Ray Shulman, co-founding multiinstrumentalist for English prog rock group Light Large, has died at 73, older brother Derek confirmed yesterday afternoon (April 1) through Fb.
His publish reads:
I’m deeply saddened to announce that my youthful brother and my greatest buddy Ray Shulman handed away on March thirtieth at his house in London. I used to be with him till the tip as he bravely battled a protracted sickness. At the least I do know he’s now at peace. Ray actually was a genius in so some ways. He was such a sort and caring soul. He was an unimaginable composer, musician, music producer & tech wizard. He was a real artist and most well-liked to remain within the background and let his physique of labor communicate for him relatively than discuss himself.
Along with myself and my elder brother Philip he was a founding member of Simon Dupree & The Large Sound and subsequently Light Large. He went on to provide artists like The Sundays, The Sugarcubes, Ian McCulloch and lots of extra. Extra just lately he devoted his tech and musical experience in authoring and remixing different artists. He shall be deeply missed by the music neighborhood as a complete. Extra importantly, I’ll miss him as my brother and really my greatest buddy. He leaves behind his spouse Barbara Tanner & his older brother Philip. To all who knew Ray or know of him ‘Consider him with kindness’.
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Born in Portsmouth, England in 1949, Shulman’s first instrument was the trumpet, and by his teen years, he’d additionally discovered to play guitar, bass and violin (all of which he performed in Light Large). In 1966, he, Derek (vocals), and brother Phil (horns) shaped psychedelic/pop/soul band Simon Dupree and the Large Sound. Though that they had reasonable success with 1967’s “Kites” and their lone LP (With out Reservations), points with how they have been being marketed led to them breaking apart in 1969.
Nearly instantly, the Shulman trio teamed up with guitarist Gary Inexperienced, keyboardist Kerry Minnear and drummer Martin Smith to kind Light Large.
Between 1970 and 1976 (and amidst a number of line-up adjustments), they crafted a number of the most beloved, attribute and influential albums within the historical past of progressive rock, equivalent to In a Glass Home, The Energy and the Glory and Free Hand. Afterward, they ventured into a less complicated, extra commercially viable rock aesthetic till their last document: 1980’s Civilian.
Following Light Large’s disbandment, Ray Shulman grew to become a document producer, and he finally labored with artists equivalent to The Sugarcubes, Ian McCulloch and The Defects. He additionally scored a number of video video games (1996’s Privateer 2: The Darkening and Azrael’s Tear) and launched trance EPs underneath the pseudonym Head-Physician.
Seeing as how Light Large impressed legions of style proteges – Haken, Spock’s Beard, The Flower Kings, Echolyn and Dream Theater, to call a number of – it didn’t take lengthy for followers and fellow musicians to pay tribute to Shulman.
For example, Mike Portnoy tweeted: “Unhappy to listen to of the passing of Ray Shulman. Along with being the bassist/multi instrumentalist within the legendary Prog band Light Large, I’ve had the dignity of working with him by means of the years on numerous DVD/Blu-ray Authoring tasks for Inside Out. My condolences.”
Likewise, Dream Theater/Liquid Rigidity Experiment keyboardist Jordan Rudess replied to Light Large’s Instagram publish: “That is unhappy information. Light Large had an enormous affect on my musical life. Sympathies go to the household and buddies.” In the meantime, New Jersey troupe The Tea Membership posted to Fb: “Ray Shulman was one of the vital proficient musicians in progressive rock historical past. Relaxation Within the Energy and the Glory.”
Equally, Jethro Tull mastermind Ian Anderson reminisced: “It’s with nice unhappiness that we hear of the passing of Ray Shulman, bassist of Light Large and the authoring of many Tull DVDs through the years in his capability as technical audio and video engineer. I bear in mind Ray fondly for the numerous excursions we did with Large within the 70s. He shall be missed drastically by fellow professionals within the music trade and by all followers of Light Large.”
You’ll be able to see extra tributes to Shulman under, in addition to take a look at a few of his distinctive work with Light Large.
In fact, Loudwire sends our condolences to Ray Shulman’s buddies, household and numerous followers.
Light Large, “Options from ‘Octopus’” (Dwell)
Light Large, “Cogs in Cogs”
Light Large, “Free Hand” (Dwell)
Light Large, “The Runaway”
Followers + Rockers Pay Tribute to Light Large’s Ray Shulman
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