In one way or another, Ray Shulman was destined to have a life in music. Born on December 8, 1949, he’s best known as a member of progressive rock mavericks Gentle Giant, but he could just as easily have become a star violinist in the classical world. The youngest of the three brothers who would form the band, Ray was a prodigious musical talent, skilled at both the violin and the guitar. His parents were eager for Ray to join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, but brother Derek had other ideas. Electrified by the arrival of The Beatles, he set about forging his own musical legacy, forming his first band with friends from grammar school. One day, as they rehearsed in the Shulmans’ front room, Ray began strumming along on his violin. Noting that his brother was plainly the most talented musician in the room, Derek asked him to join.
“This was the beginning of the Shulman brothers’ journey into the sordid but incredible world of popular music,” says Derek Shulman. “I thought, ‘If The Beatles can make it, well, so can I!’ To our parents’ dismay, Ray preferred playing R&B and soul music to playing Bach and Bartók. I should be sorry but honestly I’m not, because if it wasn’t for Ray none of what transpired would have been able to happen.”
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