New York City-based blues guitarist, songwriter and singer Ray Schinnery is a regionally known talent who may break into the national spotlight in the coming years. Schinnery released his own album, Al Grey and Clark Terry Introduce Ray Schinnery on C&D Records in 1992.
Schinnery was raised in New York City, and was influenced by jazz guitarists and classic rhythm & blues in the early 1950s. In 1952, after hearing B.B. King, Schinnery decided to make blues his life's work. Since becoming a professional in the mid-1950s, Schinnery has toured or recorded with Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Mama Thornton, Big Maybelle, King Curtis and Tiny Grimes. Schinnery has also worked with backing bands and artists such as Nancy Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, David "Fathead" Newman, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes and Gloria Lynne.
Schinnery can be heard in many of New York City's nightclubs, leading his own band.
