Ray Suen

Ray Suen

Ray Suen in Los Angeles, CA, 2016.
Background information
Birth name Raymond Liang Suen
Born July 5, 1985
Origin Newark, Delaware, USA United States
Genres Rock, Jazz, classical
Instruments Violin, guitar, keyboards
Associated acts Childish Gambino, Passion Pit, Jarryd James, Mariachi El Bronx, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Louis XIV

Ray Suen (born July 5, 1985) is an American musician based in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently a touring member of Passion Pit and the backing band for Childish Gambino.[1] Suen has released 2 EPs as his solo project, Savio Savio.[2]

History

Raised in San Diego, California and classically trained, Suen began playing violin at the age of three. He served as a principal violinist with the La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and also studied jazz while earning a degree in Psychology at UCSD. He became a fixture in the San Diego music scene performing with several different area rock, folk, jazz, and world music groups.[3]

He is a former touring member of the rock band, Louis XIV, and has appeared and recorded with numerous Southern California artists including Jason Mraz, Matt Curreri & the Exfriends, Joanie Mendenhall, and Gregory Page among others.[4] Suen was also featured in 2007 as an occasional member of the Joe Firstman house band on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Other artists Suen has performed with include Donald Glover, Devon Sproule and The Flaming Lips. Suen played with Sproule during a short tour in February 2009 [5] and played percussion with The Flaming Lips on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in October 2009.[6]

Suen appeared again with The Flaming Lips at the 2011 New Year's Eve Freakout playing harp, guitar, synth and other percussion for the first live performance of The Soft Bulletin album.[7] He performed subsequent Soft Bulletin shows as well as Dark Side of the Moon shows as an auxiliary musician.

Suen joined Glover as Childish Gambino during his I Am Donald tour playing guitar, keyboard, and violin.[8] He resumed playing with Childish Gambino for the Camp and Because the Internet tours.[9] He also contributed to the "Awaken, My Love!" album released December 2016.

In 2015, Suen was a touring member of Passion Pit in support of their third album, Kindred. In 2016, he played keyboards with Australian soul artist Jarryd James in support of his first American album, "High." [10]

The Killers

Upon graduation in 2007, he began his first national tour with Louis XIV[11] opening for the Las Vegas rock band, The Killers on the last leg of their Sam's Town Tour. Suen would later join The Killers in 2008 as keyboardist, guitarist, violinist, and backup vocalist for their Day & Age World Tour and has since appeared with the band on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Show with David Letterman, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Taratata and Later... with Jools Holland. Suen also appears on The Killers' first live concert DVD, Live from the Royal Albert Hall, and on The Killers' performance on Live from Abbey Road.[12]

Mariachi El Bronx

Suen met members of Mariachi El Bronx when they opened for the Killers. He began touring with them following the end of the Day and Age Tour.[13] Subsequently, he became a member writing and contributing vihuela, jarana, harp, guitar, violin, and vocals to albums "II"[14] and "III".[15] As part of the promotion for "II", they appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, and Conan.

Selected Discography

[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ "Childish Gambino and Danny Brown at the Fox". "San Francisco Bay Guardian". 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  2. ↑ "Ears Wide Open: Savio Savio". "Buzzbands.la". 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  3. ↑ "New Kid on the Block Has Chops". San Diego Union Tribune. 2005-12-18. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  4. ↑ "Ray Suen impresses Louis XIV as quick study". San Diego Union Tribune. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  5. ↑ "Devon Sproule and her In-laws". "C-ville". 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Flaming Lips bring 'Embyronic's' rock 'n' roll edge to Hollywood". "LA Times". 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  7. ↑ "Flaming Lips to perform defining album 'Soft Bulletin' live for New Year's Eve". "The Oklahoman". 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  8. ↑ "Show Journal: Donald Glover/Childish Gambino – Atlanta, GA". "Scene SC". 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  9. ↑ "Kansas City tries to keep up with Childish Gambino's lyrical tornado". "Midcoast Station". 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  10. ↑ "Jarryd James at Bonnaroo". "Free Bike Valet". 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  11. ↑ "Opportunity Rocks". San Diego Union Tribune. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  12. ↑ Ray Suen at the Internet Movie Database
  13. ↑ "Mariachi El Bronx show they're the real deal at London Latin Music Festival". Kerrang!. 2010-05-08.
  14. ↑ "Crossing musical borders with Mariachi El Bronx". "San Diego Union Tribune". 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  15. ↑ "MARIACHI EL BRONX (III) FOR NOVEMBER 4 RELEASE ON ATO RECORDS". 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  16. ↑ Ray Suen at the Internet Movie Database
  17. ↑ "http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-suen-mn0002671478" at AllMusic. Retrieved "2013-10-23".

External links and references

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