Raymond J. Downey (1953-2014)
Ray Downey was born in Redwood City, California on August 17, 1953. After graduating from high school in Lake Tahoe, Ray played clarinet, saxophone and flute for the U.S. Air Force Band at MChord Air Force Base in Washington State. There he earned a reputation for his clever musical arrangements, gaining experience as both a performer and conductor. After his military service, Ray enrolled at Western Washington University, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Composition and Jazz Studies. He later taught saxophone and jazz theory at WWU, woodwinds at Olympic College in Bremerton and saxophone at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. In addition to teaching, Ray was an active performer, arranger and composer playing in numerous groups including Eddie and the Atlantics, Saltwater Octet, Saxquatch and the Ray Downey Trio. He was principal clarinetist with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra in Bellingham from 1989 to 2011. He maintained a successful music studio for 34 years teaching woodwinds, improv, music theory and composing. He was a gifted teacher writing arrangements for his students that combined ensembles with varying levels of proficiency, from beginner to advanced. Ray received two Mayor’s Arts Awards, first in 2001 for his commitment, dedication and support of young musicians and second in 2013 for his contribution to the Arts and cultural enrichment of Bellingham.
“I started clarinet in fifth grade in Lake Tahoe, California. I enjoyed it from the start and kept at it. I was enamored with a poster in the band room of the saxophone family and that became my fantasy, to play saxophone. My private teachers played in orchestras at the casinos and inspired me to learn flute. Before I graduated from high school I knew I wanted to be a musician. I love performing. To me it’s my version of public service.”
“My composing is inspired by history and humor. I wrote a piece called Scenes from San Juan Island that was inspired by reading about the Pig War and early island history. Another piece was composed about the Peace Arch. I wrote a piece called A Quiet Place using the text of a Longfellow poem called The Jewish Cemetery at Newport. After reading the history of the cemetery I felt compelled to compose. Three Gnomes from Sonoma was inspired by word play and different types of gnomes”.
12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA
1978-1981
Bach Cello Suite
Whatcom Museum of History and Art
Bellingham WA (10-4-2012)
Ray Downey- Saxophone, also played on concert but not featured on recording, Karen Vincent- Viola and Ray Kamada- Cello
Clearbrook Connection
Dixieland Band
Sumas, WA
1991-2014
Dale Steele- Trumpet, Ray Downey- Saxophone, Phil Henderson- Trombone, Walt Germaine- Guitar, Jeff Brown- Piano, Mark Lindenbaum- Tuba, Bob Brown- Drums
Dick Powell Band
Blues
Bellingham, WA
1984-1985
Ray Downey- Saxophone, Patrick McFarland- Guitar, Dick Powell- Keyboards, Harmonica and Vocals, Don Dekker- Bass, Paul Wager- Drums
Eddie and the Atlantics
Rhythm and Blues
Bellingham, WA
1980-1983
Ray Downey- Saxophone, Jim Fricke- Guitar and Vocals, Paul Klein- Piano and Vocals, Oren Sreebney- Bass, Kurt Fricke- Drums
First Fantasie
Ray Downey
Solo Clarinet with Piano 1971
George Marty, Ray Downey
Geobopillogical Survey Team
Bellingham, WA
1979-1981
Stu Davis, Ray Downey and Paul Scea- Saxophone, Kevin McNeal- Piano and Trombone, Rick Jarvela- Bass, Jay Weaver- Drums
Groove Merchants
Jazz Band
Bellingham, WA
1987-1989
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Hans Bremmer- Piano and Vocals, Greg Hamilton- Bass, LaVerne Walker- Drums and Vocals
Jazzin’ Together
Jazzin’ Together
Tacoma, WA (1975-1976)
Dick Hoye - Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ray Downey - Saxophone and Flute, Ben Marciano - Guitar, Doug Wilbert - Bass, Tony Ledonne - Drums and Cymbals
Les Follies
Rhythm and Blues
Seattle, WA
1984-1987
Les Follies Horns, Les Clinkingbeard and Ron Ussery- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey Alto and Baritone Sax, Julian Priester- Trombone. Horn arrangements by Ray Downey and Julian Priester.
McChord Air Force Band
724th Air Force Band McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, WA (1972-1976)
Played woodwinds and wrote arrangements for a variety of Symphonic and Jazz Ensembles.
Millie and the Mentshen
Klezmer Band
Bellingham, WA
2010-2014
Ken Bronstein- Oboe, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Phil Heaver- Violin, Lou Lippman- Piano, Warren Palken- Percussion, Millie Johnson- Vocals
New Deal Rhythm Band
Seattle, WA
1977-1978
Gary Evens- Trumpet and Vocals, Jerry Ranger- Alto Sax and Clarinet, Ray Downey- Tenor Sax, Ed Reynolds- Baritone Sax, Lloyd Spoon- Trombone, Kevin Chalk- Piano, Bill Majkut- Bass, Michael Trullinger- Drums, Linda Asher- Vocals
Orca Wailers
Clarinet Quartet
Bellingham, WA
2006-2008
Ray Downey, John Meloy, John Reay and Barry Ulman- Clarinet
Pete Lienonen Band
Seattle, WA
1980’s
Keith Baggerly- Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, John Day- Guitar, Pete Lienonen- Bass
Ray Composing at Unfinished Home Studio
Ray Downey and Marcia Guderian Duo
Bellingham, WA
1987
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Marcia Guderian- Guitar and Vocals
Ray Downey and Tim Matheis Duo
Bellingham, WA
2007- 2014
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Tim Matheis- Guitar
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey - Woodwinds
Bill MacDonough - Piano
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Gerald Beaton - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Doug Gerry - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray with Back-up Orchestras
Northwest Washington (until 2014)
1978-2014
Ernestine Anderson, Natalie Cole, Dee Daniels, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations. Arranged and conducted shows for Ernestine Anderson and Dee Daniels.
Ray’s Student Recitals
Woodwinds
1987-2014
Saltwater Octet
Swing Band
Bellingham, WA
1998-2014
Lanny Jacobs- Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Mark Kelly- Alto Sax and Flute, Ray Downey- Tenor Sax and Clarinet, Max Jones or Bob Hiorns- Trombone, Nick Hoffman or Tom Miller- Guitar, Bill MacDonough- Piano, Tom Anastasio- Bass, Grant Wilson or Mike Bajuk- Drums, Alicia Dauber, Cheryl Jewell and Grant Wilson- Vocals
Saxquatch
Saxophone Quartet
Bellingham, WA
1983-2014
Mark Kelly- Soprano Sax, Barry Ulman- Alto Sax, John Anderson- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey- Baritone Sax
Seattle Bands of the 1980’s
Composers and Improvisors Orchestra, Seattle Concert Band, Keith Baggerly and the Roadside Attraction, Jr. Cadillac, John Holte Swing Band, Sweet Talkin’ Jones with Ron Ussery. Also performed with Anthony Braxton, Gary Peacock, B.J. Thomas, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Julian Priester, and Fredrick Fennel
Ken Colvin Swing Band, Point Roberts, WA
Soul Santa
Solo Saxophone Holiday Tunes
Allied Arts Christmas, Bellingham, WA
1985-1992
Ray Downey-Saxophone
Whatcom Symphony Orchestra
Bellingham, WA
1989-2014
Principal Clarinetist (1989-2011) Commissioned Arranger and Composer
Yambique
Latin Jazz
Bellingham, WA
2008-2009
Paul Chandler- Trumpet, John Meloy- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey-Baritone Sax and Flute, Mars Lindgren- Trombone, Bill Mac Donough- Piano, Tom Anastasio or Roger Yamashita- Bass, John Butorac, Kevin Candela and Steve Jones- Percussion, Tonya Kitterman- Vocals