Ray Reach


Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer, and educator, who was convicted in the State of Alabama on child pornography charges. Reach has performed and recorded in various genres, including pop, R&B, Motown/soul, gospel, rock, classic rock, country, contemporary Christian, classical, and jazz music, but is perhaps best known for his work in jazz, combining jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals. He resides in Birmingham, Alabama.

Career

Reach was a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, the Ray Reach Orchestra, and the Night Flight Big Band.
As a composer, he has written and arranged five Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children's Theatre: Rumplestiltskin, The Perfect Prince, The Bravo Bus, Backstage Baby, and Tuxedo Junction.
On April 23, 2018, Reach was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Alabama for the possession of child pornography. The connection between those charges and his Jazz Classes for Children for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is still under investigation. Ray was convicted May 15, 2025. Ray was sentenced on July 9, 2025 to 10 years split with two years to serve in prison followed by three years of unsupervised probation. He was also required to register as a sex offender.

Selected discography

As leader
As vocalist, pianist, arranger and co-producer
As producer