Jessica Ray Griffin, born January 17, 1988 in Memphis, Tennessee, (pka Jessica Ray) realized she could sing when she was four years old. She loved listening to her father’s old school music and imitating her favourite artists. At age 6, she found herself singing at family and school functions and later joined the Mississippi Boulevard Church’s’ renowned children’s choir, “Angels of Praise”.

Convinced that she wanted to pursue a career as a recording artist, Jessica went on to achieve a number of successes in various talent competitions, one of which was “Star Search”, where she won first place. She later formed singing duo “Sahara Rose” which performed all over Memphis, but Jessica still had a strong desire to become a solo artist. She began sharpening her musical mechanics and vocal skills, where Dr. Jemmie Lou Rye, a music instructor at Lausanne Collegiate School, helped her hone in on her vocal skills as a singer. After graduating from High School in 2008, she enrolled in the music program at the University of Memphis, where she started writing her own material, and was asked to join the University band, “Sound Fusion” and later local touring band “The Memphis Soul Review”. The same year saw the online release of her debut album self-titled “Ray”; from which, her first single “working It” won her, her first appearance on BET’s 106 & Park where she rocked the crowd and gained major label interest.

Today, she works closely with well known producer and engineer, Niko Lyras and can be found performing in and around Memphis; most recently in New York, where she performed on BET’s 106 & Park and Blaze The Stage, where she took home 1st Place Prize.

Although Jessica Ray seems to be following in her father’s footsteps (“Ray Griffin” - Grammy Nominated Bassist and engineer), her distinctive sound and luring personality has had her mentioned as a fresh new light for the younger generation.

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