ArtistInfo

Big Black

Band, *1934
Musician of Jazz
A.k.a. Danny Ray

Percussionist from Savannah Georgia, born in 1934. Big Black was William "Fish" Ray's younger brother who was a Vauderville performer. He started playing percussion in Miami in the 50's and performed with various salsa and calypso bands until he moved to New York in the 60's. He got connected with various Bebop artists and bands there and soon was a regular percussionist for Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard and Randy Weston. He was dubbed "The king of Congas" and is a highly regarded institute of the african culture in Harlem. Over the years he has worked with Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, Harvey Mandel and Thelonious Monk to name a few.

Members

	Howard Johnson tu, bs
	Caiphus Semenya voc, as *1941 ZA
	Stan Gilbert b *1938 US
	Herman Riley ts, fl 1933-2007 US
	Curtis Peagler as 1929-1992 US
	Maurice Spears tb US
	Ray Draper tu 1940-1982 US
	Ron Marshall voc, eb
	Lesley Hargrove g
	Charles Mallory g
	Billy Moore dr