Ray Chew
Encyclopedia
Ray Chew is an American
musician who specializes in keyboards and contemporary and orchestral arranging.
Chew was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band
from 1980 to 1983. As of the late 2000s, he is the music director for the syndicated television series Showtime at the Apollo
, and the bandleader on the The Singing Bee
.
Chew was the bandleader during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
and at the Barack Obama Neighborhood Ball in 2009.
He grew up in the Grant Houses
, located on 125th Street
, several blocks west of the Apollo Theater
.
, he was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey
, having moved there from New York City in the late 1990s.
It was announced on December 30, 2010 that he will be replacing Rickey Minor
as the new music director on American Idol
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who specializes in keyboards and contemporary and orchestral arranging.
Chew was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band
Saturday Night Live Band
The Saturday Night Live Band is the house band of the NBC television program Saturday Night Live .-Noteworthy members:...
from 1980 to 1983. As of the late 2000s, he is the music director for the syndicated television series Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...
, and the bandleader on the The Singing Bee
The Singing Bee
The Singing Bee may refer to the game show franchise:* The Singing Bee , the original US version* The Singing Bee , the Australian version* The Singing Bee , Philippines version...
.
Chew was the bandleader during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
and at the Barack Obama Neighborhood Ball in 2009.
He grew up in the Grant Houses
Grant Houses
General Ulysses S. Grant Houses is a public housing project at the northern boundary of Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. The complex is located between Broadway and Morningside Avenue, spanning oddly-shaped superblocks from 123rd Street and La Salle Street to 125th...
, located on 125th Street
125th Street (Manhattan)
125th Street is a two-way street that runs east-west in the New York City borough of Manhattan, considered the "Main Street" of Harlem; It is also called Martin Luther King, Jr...
, several blocks west of the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
.
, he was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, having moved there from New York City in the late 1990s.
It was announced on December 30, 2010 that he will be replacing Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor is a music director, composer and music producer, now best known as musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after Kevin Eubanks left. Minor was born in Monroe, Louisiana to parents Cole and Goldie Minor and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, CA...
as the new music director on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.