About Deb aka Blue StingRaye
My exposure to live music began at the early age of 5 yrs old…I think. I was pretty young at the time. My parent were avid jazz fans and took me to live jazz concerts in Hartford, CT. I heard such greats as Thelonuis Monk, Jackie McLean and Paul Brown. There was always this funny sweet smell in the air. Later I would find out what that was and why there were so many food trucks at these Monday night jazz summer concerts.
By the age of ten I was learning music theory as well as learning to play the clarinet and piano. During my teens years my taste in music went from show tunes to rock to punk, but my first love was always live music in any form. If I wasn’t in a musical as part of a dance corps, I was singing in the concert choir at school. Of course, in between times there was always listening to albums in friend’s basements and my sister’s bedroom.
Then there was a bit of a hiatus as life took a turn…For many years, almost 15 years, my love of live music was relegated to concerts and live shows as an audience member until until 1998 when I met man living in eastern CT that had a surf band called 9th Wave. He approached me and asked if I wanted perform as a go go dancer circa 1960, complete with vintage clothing and, what has become my logo, white go go boots. Of course I literally shimmied at the chance and never looked back. For many happy years I performed with 9th Wave as “Blue StingRaye” until September 2001 when I decided to also pursue a successful political career.
But not want to leave live music behind; I continued to dance occasionally with other surf bands and emceed surf and rockabilly shows throughout New England. But being behind the scenes and running the show has also been a passion of mine and I am always looking for a new challenge. I established my own show and event company, Blue StingRaye Productions.
Blue StingRaye Productions is a cottage industry-type of business. I have successfully booked and promoted bands from CT, NY, NJ, MA, RI, MI and even Russia in New York City, all over New England and up and down the Eastern seaboard. One of my most wonderful collaborations has been with Sean Kershaw. Several years ago we partnered up to form and manage Cash Davidson Ventures in order to produce and promote the debut CD from Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers titled “Coney Island Cowboy”. The CD was recorded at Kudzu Ranch Studios by longtime friend of Sean’s, Rick Miller from the SCOTS. Sean Kershaw has also performed with such luminaries as Link Wray, Norah Jones and Lee Rocker to name a few…..
The band and I (as tour manager) completed a successful southern tour that culminated with appearances at the infamous Heavy Rebel Weekender in Winston-Salem, NC. I have also managed touring bands from Europe touring in the US and have a long time working relationship with the band The Vivisectors.
Flash forward to 2023 - Relocated to Brooklyn and after several quiet years and many adventures, I have decided to put on my white boots once again and trip the light fantastic! Do you have a venue, event, soiree…and need a live band? I’m your gal! Are you a band in search of paying gigs, near or far? Give me a call or email! Unsure how to build an EPK and a following? I am here to help you achieve your goals!