STEVEN RAY
Profile
Steven Ray has enjoyed a vast career in the entertainment industry by thriving in a variety of roles and mediums.
His experience began as a roadie working summer tours with George Rhodes, conductor and arranger for entertainment legend, Sammy Davis, Jr. Following college, Steven began working for Quincy Jones as his production assistant and participated on the many illustrious projects that Mr. Jones produced, beginning with Michael Jackson’s legendary album “Thriller”, the USA for Africa benefit recording “We Are The World”, James Ingram’s platinum selling solo debut album, Frank Sinatra’s “LA Is My Lady” and the film, The Color Purple for which Steven was a consultant for all on-camera musical casting and performances.
Steven went on to hold a senior executive A&R position at Capitol Records (domestic & international). Steven eventually accepted a position at Windswept Pacific Publishing where he had the unique job description of creative executive, staff writer & music supervisor. While at Windswept, he signed writer/producer, Manuel Seal (co-writer on Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby”, “We Belong Together” and Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna”), Quincy Jones, III (co-writer/producer for TuPac, Ice Cube) and the co-venture with LA Reid’s HitCo Music (TLC’s “Waterfalls”, Anita Baker’s “I Apologize”, Destiny’s Childs’ “Survivor” and numerous Beyonce Knowles solo hits resulting in over 150 million units sold).
Steven developed and introduced to the television community the business model for VNU’s NextMedium – an online digital product placement application measuring the value of product placement in television. Continuing to broaden his talents in the film, television and theater production, launching Red River Pictures in 2013, securing financing for the 2013 Broadway musical production of “Ghost” and for Director Dan Algrant and Oscar nominated, Tony award winning Producer Fred Zollo’s film “Little Rootie Tootie”. Currently he is working on the film “Son of The South” written and directed by Oscar nominated editor Barry Alexander Brown and a reality television series with Christ Grant, show runner and President of Electus.
Steven also is developing both film and television drama projects with writer/producer/directors Reggie and Gina Bythewood and projects with production executive Jon Schwartz and Untitled with producing partner Christian Bruun. Recently he joined the multi Grammy Award winning music production company Grand Cru Entertainment as Sr.V.P. of Film, Television and Advertising. Steven’s ability to identify the path to monetize creative ideas, his historical awareness and business savvy as well as his incredible relationship’s, make him a prized resource.