986. 

Ray started playing guitar at the age of ten. His father Ed was a country singer and was friends with many of the early greats of New Zealand country music. Notably Les and Cole Wilson who also became an early influence of Rays. At a very early age Ray fell in love with the sound of the guitar. His main early influences were Peter Posa, Chet Atkins and The Shadows. He spent many hours emulating the sounds of their recordings.

By the age of twelve he was a guitar hero at school. He entered numerous talent quests and was asked to do a few guest appearances with a local country band.

His teen years saw him spend countless hours practicing and playing in the occasional garage band.

In Australia he decided to learn jazz. This led him to study with Bill Townsend who had been rhythm guitarist for jazz great Graeme Bell. Soon he was offered a position teaching at Bills music school, this leading to the meeting of the late Greg Parsons.

Greg introduced Ray to Ben Kelly and so they say the rest is history. Greg and Ray spent many hours playing together and it was this time that converted Ray from instrumentalist to lead playing. Due to injury Ray gave up playing in 1998. 

During 2006  Ray travelled to New Zealand where he had the opportunity to spend a week with his guitar hero Peter Posa. 

Today Ray is playing once again. Back in the band, still trying to play lead, and punching out  his favourite Shadows and Peter Posa tunes at the Midnight Rider shows. 

_{Rays Current setup includes:}

_{Guitars: Gretcsh '62 Country Classic, Fender Tele Nashville. Ernie Ball Power Slinky on the Gretcsh and AU Strings 10-46 on the Tele.}

_{Amps: Fender Stage 160}  

_{Effects: BBE 482i Sonic Maximiser-Lexicon MPX 550 Processor- Boss DD3 Digital Delay-Boss TU2 Tuner- Morley Volume Pedal- Behringer EQ700 Graphic Equalizer-Behringer UT100 Ultra Tremolo-Behringer Stereo Chorus.}

_{Cables: High Quality custom made by Glen at Rockdog Amplifier Repairs.}

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