Donald Ray Johnson Blues Band Show 2

Enjoy this true “statesman of the blues” and his phenomenal band.

Over the course of his five-decade career, Texas-born Donald Ray Johnson – Grammy Award winner and five-time Maple Blues Award nominee, has performed across North America, Europe and Asia, including at the prestigious Madison Square Gardens and Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Donald Ray has released seven solo albums, all featuring his song-writing talent and his rich baritone voice. His debut, It Ain’t Easy Being Blue, was released in 1995, followed by Donald Ray (1999), Pure Pleasure (2002), Travelin’ Man (2006), It’s Time (2010), These Blues (2013), and his latest, Bluesin’ Around (2016), recorded with Gas Blues Band on one of his many tours in France.

Donald Ray grew up near the cotton fields of Bryan, Texas, where as a young teen he would secretly hide side stage at the local club and listen to legends such as Freddie King, Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. At age 14, Donald Ray borrowed a drum set and began playing professionally at local juke joints (with pianist Nat Dove, organist Joe Daniels and guitarist Lavernis Thurman), and at live radio shows. It wasn’t till he finished two naval tours during the Vietnam War that he could buy his own kit.

This month, we proudly celebrate Grammy Award winner Donald Ray Johnson, who made history as a member of A Taste of Honey — the first African American band to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

With the passing of his bandmate Perry Kibble, Donald Ray Johnson stands as the only surviving male member of the group to hold this historic honor. His legacy is a testament to excellence, perseverance, and groundbreaking achievement in music history.

We celebrate his contributions, his impact, and the doors he helped open for generations to come.