Gentle Giant cofounder Ray Shulman has died, aged 73
nme.comI am deeply saddened to announce that my younger brother and my best friend Ray Shulman passed away on March 30th at his…Posted by Derek Shulman on Saturday, April 1, 2023A Portsmouth native, Ray was born on December 8, 1949.
He, Derek and brother Phil – the latter two born in Glasgow before the family headed south – were encouraged by their father, an army musician who later performed as a jazz trumpeter, to learn multiple instruments.
Ray and Derek started a band together in the early 1960s, galvanised by their interest in traditional R&B. Phil initially served as an informal manager and somewhat of a caretaker for the younger pair, but later found a role in the band itself.The trio initially performed as The Howling Wolves, then The Road Runners, before re-debuting themselves as Simon Dupree And The Big Sound in 1966.
Derek took on the titular moniker, with Ray mostly playing guitar and violin (and occasionally trumpet) while he sung backing vocals.
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