Ray Obiedo - Topic

Ray Obiedo is an American contemporary jazz guitarist.
Obiedo grew up in Richmond, California, and began playing guitar at age 16. Initially he played both jazz and R&B. Ray has appeared on records by Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Bob Mintzer, Grover Washington Jr, Lou Rawls, The Whispers, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E. and Julian Priester. He was the leader of the jazz fusion group Kick and the rock band Rhythmus 21. In 1989 he signed with Windham Hill Jazz Records, with whom he released five albums in eight years. Obiedo made his solo debut with 1989's Perfect Crime, followed two years later by Iguana; with 1993's Sticks and Stones, he reached the Top Ten on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz charts. After 1995's African-influenced Zulaya, he resurfaced two years later with Sweet Summer Days featuring vocalist Peabo Bryson. Ray's most recent releases are under his own Rhythmus Records label, 2015's There Goes That, The Latin Jazz Project Vol 1 in 2017, Carousel and The Latin Jazz Project Vol 2 in 2022.