July’s Featured Musician: Ray Shavers

From Kris Youmans 

Ray Shavers is a native of Newnan. When people ask him if he’s lived here all his life, he always says “Well no, not yet” and he laughs.

Ray is a songwriter who began writing songs when he was 15. His roots are traditional country, but his songs are influenced by a variety of genres. Every song he writes has its own unique sound, so no two songs are alike.

Ray has performed his songs in venues, at fairgrounds, amphitheaters and has been the opening act for several country artists such as John Anderson, John Michael Montgomery, LeRoy Parnell, Craig Morgan and Mark Wills.

The most rewarding thing he’s experienced is recording his original music at Omni Sound Studio with Award winning producer – Bill McDermont. Bill has produced major artists such as Carrie Underwood, Lady A, Travis Tritt, Blake Shelton and many more successful country music stars.

Ray intended to record his songs to pitch to other artists, but his producer recommended that he perform them on his own, saying that Ray is an outstanding songwriter and performer. He said it is rare to have a writer who is a multi-instrumentalist who can write and arrange his songs without a co-writer or any help from more seasoned writers.

Rebecca and Ray Shavers

Ray’s wife, Rebecca Shavers, is a vocalist who is no stranger to the studio or stage. She sings harmony on Ray’s songs and sang several harmony parts on Ray’s Nashville project. The pair have been performing together for over ten years, and their chemistry and harmony are magical.

Ray has assembled a very talented band of regional musicians who have been rehearsing to prepare a real showcase of Ray’s original music. You’ll hear a really tight band with steel guitar, banjo, and sax added to the mix to duplicate the Nashville sound on Ray’s Country Livin CD.

The showcase/concert will be held at The Wadsworth Auditorium on August 17 at 7 pm. Call Rebecca Shavers at 678-603-5354 for ticket info. Tickets are $20, and while seating is limited, there are no bad seats in the historic Wadsworth Auditorium.

“We are making every effort to seat family and friends together,” Rebecca said about the venue. We want people to enjoy real country music, in a beautiful venue where it’s big enough to really put on a show but small enough to feel like an intimate songwriter experience,” said Ray.

So put on your boots and cowboy hats and come hear some real country music from a real country songwriter!”