Smooth jazz guitarist
Ray Obiedo was born and raised in Richmond, CA, where as a child he frequently traveled to nearby San Francisco to take in free concerts from the likes of
the Jimi Hendrix Experience and
Cream; still, he did not pick up the guitar until age 17, also drawing considerable influence from acts including
James Brown,
Miles Davis and
Earth, Wind and Fire. At the outset of his career,
Obiedo regularly shifted between jazz and R&B, working with a variety of artists including
Herbie Hancock,
Julian Priester and
Sheila E.; he also led the fusion unit
Kick as well as the rock outfit Rhythmus 21. After signing to Windham Hill,
Obiedo made his solo debut with 1989's Perfect Crime, followed two years later by Iguana; with 1993's Sticks and Stones, he reached the Top Ten on
Billboard's Contemporary Jazz charts. After 1995's African-influenced Zulaya, he resurfaced two years later with Sweet Summer Days. 1999 saw the release of The Modern World, a hybrid of R&B, pop, and Latin jazz. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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The Modern World
Zulaya