Ray

Ray Bryant

#118,028
Most Influential Person Now

American pianist

Ray Bryant's Academic­Influence.com Rankings

Ray Bryant
Communications
#6521
World Rank
#8977
Historical Rank
#2863
USA Rank
communications Degrees
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  • Communications

Why Is Ray Bryant Influential?

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According to Wikipedia, Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had taught herself to play the piano; his father also played the piano and sang. His brothers were the bass player Tommy, drummer and singer Len, and Lynwood. Ray began playing the piano around the age of six or seven, following the example of his mother and his sister, Vera. Gospel influences in his playing came from being part of the church at this stage in his early life. He had switched from classical music to jazz by his early teens and played the double bass at junior high school. He was first paid to play when he was 12: "I would play for dances, and they'd sneak me into bars. I'd get four or five bucks a night, which was good money then." He turned professional aged 14, and immediately joined a local band led by Mickey Collins.

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