Amy Ray
Encyclopedia
Amy Elizabeth Ray is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls
. She also pursues a solo career and has released four albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records
.
, Amy Ray met Emily Saliers
when they both attended the same high school. They began performing together and recorded a demo in 1981. After graduation, Ray and Saliers went to different colleges with Ray attending Vanderbilt University
. By 1985, both women had transferred to Emory University
in Atlanta and formed the Indigo Girls. In 1986, Ray graduated from Emory with majors in English and Religion.
In March 2001, Ray released her first solo album, Stag
, a southern and punk rock album. The Butchies
provided support for five songs, and Joan Jett
played on "Hey Castrator". In April 2005, Ray released Prom
, and in December 2006, she released Live from Knoxville
. Her fourth solo album, Didn't It Feel Kinder
, was released in August 2008.
Her backup band for her Stag tour was The Butchies
. In 2004, when she embarked on her Prom tour, she brought Les Nuby (guitar), Will Lochamy (drums), and Jody Bleyle
(bass). Bleyle was replaced with Tara Jane O'Neil
in October because Bleyle was on maternity leave.
Ray currently lives in the foothills of North Georgia.
and her work as a solo artist, Ray also runs an independent record label, Daemon Records
, which she founded in 1990 and which is based in Decatur, Georgia. Some bands signed to Daemon include Girlyman
, Magnapop
, Nineteen Forty-Five, Michelle Malone
, Three Finger Cowboy, Danielle Howle and the Tantrums, Gerard McHugh, Grady Cousins, The Oblivious, Snow Machine
, Utah Phillips
and Rose Polenzani
.
In her solo life, she most often collaborates with The Butchies
, a punk band featuring drummer, Melissa York
and vocalist/guitarist Kaia Wilson
. She has contributed the live track "Lucy Stoners" on Calling All Kings & Queens
(2001) and the Mr. Lady Records
sampler album as well as a live recording of "On Your Honor" on a compilation for Home Alive
.
Ray is also an activist involved in multiple political and social causes, including gay rights, low-power broadcasting
, women's rights
, indigenous struggles
, gun control
, environmental protection
and the anti-death penalty
movement among others. She has made several trips to Chiapas
, Mexico
to support the Zapatista Army of National Liberation
.
In 1993, she and Emily Saliers
co-founded Honor the Earth
with Winona LaDuke
. Honor the Earth's mission is "to create awareness and support for Native [American] environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native [American] communities. Honor the Earth develops these resources by using music, the arts, the media, and indigenous wisdom to ask people to recognize our joint dependency on the Earth and be a voice for those not heard."
Ray was also a judge for the 3rd annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists' careers.
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. She also pursues a solo career and has released four albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records
Daemon Records
Daemon Records is an Atlanta, Georgia based, not-for-profit independent record label started by musician Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. The label is run mostly by the musicians who record on it....
.
Biography
Born in Decatur, GeorgiaDecatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, Amy Ray met Emily Saliers
Emily Saliers
Emily Saliers is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Indigo Girls. Saliers plays lead guitar as well as banjo, piano, mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki and many other instruments.-Background:...
when they both attended the same high school. They began performing together and recorded a demo in 1981. After graduation, Ray and Saliers went to different colleges with Ray attending Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. By 1985, both women had transferred to Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta and formed the Indigo Girls. In 1986, Ray graduated from Emory with majors in English and Religion.
In March 2001, Ray released her first solo album, Stag
Stag (Amy Ray album)
Stag is the debut solo album by Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, released in 2001 on her Daemon Records label. On it she is accompanied by The Butchies, who contributed a punk rock influence to some of the songs.-Track listing:...
, a southern and punk rock album. The Butchies
The Butchies
The Butchies are a punk rock band from Durham, North Carolina, that existed from 1998 to 2005, and are currently on a hiatus. The frequent focus of their lyrical content concerned lesbian and queer themes....
provided support for five songs, and Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
played on "Hey Castrator". In April 2005, Ray released Prom
Prom (album)
Prom is the second solo album by Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, released in 2005 on her Daemon Records label.-Track listing:All songs written by Amy Ray#"Put It Out for Good" – 3:50#"Driver Education" – 2:21#"Rural Faggot" – 3:54#"Give In" – 1:59...
, and in December 2006, she released Live from Knoxville
Live from Knoxville
Live from Knoxville is the third solo album and first live release by Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, released in 2006 on her Daemon Records label.-Track listing:# "Put It Out for Good"# "Sober Girl"# "Driver Education"# "Rural Faggot"# "Black Heart"...
. Her fourth solo album, Didn't It Feel Kinder
Didn't It Feel Kinder
Didn't It Feel Kinder is Amy Ray's fourth solo album. It was released on August 5, 2008.-Track listing:#"Birds of a Feather" – 3:43#"She's Got to Be" – 5:25#"Bus Bus" – 2:55#"Cold Shoulder" – 2:55#"Who Sold the Gun" – 3:08...
, was released in August 2008.
Her backup band for her Stag tour was The Butchies
The Butchies
The Butchies are a punk rock band from Durham, North Carolina, that existed from 1998 to 2005, and are currently on a hiatus. The frequent focus of their lyrical content concerned lesbian and queer themes....
. In 2004, when she embarked on her Prom tour, she brought Les Nuby (guitar), Will Lochamy (drums), and Jody Bleyle
Jody Bleyle
Jody Bleyle is an American musician, songwriter and independent record label owner.Jody Bleyle first gained public attention in the Pacific Northwest music scene of the 1990s, in the Portland, Oregon–based band Hazel. The group, formed in 1992, released two albums on the Sub Pop label, to critical...
(bass). Bleyle was replaced with Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio recording engineer, and visual artist based out of Portland, Oregon.-Biography:...
in October because Bleyle was on maternity leave.
Ray currently lives in the foothills of North Georgia.
Side projects
In addition to the Indigo GirlsIndigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
and her work as a solo artist, Ray also runs an independent record label, Daemon Records
Daemon Records
Daemon Records is an Atlanta, Georgia based, not-for-profit independent record label started by musician Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. The label is run mostly by the musicians who record on it....
, which she founded in 1990 and which is based in Decatur, Georgia. Some bands signed to Daemon include Girlyman
Girlyman
Girlyman is an American folk-rock band formerly based in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, now based in Atlanta, Georgia.Their self-released debut album, Remember Who I Am, sold 5,000 copies before it was re-released by Daemon Records, the independent record label run by Amy Ray of the Indigo...
, Magnapop
Magnapop
Magnapop is an alternative rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989, the band has consistently included songwriting duo Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. Magnapop first achieved recognition in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through...
, Nineteen Forty-Five, Michelle Malone
Michelle Malone
Michelle Malone is an American rock and blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Biography:Malone was born and raised in Atlanta by her mother and grandmother, both professional singers...
, Three Finger Cowboy, Danielle Howle and the Tantrums, Gerard McHugh, Grady Cousins, The Oblivious, Snow Machine
Snow Machine (band)
Snow Machine is an indie pop band that released an album on the Daemon Records label in 2005. The band's principal member is Katharine McElroy, who wrote and sang all of the songs on the album—as well as having played most of the instruments...
, Utah Phillips
Utah Phillips
Bruce Duncan "Utah" Phillips was a labor organizer, folk singer, storyteller, poet and the "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest". He described the struggles of labor unions and the power of direct action, self-identifying as an anarchist...
and Rose Polenzani
Rose Polenzani
Rose Polenzani is an independent folk musician. She was raised in the Chicago area and attended Knox College before leaving to pursue a singing career. She is currently living in Boston, Massachusetts. Her singing style is distinctive and emotionally charged. At least one free download is always...
.
In her solo life, she most often collaborates with The Butchies
The Butchies
The Butchies are a punk rock band from Durham, North Carolina, that existed from 1998 to 2005, and are currently on a hiatus. The frequent focus of their lyrical content concerned lesbian and queer themes....
, a punk band featuring drummer, Melissa York
Melissa York
Melissa York is a rock drummer. She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina.York first began drumming with the New York-based hardcore punk bands Born Against, the Manacled and Vitapup. After this, she moved to the West Coast to drum for Team Dresch. Following that, she was a member of the power...
and vocalist/guitarist Kaia Wilson
Kaia Wilson
Kaia Wilson is a musician from Portland, Oregon, best known as a founding member of both Team Dresch, a revered 1990s queercore punk band, and The Butchies, a pop-rock spin-off from her solo work. In addition to singing, songwriting and guitar, Wilson co-established and operated Mr...
. She has contributed the live track "Lucy Stoners" on Calling All Kings & Queens
Calling All Kings & Queens
Calling All Kings & Queens is a sampler album of alternative rock songs by artists on the San Francisco, California based lesbian-feminist independent record label, Mr. Lady Records...
(2001) and the Mr. Lady Records
Mr. Lady Records
Mr. Lady Records was a San Francisco-based lesbian-feminist independent record label and video art distributor. Artists on the label included Le Tigre and The Butchies. OutSmart magazine noted that Mr...
sampler album as well as a live recording of "On Your Honor" on a compilation for Home Alive
Home Alive
Home Alive was a non-profit organization based in Seattle which promotes anti-violence. The organization offered self-defense classes and public education and awareness in order to reduce and prevent violence. The Home Alive group trained its own instructors. They held a range of courses including...
.
Ray is also an activist involved in multiple political and social causes, including gay rights, low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
, women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, indigenous struggles
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, gun control
Gun politics in the United States
Gun politics in the United States refers to an ongoing political and social debate regarding both the restriction and availability of firearms within the United States. It has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics...
, environmental protection
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and the anti-death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
movement among others. She has made several trips to Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to support the Zapatista Army of National Liberation
Zapatista Army of National Liberation
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a revolutionary leftist group based in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico....
.
In 1993, she and Emily Saliers
Emily Saliers
Emily Saliers is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Indigo Girls. Saliers plays lead guitar as well as banjo, piano, mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki and many other instruments.-Background:...
co-founded Honor the Earth
Honor The Earth
Honor The Earth is a non-profit organization founded to raise awareness and financial support for Indigenous environmental justice. The organization was founded by Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers after meeting Winona LaDuke in 1991 in collaboration with Indigenous Environmental Network,...
with Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke is a Native American activist, environmentalist, economist, and writer. In 1996 and 2000, she ran for vice president as the nominee of the United States Green Party, on a ticket headed by Ralph Nader. In the 2004 election, however, she endorsed one of Nader's opponents, Democratic...
. Honor the Earth's mission is "to create awareness and support for Native [American] environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native [American] communities. Honor the Earth develops these resources by using music, the arts, the media, and indigenous wisdom to ask people to recognize our joint dependency on the Earth and be a voice for those not heard."
Ray was also a judge for the 3rd annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists' careers.