Iconic Rocker, Brian Ray, Releases Solo Singles from Upcoming Album This Way Up

Los Angeles, CA, July 03, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Award winning songwriter, singer and musician Brian Ray, best known as the ultimate sideman guitarist and bassist for Paul McCartney, takes a step out front in the spotlight and releases two songs from his upcoming solo album This Way Up.

Brian Ray has been a songwriter and in-demand recording and touring musician for acts like Etta James, Smokey Robinson, Rob Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, and Chris Cornell to name a few, but for nearly a decade Brian Ray has been touring the world’s most iconic venues and stadiums with Paul McCartney. “I have been on one hell of a ride with this band” says Ray. “The last 8 weeks alone have been mind-blowing, including two gigs in Mexico City for 110,000 screaming fans, playing in the White House for President Obama and the First Family, and the Isle of Wight Festival, just to name a few big moments for us recently.”

On Tuesday, July 6th, in the midst of Brian’s summer tour with Paul, The Icon Music Group will be releasing world-wide the Brian Ray advance solo singles “I Found You” and “Happy Ending” wherever digital music is sold. The album is slated for release later this summer. “I Found You” was written by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber (son of Jerry Leiber of Leiber & Stoller). “It’s a rambunctious song, an expression from the best part of me, looking in every possible place for the love and peace we all want…and finding it right before my eyes, where I least expected it!” The song features a “guitar marching band” with approximately 40 guitars “having a guitar tantrum” says Ray, along with a big marching drum beat. Notably the song also features some of Ray’s rock star pals: Scott Shriner (of Weezer), drums and bass by Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher (of Elvis Costello’s band) and Adam MacDougal (of The Black Crows) on wild Wurlitzer piano. The second single “Happy Ending” (also penned by Ray & Leiber) is a modern rock “post sexual revolution, where the hell are we now? kind of song” according to Brian. “It’s about a guy trolling the internet, hooking up, finding ‘her’, then discovering that He wants more than just a casual fling, while She smiles and slips out the door.” The song also features Shriner (of Weezer), Russ Irwin (from Aerosmith) and Jason Page. Both songs were recorded and mixed by Joe Zook (Weezer, OneRepublic, Pink, Leona Lewis) and produced by Brian Ray.

“Both Rui DaSilva (Icon Music Group Chairman) and myself are thrilled and honored to have Brian Ray join our label,” commented Rob Christie, President of Icon Records. “It’s iconic rock to the core.”

Brian can be seen this summer on the North American leg of McCartney’s tour, resuming July 10th in San Francisco, then on to more high-octane shows at various stadiums and arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada. “Playing alongside Paul McCartney is a privilege beyond description. It isn’t a job, it’s a way of living…and I’m more than a little bit addicted to it!” says Ray. “He is an inspiration to me and to the band at every show. Besides singing like a god, his music is right at the top of my favorite songs ever written. He is the ultimate entertainer; he performs with so much passion, grace and abandon… pure rock & roll nitro with just the right amount of glycerin.”

Brian Ray’s advance solo singles will be available Tuesday, July 6th, at iTunes, Amazon.com, BrianRay.com, and wherever digital downloads are sold.

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