Sugaray Rayford Band

Combining classic soul melodies with funky R & B grooves, raw blues power, and mashed up with modern sensibilities, Rayford’s, “Somebody Save Me”, earned a 2020 Grammy nomination while later that year he took home Blues Music Awards for ‘Soul Blues Male Artist’ and ‘B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.’

Sugaray Rayford returns with In Too Deep. Combining classic soul melodies with funky R&B grooves, raw blues power and mashed up with modern sensibilities, the album’s songs take on issues, such as PTSD, civil rights and social justice. With vibrantly detailed arrangements tailored to showcase Rayford’s deft portrayals and interpretations, In Too Deep is a poignant album that seeks to inspire and uplift.

Albumism described Rayford as having “a sound that’s undeniably fresh and inspired,” while PopMatters declared it “will appeal to fans of Gary Clark Jr. and Chicano Batman.”

At his core, Sugaray Rayford is a galvanizing uniter. His live shows are a party. Some conversations may be had, and some self-reflection may occur, but at the end of the day, people leave feeling a sense of joy and togetherness.
Texas born Caron “Sugaray” Rayford began his musical career at the age of 7 singing & playing drums in church, and his gospel influence can be heard and felt in his music. Rayford’s phrasing is intimate and conversational and the soulful gravel in his voice hints at his firsthand experience with hardship.

He grew up in Texas, his childhood marked by poverty and loss. “I grew up in gospel and soul,” but switched to contemporary music began about 15 years ago in the San Diego area, where he sang lead vocals with a R&B/Funk band called Urban Gypsys. With this band he had the privilege of sharing the stage with many notable artists such as The Average White Band, Dennis Quaid, Joe Luis Walker, Kal David, Super Diamond & Venice, to name a few.

After dabbling in blues, Suga realized that the blues was where his heart and soul belonged. In his blues band, Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz, he represented San Diego (Blues Lovers United San Diego) in Memphis Tennessee January 26th- 28th, 2006 at the International Blues Challenge (IBC), and brought home the 2nd place prize. In September 2008, the Boyz won the LAMN Jam Grand Slam Urban Artist of the Year title by a landslide; they beat out hundreds of competitors. The band was offered a distribution deal on the spot by RBC Records. Tabitha Berg wrote, “The band’s most valuable ingredient is that of the band’s dynamic front man Sugaray, he knows how to read and work a room. While most artists simply perform, exceptional artists are responsive to the mood of the crowd. The energy shifted when they took the stage, and they had the crowd on its feet within seconds.”

May 2011, Sugaray became one of the lead vocalists for the Mannish Boys, who were under Delta Groove management. Double Dynamite the Mannish Boys CD that won Best Traditional Blues Album in May 2013 at the Blues Music Awards. His first solo CD Blind Alley was released in 2010 and garnered critical acclaim. His second solo CD Dangerous, was released in 2013 under the Delta Groove label and debuted at # 2 on Blues Debut Chart, #6 on the Roots Music Chart and #2 on The Living Blues Chart.

At the 40th Blues Music Awards in 2019, Rayford was named as ‘Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year’.
Rayford’s latest album, Somebody Save Me, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.

The Sugaray Rayford Band won “Best Blues Band” for the 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards.

At the 41st Blues Music Awards in May 2020, Rayford was presented with two Blues Music Awards for ‘B.B King Entertainer of the Year’ and ‘Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year’.