MEET

Ray Whitney

alias "Dr. Thump"
alias "Ramon"

Ray started his professional musical career at the tender age of 16. When most of his peers were jamming in basements and garages, Ray was backing up Nashville notables such as Freddy Haas and Ace Husky in the heyday of clubs like the Silver Dollar and the Flame Bar.

Ray moved on to other groups, playing the five-state ballroom circuit and recording radio and TV jingles. Eventually, he succumbed to the siren song of the working musician and moved to Los Angeles. He made an album with New York rocker Tony Waters that was submitted to Epic Records, and gigged with a jazz-fusion group in L.A. and Las Vegas. But mostly, as Ray says, "I starved with the best of them!"

Coming back home to Minneapolis, Ray hooked up with Las Vegas comedian Jerry Van Dyke, and toured the Midwest with his show band for 1� years. Deciding to stay closer to home, Ray has since played the Twin Cities circuit exclusively. He laid down the backbeat for bands like Smilin' Ed, White Lightning, and the Rum Runners, before becoming a founding member of Nightlife seven years ago.