Ray was born in 1979 in Cape Town (South Africa), where he began playing Piano at the age of 7 and Guitar at the age of 11. Ray went on to form Royd, an original heavy rock band that received national acclaim. In 1996, along with playing sold-out gigs, Royd's debut single reached No. 1 on the Modern Rock Chart of the country's most popular national radio station, 5FM.

After completing High School and achieving ABRSM Grade 8 in Piano, Guitar and Theory of Music, Ray eventually relocated to Hollywood, California (USA) in 1999 to study music full-time at Musicians Institute. There he also recorded an album and gained valuable experience performing on the Los Angeles music circuit, which included gigs on the famous Sunset Strip, with his new original multicultural rock band, Gray Race Evolution. In 2001, Ray relocated to London (UK), where he still lives and works as a college music lecturer by day, and a composer/performer by night.

After a year of writing and rehearsing, an appearance on Terrorizer Magazine's Covermount CD in March 2005 marked the launch of Ray's new original dodecaphonic metal band, 12 Ton Method. Sadly, due to the migration of their irreplaceable drummer, Ray's brother and fellow band-mate since 1991, they played their final gig at The Underworld in November 2005.

In 2006, Ray joined his long-time friend Duncan Wilkinson's band, Needleye, on bass. After recording a promotional CD and playing a sold-out show supporting The Haunted in London, the band decided to call it a day.

After 14 months of incredibly hard work, the new and improved 12 Ton Method unveiled itself with the worldwide release of it's debut EP "The Art of Not Falling" through Copro Records, in February 2008. Soon after the release, their rhythm section was unfortunately headhunted by Rise to Remain, and as a result, 12 Ton Method was once again put on hold.

In March 2009, half of 12 Ton Method (Ray & Joe) joined forces with half of Bladestorm (Kamil & Tom), and formed the octacore band, Maissiann. They are currently tracking their debut EP which will be released worldwide in early 2010, so stay tuned.

The summer of 2009 saw Ray partner up with the legendary Metropolis Studios, Copro Records, Plastic Head Distribution and Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College to launch his non-profit record label, Grade 9 Records, which exclusively releases his students' music. All label and artist proceeds go to Buskaid and Music for Africa, two registered charities that provide music lessons and instruments to children in the townships of South Africa, Ray’s country of birth.

In September 2009, Kerrang! (the world's biggest selling weekly rock magazine) offered Ray the prestigious job of writing album and live reviews, which he gratefully accepted, and is now honoured to be part of the Kerrang! team.