Ray Tarantino

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Ray Tarantino

London 2008 - Photo by Phil Sharp
Background information
Born (1976-02-03) February 3, 1976
Milan, Italy,
Genres Rock, Alternative Country, Americana, Folk
Occupations Musician
Singer-songwriter
Producer
Instruments Guitar
Vocals
Harmonica
Labels Ponderosa
Massive Arts
Tiny Drum
Website RayTarantino.com

Ray Tarantino (born 3 February 1976, Milan, Italy) is a contemporary rock singer-songwriter of Italian descent.[1] Reviewers compare Tarantino’s lyrical style to Bob Dylan and his musical integrity to Bruce Springsteen.[2]

Early life

Ray Tarantino was born in the northern Italian city of Milan. He moved to England at the age of 12 to study English at Milton Abbey School in Dorset, where a classmate introduced him to "Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan.[3] Tarantino was so moved by what he heard that he stole a guitar and began writing songs.[4]

Career

As an adult, Ray Tarantino survived a near-fatal car crash,[3] which he cites as his reason for abandoning the corporate life for the life of a professional musician.[5]

Tarantino co-produced his debut album, "Recusant" with Tony Bowers,[6] co-founder and former bass player of platinum-selling band, Simply Red. “Recusant” was released by Edel AG and the European label, Ponderosa, which has also released solo-albums by former Police drummer Stewart Copeland.[7] A few months after the album’s release, Tarantino was propelled to No. 1 unsigned artist from the UK on MySpace[8] topping the charts alongside Amy Winehouse and Gomez.[9] As a result, Ivo Grasso signed him to a recording contract with Massive Arts and a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[8][10] He then began solid years of touring across Europe[8] and the USA, earning him the media moniker, “Travelling Troubadour.”[3][11]

Ray Tarantino - Park City, UT - 2010

Working in collaboration, songwriter Giulio Casale wrote the lyrics and Tarantino composed the music for the song, “Senza Pelle,” which was recorded by Italian folk singer Patrizia Laquidara.[12]

Delmar Brown, piano player and composer for many musicians, including Sting, Jaco Pastorius and Miles Davis, recorded Tarantino’s song, “My Heart Your Heart,” on Brown’s album, “Inner Spirit.”[13][14]

Tarantino also produced Luca Gemma’s third solo album, “Folkadelic.”[15]

He has performed on American television[9] and on the Italian television show, “Parla Con Me,”[16] famous for its political satire, liberal views[17] and critique of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.[18]

In 2010, he opened for Tori Amos at the Villa Arconati Music Festival.[19] He counts the experience among his career’s highlights,[20] along with meeting legendary musician Taj Mahal.[4]

Ray Tarantino opening for Tori Amos in 2010.

Tiny Drum Records[21] released his self-titled second album in 2012 to positive reviews.[6][22] Tarantino lives in Nashville, where he records for Tiny Drum Records.[3] Steve Werbelow co-produced Tarantino’s third album, “Good Things Will Happen,” to be released in 2014.[23] The album includes collaboration with Steve O’Brien, co-writer of the No. 2 Billboard Country Single, "Rock My World (Little Country Girl),"[24] and Jim Reilley, co-founder of The New Dylans.[25]

Discography

  • Aimlessly – Tour Only Edition (2009)
  • Ray Tarantino (2012)[26]
  • Hands Down – Single (2012)[26]
  • Good Things Will Happen (2014)[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Ray Tarantino in concerto al Boca Barranca di Marina Romea". Ravennanotizie (in Italian). July 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-30. 
  2. ↑ "Tarantino to headline Songwriters at Play". Times Press Recorder. April 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Hill, Jack W. (April 4, 2013). "Italian troubadour follows songwriting path of Dylan". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Inside the Music Universe: Ray Tarantino". The uPlaya Blog. November 25, 2009. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  5. ↑ "Ray Tarantino Bio". raytarantino.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 McQuiston, James (May 29, 2012). "Introducing Ray Tarantino". NeuFutur Magazine. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  7. ↑ "Ponderosa Music and Art - Our Label" (in Italian). www.ponderosa.it. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Massive Arts Studios - Ray Tarantino" (in Italian). www.massivearts.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Singer/Songwriter Ray Tarantino Visits Newschannel 6". Aug 03, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  10. ↑ "General » Gig News » Ray Tarantino". Alternative Britain. September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  11. ↑ Bell, Robert (April 3, 2013). "Thursday: King vigil, Louise Gluck, Ray Tarantino and more". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  12. ↑ "SENZA PELLE - Patrizia Laquidara" (in Italian). www.patrizialaquidara.it. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  13. ↑ "Delmar Brown Biography". www.ponderosa.it. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  14. ↑ Delmar Brown - Inner Spirit EPK (video). YouTube. February 14, 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  15. ↑ "Luca Gemma Official Cite Bio" (in Italian). www.lucagemma.it. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  16. ↑ Ray Tarantino - Keep walking On Live @ Parla con Me (video). YouTube. Mar 23, 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  17. ↑ Hajek, Andrea; Salerno, Daniele; Watters, Clare (May 16, 2013). "Send in the clowns . Humour and power in Italian political, social and cultural life". Center for Italian Studies Accademia del Giglio Florence, Italy. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  18. ↑ "Parla Con Me TV Fanpage" (in Italian). Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  19. ↑ Sartor, Vito (July 13, 2010). "Tori Amos Live @ Villa Arconati" (in Italian). www.mescalina.it. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  20. ↑ "Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Ray Tarantino". Last Stop Booking. November 10, 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  21. ↑ "Amazon.com: Ray Tarantino: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  22. ↑ Frometa, RJ (2011). "Ray Tarantino Self-titled Album". Vents Magazine. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Good Things Will Happen - full download available now!". bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  24. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 56. 
  25. ↑ Moore, Rick (October 26, 2011). Nashville Songwriter Series: Jim Reilley. American Songwriter. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Amazon.com: Ray Tarantino: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 

External links

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