Ray Andrade & His Orchestra

Ray Andrade & His Orchestra
1985-89

This is about as basic as it gets. Ray Andrade has been around since the 1940's, when he recorded for RCA Victor Records leading a "polyenesian" orchestra, complete with hula and fire dancers. And yes, there were the token ukeleles and steel guitar. When I worked with Ray from 1985 to 1989, he was doing exactly the same thing. I was one of scores of sidemen he had hired during his career. He directed me to his BIG van in the parking lot, opened the side door and said "what's your size?" I'd tell him, and he'd pull Hawaiian clothing from the racks inside that fit me to a tee. Off with the street clothes, and on with the flowered shirts, white shorts and sandals.

My gigs with Ray were at select restaurants in Phoenix, the Prescott Pioneer Home and the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Whipple (Prescott). His music was very, very popular in those locations. Dressed up like an Islander, I was annonymous enough, and the gigs were always fun.