Ray Silkman has been touted as one of the best saxmen in the business.
Emerging from humble beginnings, Ray Silkman has persevered through the hardest of times to be recognized as a viable force in the music industry. Silkman began playing the saxophone at the age of 12 in an effort to feel a connection with the father that he never knew. His love for the craft inspired him to practice daily and achieve first chair ranking in Middle School and throughout college.
Growing up in a struggling household, he found his greatest inspiration to be his mother who told him “you can do anything that you put your mind to”. Silkman moved to Chicago shortly after his mother’s death where he got his first break performing in a fashion show entitled OGGI, interpreted “Live for the day”.
Other opportunities followed, including a principle role in a recurring Chicago HMO commercial. Since those lonely and cold days performing on street corners, Ray Silkman has gone on to perform at countless clubs, festivals and special events in and around the Chicagoland area. His many performances at venues such as Chicago’s United Center, Donald E Stevens Convention Center, Poplar Creek and virtually every major jazz club in Chicago over the past 17 years attest to his artistic skills, and in 2008 he was was asked to perform at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Ray has appeared on BET television’s Bet On Jazz Series and continues to perform the national anthem “live” for the Chicago Bulls, Bears and White Sox games.
Ray has independently released 5 CDs including his signature work “Sound Check” which features the hit single “So Saxual”. “Sound Check” has received national and international acclaim as an epic work producing multiple hit songs which still receive airplay on public and NIC radio stations across the US. Jazz FM in Europe has featured many of Ray’s tracks on their evening jazz show and “So Saxual” still receives major airplay here in the States.
Ray has opened for jazz greats David Sanborn, Kenny G, George Benson, Keiko Matsui, Tom Scott and the late great Art Porter. Silkman has performed in other major venues, i e; the Detroit Opera House, The Los Angeles Convention Center, Walt Disney’s Pleasure Island & The Hilton Hotel Niagra Falls. He also received awards and honors from Midwest Magazines Artist of the Year 2005, and the Chicago Jazz Legends Award 2010. Silkman’s sound has been described as incomparable by the late great Benny Carter who stated “this young man is sure to go places, I can feel his music”.
Silkman’s signature sound is accented by rich melodic tones and an undeniable command of his instrument. With a style that is fresh and literally on the verge of soaring, one can see why the best way to explain it is “the sound of Ray Silkman’s soul pouring through his sax”. The Chicago Sun Times exclaims “Silkman’s sound is hypnotic to say the least”. As a continuously growing and developing artist Ray Silkman is poised to continue contributing to the world of contemporary jazz and fusion music in a way that is uniquely recognized as definitive and distinct. His latest offering “Desire” has already started quite a buz as Silkman wrote, produced, composed and performed the majority of the music on the newly released CD. “Desire” as well as “Heartbeat”, “Stepper’s Serenade”, “SoundCheck” and “A View of Love” are all available on CDbaby and iTunes exclusively.
For more information about about Ray, please contact: Silkscreen Productions, 708-439-8004, www.raysilkman.com
Ray exclusively plays and endorses his custom made Dakota Alto Sax model SDA-XG 303.
