Ray Shulman, a co-founding member and bassist of the influential prog-rock band Gentle Giant, has died at the age of 73.
According to his brother and bandmate, Derek, Ray passed away on March 30th after “he bravely battled a long illness.”
Having grown up in a musical family, Ray and brothers Phil and Derek started their first band together in the early 1960s. Performing as Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, the band quickly earned a record deal with Emi and achieved a top 10 single with their song “Kites.” At one point, their lineup even featured a young piano player named Reginald Dwight, who went on to find fame as Elton John.
Simon Dupree and the Big Sound’s existence was short-lived, as the Shulman brothers became disillusioned by the music industry and being seen as one-hit wonders. After unsuccessfully attempting to release music under the moniker The Moles, the group broke up.
According to his brother and bandmate, Derek, Ray passed away on March 30th after “he bravely battled a long illness.”
Having grown up in a musical family, Ray and brothers Phil and Derek started their first band together in the early 1960s. Performing as Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, the band quickly earned a record deal with Emi and achieved a top 10 single with their song “Kites.” At one point, their lineup even featured a young piano player named Reginald Dwight, who went on to find fame as Elton John.
Simon Dupree and the Big Sound’s existence was short-lived, as the Shulman brothers became disillusioned by the music industry and being seen as one-hit wonders. After unsuccessfully attempting to release music under the moniker The Moles, the group broke up.
- 4/2/2023
- by Alex Young
- Consequence - Music
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