Johnny's musical journey began in Boston

                 It was a generation influenced by the greatest musicians and bands of the time. A golden era of show business like no other and many of Johnny’s high school contemporaries went on to great success in the entertainment industry, including comedy writers like Lew Schneider (Everybody Loves Raymond), and TV stars like Connan O’Brian. But for Johnny it was always music and singing that stirred his soul. From his early days of performing underage in Boston's nightclub circuit, it was obvious he would make a name for himself as a frontman in the music business.  

           Like most aspiring frontmen

 of the time, Johnny shed his youthful inexperience on the stages of legendary Boston nightclubs like The Channel, The Paradise Club, The Ratskeller, Jacks, and dozens of other spots that made up the vibrant Boston music scene. It was a prolific time for original artists in Boston with hundreds of clubs to showcase their material and thousands of young bands chomping at the bit for record deals and stardom. But it wasn’t until years later when a casino cruise line came into town that The Johnny Ray Band got the national attention they needed. They became "the most popular cover band in New England", according to Mike Tumulty, the Entertainment Director for Horizon's Edge Casino Cruise Lines. "They entertained 60,000 guests annually on board our ship and the crowds loved them." It was while performing on the ship that an entertainment buyer from Las Vegas discovered Johnny and began booking his act regularly on the Las Vegas Strip.  No longer an inexperienced novice, Johnny would become a dynamic showman and entertainer crisscrossing from coast to coast and delighting audiences of all ages. 

           Staying popular on both coasts requires the hard work and commitment of many talented individuals who Johnny remains lifelong friends with. It was the support of those friends, musicians, and fans, over many years that made Johnny’s musical dreams come true. That’s why Johnny feels an awesome responsibility to give back to the community that supported him the most. 

Now as one of the owners of The Beacon Restaurant & Bar and Warwick Cinemas in Marblehead, Mr. Ray feels like there’s one more thing to do and that’s open a music store. Together with his partner, Richard Messinger, also a lifelong music lover and musician, they will open Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium at 31 Atlantic Ave. in Marblehead in September of 2025. The store will feature Fine Instruments, Consignments, Lessons, Repairs, and a Pod Cast Studio that people can rent by the hour.