About ya boy
The Reverend Jesse Ray is a high energy one-man-band with crooning vocals, splitting harmonica, pounding foot drums, and rockin’ guitar. After winning three WYCE JAMMIE Awards, and traveling to Memphis as an International Blues Challenger as Frontman for Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish; The Reverend Jesse Ray has the chops and attitude to rock any stage solo. No venue is safe in the wake of this crushing and primal Rock and Roll phenomenon, yet one thing is certain: less is more.
Jesse Ray, the frontman of Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, now presents himself as The Reverend Jesse Ray. With his unique blend of rockabilly blues, The Reverend is taking his music to new heights. He offers a dynamic mix of energetic originals, soulful ballads, and classic covers of legends like George Jones and Johnny Cash. Armed with his electric guitar, harmonica, footdrums, and captivating vocals, The Reverend Jesse Ray is a one-man rock 'n' roll, Americana, and blues powerhouse that any fan of traditional American music will not want to miss.
Jesse's musical journey began at the age of 17 when he started playing folk music at open mic nights in Grand Rapids. Accompanied by his mother, he found his way into bars on weeknights and even slept in his car during school lunch breaks to pursue his passion. After leaving for college in Portland, Oregon in 2011, Jesse turned to street performances, or "busking," to support himself. It was during this time that he honed his fast, loud, and emotional playing style, blending folk with blues, country, and rockabilly influences.
Upon returning to Grand Rapids in 2012, Jesse formed the band "Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish" and embarked on nationwide tours, releasing a total of eight live and studio albums. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2021, Jesse found inspiration in his roots of street-style music and its raw energy. Today, he continues to perform throughout the state with the skill of a seasoned musician and the passion of a young artist stomping his foot for the love of music.
Since 2022, Jesse has been performing as a one-man-band called "The Reverend Jesse Ray". Armed with a catalogue of 10 years of music and a new Farmer Footdrum kit, He set out on a path to be completely self-sufficient. With his first debut of "¡Adios!" in 2024, Reverend Ray felt something to be desired, and reconnected with his old producer Dick Chiclet at Goon Lagoon in Grand Rapids, MI to re-create the magic of 2016's "ANGRY". After wrapping up recording in January, The release is scheduled for 6/26/2026, and plans to infect the world with his music are now underway. As of August 2025, Ray has been without "the catfish" and is focusing solely on his solo work. In late 2025, He completed his first two week solo tour across the midwest, and hopes to bring his unbridled, feel-good rock and roll to every corner of the US, and beyond.