Ray is a native Detroiter who has worked as a professional musician since 1974. His emphasis is on historic American music. Besides extensive work with his own group, the Red Hot Peppers, Ray regularly appears with Howard Armstrong, a National Heritage Fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts. Ray Kamalay and his Red Hot Peppers is one of the finest historic jazz bands in the Midwest. They have appeared at many of North America's most prestigious festivals including, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Montreux/Detroit Jazz Festival, The Winnipeg Folk Festival, and the Mariposa Folk Festival.

In addition to the numerous festivals, the band has made many college appearances. Besides the concerts, Ray has worked as guest lecturer, delivering his "Freedom, Slavery and American Popular Music" talk at local colleges and universities. This lecture, with musical examples played by Ray, notes the development of American popular music and its unique relationship with slavery. Ray presents this history from the unique perspective of a fine artist and devoted student of the idiom.