Ray Vaughn
Ray Vaughn founded the punk/art rock band Hostages in 1979, and later the avant-garde Die Bosa Nova in 1984, leaving his mark on the then-thriving SF music scene, until disappearing from the public eye in 1992. Now over 20 years later, Ray has returned as someone tempered by time and experience–with many new stories to tell. He has found a niche for his music on both college and community radio, and in press and media outlets in the USA and across Europe. Read Full BioRay Vaughn founded the punk/art rock band Hostages in 1979, and later the avant-garde Die Bosa Nova in 1984, leaving his mark on the then-thriving SF music scene, until disappearing from the public eye in 1992. Now over 20 years later, Ray has returned as someone tempered by time and experience–with many new stories to tell. He has found a niche for his music on both college and community radio, and in press and media outlets in the USA and across Europe.
Ray Vaughn’s presence has never gone unnoticed. Before founding Hostages, he spent six years in England–first in London and later in Birmingham–soaking up the in-your-face punk rock ethos of the late 1970s, until his ultimate return to his native San Francisco. In the early ‘80s, BAM Magazine described Ray’s lead vocals while performing with Hostages as “powerful and crisp,” adding that “he sang with deliberate emphasis on the lyrics, which were decidedly political… moving onstage much like a Jellyfish with rhythmic jerks and a smooth underlying sexuality in his vocal tones and in his eyes.”
Ray Vaughn marked his return to music in 2013 with his first full length solo album Way Down Low, teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer Michael Rosen (Tesla/Rancid/Papa Roach), former Hostage member Ed Rawlings, drummer Michael Urbano (Smash Mouth, Third Eye Blind, John Hiatt, Cracker, Paul Westerberg and Sheryl Crow), ex-Die BossaNova bassist Stephen Winkle, and keyboardist Phil Bennett (The Starship) on Hammond B3.
A personal exploration of a life hard-lived, Ray’s debut solo album Way Down Low brings forth echoes of his punk rock past while looking forward to the world he’s yet to encounter. A review of the album on Critical Jazz reported, “if that singer / songwriter vibe is what you dig, Ray Vaughn is easily the best kept secret in music today” and a review by AJ Garcia on Shakefire noted that “the album just reads like a well thought out book of shorts from someone who’s not only lived, but understood their plight every step of the way”.
Now, just three years later, Ray is back to his old prolific tricks with the release of his second full-length solo album, Wounded Bird. Both producer Michael Rosen and Ed Rawlings returned to the project, and new additions include James DePrato (Chuck Prophet) on electric, slide and acoustic guitars, baritone guitar, dobro and mandolin, Kevin T White (Chuck Prophet) on bass, and Prairie Prince (The Tubes, Todd Rundgren) on drums. A response to and extension of Way Down Low, Ray Vaughn’s new album Wounded Bird features eight powerful tracks that leave the audience in a cathartic and contemplative state—wondering, “where has he been for all these years?”
Wounded Bird releases worldwide on November 4, 2016. Ray will be traveling in the UK in late September and early October 2016, before returning to perform a few shows with his band in and around the Bay Area before the end of the year, while gearing up for larger scale touring in 2017 and beyond.
Ray Vaughn’s presence has never gone unnoticed. Before founding Hostages, he spent six years in England–first in London and later in Birmingham–soaking up the in-your-face punk rock ethos of the late 1970s, until his ultimate return to his native San Francisco. In the early ‘80s, BAM Magazine described Ray’s lead vocals while performing with Hostages as “powerful and crisp,” adding that “he sang with deliberate emphasis on the lyrics, which were decidedly political… moving onstage much like a Jellyfish with rhythmic jerks and a smooth underlying sexuality in his vocal tones and in his eyes.”
Ray Vaughn marked his return to music in 2013 with his first full length solo album Way Down Low, teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer Michael Rosen (Tesla/Rancid/Papa Roach), former Hostage member Ed Rawlings, drummer Michael Urbano (Smash Mouth, Third Eye Blind, John Hiatt, Cracker, Paul Westerberg and Sheryl Crow), ex-Die BossaNova bassist Stephen Winkle, and keyboardist Phil Bennett (The Starship) on Hammond B3.
A personal exploration of a life hard-lived, Ray’s debut solo album Way Down Low brings forth echoes of his punk rock past while looking forward to the world he’s yet to encounter. A review of the album on Critical Jazz reported, “if that singer / songwriter vibe is what you dig, Ray Vaughn is easily the best kept secret in music today” and a review by AJ Garcia on Shakefire noted that “the album just reads like a well thought out book of shorts from someone who’s not only lived, but understood their plight every step of the way”.
Now, just three years later, Ray is back to his old prolific tricks with the release of his second full-length solo album, Wounded Bird. Both producer Michael Rosen and Ed Rawlings returned to the project, and new additions include James DePrato (Chuck Prophet) on electric, slide and acoustic guitars, baritone guitar, dobro and mandolin, Kevin T White (Chuck Prophet) on bass, and Prairie Prince (The Tubes, Todd Rundgren) on drums. A response to and extension of Way Down Low, Ray Vaughn’s new album Wounded Bird features eight powerful tracks that leave the audience in a cathartic and contemplative state—wondering, “where has he been for all these years?”
Wounded Bird releases worldwide on November 4, 2016. Ray will be traveling in the UK in late September and early October 2016, before returning to perform a few shows with his band in and around the Bay Area before the end of the year, while gearing up for larger scale touring in 2017 and beyond.
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Not Allowed
Ray Vaughn Lyrics
All that sucka shit is not allowed
Niggas talkin' loud but I can't hear 'em through the crowd (shh)
If it's precipitation, I'm gon' send 'em to the clouds
Why the fuck you talking about then when this is now? (Now)
I'm a Top Dawg nigga, I don't listen to meows (Top Dawg)
This a comic book pistol, when I hit you, it say, "Pow (pow)
From the city by the sea, LB, not a pound
From a block full of babies, make 'em see the ultrasound (Top Dawg)
I get collect calls, press 5 on 'em (5 on 'em)
When it come to bitches, I got five of 'em (five, five of 'em)
Had to stop being broke 'cause you could die from it (hey)
Shit, my pop's name Ricky, he gon' die runnin'
Never play it safe, bitch, I'ma slide something
Fast in foreigns with my new bitch, I been thigh rubbin'
Havin' sex in my Rolex, 'cause my time comin'
I go incognito 'fore I let a bitch hide something
I'm a walking cheat code, turn a nun to a freak ho (freak ho)
Been blunt like a pre-roll (pre-roll), I'm the neighborhood hero (yeah)
It's funny how I got all this drive and, back in the day, I got repo'd (fuck)
Help I got, nigga, zero, and I do it big like fee-fo
Tell my bitch I cheat too (cheat too)
Good sex had me in relationships that I ain't agree to (ain't agree to)
Nigga, I'm toxic as ever (toxic)
Wish I had a girlfriend, 'cause I ain't get a PS5 (PS5)
Death hittin' us left and right, God, please protect me and mine (mine)
Yeah, I'm rich in spirit, ain't no way I'm gon' die broke (die broke)
I just bought a crib in the neighborhood with the white folks (the white folks)
That Givenchy, I spent fifteen hundred on my coat (fifteen hundred)
Ain't got enough money to argue I don't fight, bro (I don't fight, bro)
Real come from the heart and not your pockets (who?)
I done made friends with the monsters in my closet (who?)
Fuck a t-shirt, turn you to a trending topic (hey, hey)
Check my peephole 'cause the devil always knockin', ayy
In the jungle, gotta learn to walk with apes, all heroes don't walk with capes
It's head start, we was taught to race, see the headshot throw his thoughts away (boom)
Juicy nigga when we concentrate, momma cryin' when she saw his face
But we'll pop a nigga (pop)
I done pulled up in a Ghost, Phantom of the Opera, nigga
Burglary felonies on my own, I ain't never flocked with niggas (yeah)
Yeah, I skated even though the ice broke
Walkin' on the tightrope, ain't no way that I'ma die broke
Yeah, I'm rich in spirit, ain't no way I'm gon' die broke
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Rayvon Welch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Top Dawg Entertainment
Welcome Ray Vaughn to the TDE Family. Peer Pressure EP available on all digital streaming platforms now.
Ricky Galvez
Y'all gotta goat fs .
Martian resurrection
Yall finally waking up to hard Westcoast music
G F
@Troy Greer you ain’t never lied bro!! He FLAMED that joint 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
deliriouzswc
Welcome 2 Da Fam 💯🏁
Maurice Perry II
That Knock had me turning around like somebody was near me.
Just B.E.
FUCK I WAS READY FOR FIGHT OR FLIGHT WHEN THAT KNOCK CAME IN
Tennentinos
🤣🤣
Xavier G
Lmaoo why i have to play that part back twice to make sure it was the song and no one lurkin. I was spooked
numbeerrr3333 0
Yoooo i was smoking and it tripped me out so bad