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My guest today is award winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player, Ray Bonneville. When it comes to playing rack harmonica, Ray might just be as good as it gets. To accompany his truth telling lyrics, he's able to seamlessly pull off complicated finger picking patterns and play elaborate counter melodies on the harmonica between verses. \n\nOften called a \u201csong and groove man,\u201d Bonneville has lived the life of the itinerant artist. From his native Quebec, he moved to Boston at age twelve, where he learned English and picked up piano and guitar. Later, he served in Vietnam and earned a pilot\u2019s license in Colorado before living in Alaska, Seattle, and Paris. Six years in New Orleans infused his musical sensibilities with the region's culture and rhythms. And then, a close call while piloting a seaplane proved pivotal: After two decades working as a studio musician, playing rowdy rooms with blues bands, and living hard, Bonneville\u2019s lifetime of hard-won experience coalesced into an urge to write his own music. \n\nRay recorded his first album, On the Main, in 1992. He\u2019s since released nine albums, earned wide critical and popular acclaim, and won an enthusiastic following in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His awards include a prestigious Juno, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy, for his 1999 album, Gust of Wind. In 2012, Ray won the solo/duet category in the Blues Foundation\u2019s International Blues Challenge. His post-Katrina ode, \u201cI Am the Big Easy,\u201d earned the International Folk Alliance\u2019s 2009 Song of the Year Award, placed number one on Folk Radio\u2019s list of most-played songs of 2008, and was recently covered by Jennifer Warnes for the BMG label. \n\nOther notable artists who have recorded his songs include Ronnie Hawkins (\u201cFoolish\u201d) and Slaid Cleaves (\u201cRun Jolee Run\u201d). Ray has shared the bill with blues heavyweights Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Dr. John, J.J. Cale, and Robert Cray, and has guested on albums by Mary Gauthier, Gurf Morlix, Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and other prominent musicians. He has performed at renowned venues around the world, including South by Southwest, Folk Alliance, and Montreal International Jazz Festival, and plays over 100 shows per year across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. When not on the road, he resides in Austin, Texas.\n\nDuring our conversation, we chat about his early life and first musical groups, his time in the military, life as a pilot, and the finer points of songwriting. \n\nIf you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!\n\nIF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow\n\nYou can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!\n\nGuest Links:\nWebsite: https://raybonneville.com/\n\nEpisode Music:\n**All original music by Andy Sydow\n\nSponsors:\nA huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.\nFor any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com\n\npqmastering.com\nnarratorrf.com