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Will Ray, along with "Cousin" Herb Henson, was responsible for helping to launch the careers of some of the biggest stars of the original Bakersfield Sound era.  He was also a skilled and dedicated musician in his own right, playing with Merle Haggard, Bill Woods and many others. 

Now, thanks to a rare tape, discovered by Will Ray's granddaughter, (who also happens to be a university grad student of mine), we can all sit back and listen to Ray chat with Bill Woods and Dub Williams' of Dub Williams' Country Memories via a brand new podcast of a very old recording. 

At Bakersfield Sound Underground today, (the same historic day that KUZZ's Mark Howell announces his retirement after 40 years, and the same historic day that Tommy Hays will celebrate his 80th birthday), this rare treasure will begin making its way to BSU:

http://www.bakersfieldsound...

Some of you may also know Sarah Vallisenor for her recent singing debut.  I discovered her as a singer before I knew she had a direct genetic link to the Bakersfield Sound through her grandfather, and is thus, Bakersfield Sound royalty.  Her recording debut took place as part of a multimedia student recording project.  She sang with me on this song, as part of the Axes Five.  It's the single song on a psychobilly soundtrack for a psychodrama production on the subject of schizophrenia. 

I am Schizophrenia

Axes Five

words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2009

for more information on this project, visit:

http://www.psychologycomesa...

and be sure to catch another exciting episode of Bakersfield and Beyond on KWMR this evening around 6:40 pm.  You can stream it live at:

http://www.kwmr.org