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A prolific songwriter, Cardwell's powerful, four-octave voice is in large part what has caught the ears of some of Nashville's most respected bluegrass musicians, several who lent their substantial musical expertise to studio sessions in Nashville in late 2015. "One of the most interesting things about Ray is his range," said Pat Flynn, the highly respected guitar stylist, top-flight studio musician, songwriter and member of New Grass Revival now sitting in the producer chair at Ray's sessions. "He has a very diverse musical background. We have a bluegrass foundation, but we're doing everything from blues and gospel a cappella to straight-up bluegrass. I like the fact that Ray is able to embrace a lot of different styles...and pull them all off. His vocals are very distinctive, as well as his bass playing; that sets the stage for us to do a lot of things acoustically with modern bluegrass as a base."

Cardwell has the kind of voice and stage presence that leaves an audience spell-bound and makes converts wherever he plays. As a bandleader, music director or sideman, Ray has performed and toured extensively with bluegrass, Americana, country, jazz, reggae, blues, musical theater, rock, Motown, choral and rockabilly groups.

The Cardwell Family bluegrass band, from the Missouri Ozarks, performed in America's heartland in the late 1970s. In the '80s Ray was into rock & reggae, followed by a move to Nashville as a member of the critically acclaimed bluegrass/gospel group, the New Tradition in 1994. Then he returned to Missouri to raise a family, where he earned accolades as an award-winning vocal and instrumental music teacher with ensembles.

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Cardwell has a voice that commands attention, and while the songs and arrangements are decidedly toward the more progressive end of the scale, they should still resonate with the Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs crowds.

     —Country Standard Time