Ray Pool

Ray was born into a musical family, being taught the piano from the age of five by his father.  He took early exams for LRAM and passed with honours, and took up the flute, playing in the school orchestra for which he wrote short pieces.

After leaving school, he added saxophone to his repertoire, playing in local groups and going semi-pro, meeting fellow musicians at the BBC, where he worked in radio and later TV.  He attended the Guildhall School of Music for piano arranging and harmony.

Finally turning professional in 1970, he became involved with a musical comedy duo singing and doing impressions, coming second to Bobby Crush in a talent contest and appearing on Opportunity Knocks.  

His career took him to the West End including Talk of the Town and international venues such as the Sporting Club and the Casino at Monte Carlo. Cabaret artists he accompanied include Frankie Laine, Gloria Gaynor, Roy Castle and Bob Monkhouse. He regularly worked with Madeline Bell when she left Blue Mink to go solo, and Salena Jones for Pebble Mill.

He devised and recorded an album of Beatles songs in Ragtime for the BBC library, as well as doing session work for among others, Tina Charles. Bands that he has worked with broadcasted regularly with the BBC and Capital Radio. He has worked on cruise ships, in hotels, clubs and jazz venues, as well as the Albert Hall, and Buckingham Palace during many years with the Joe Loss Orchestra.  His repertoire ranges from early jazz and ragtime to classical, film music and standards. He currently works with jazz ensembles and writes his own material.

Ray has appeared on television in accompanying roles as well as small parts in Minder, Holby City and East Enders.