Ray Lema

Ray Lema lyrics

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Biography

Ray Lema is born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He studied at the catholic seminary and studied Gregorian chants, Mozart and Chopin. The pianos were hard to find in Zaire, so he learned to play the guitar. He left the University to be the guitar player of a famous band in Kinshasa, led by the singer Gerard Kazembe. He then discovered the nights of Kinshasa and met the Stars of Congolese music which at the time made whole Africa dance (Tabu Ley Rochereau, Kabassele …). In 1974, Ray Lema was appointed Music Director of the National Ballet of Zaire. This experience changed his life and his vision of music forever. He discovered the science and magic of traditional rhythmic wheels and turned himself into a Master Drum. Curious of all musics, precursor and always ready for all mucial experiment, Ray Lema became famous in the mid-80s in the World Music. He participated to various collaborations from Stewart Copeland (ex-drummer of Police) to the Bulgarian Voices, through the Tyour Gnawa from Essaouira (Morroco), the Chamber of Orchestra Sundsvall in Sweden, or with Brazilian singer and composer Chico César. Ray Lema plays in concert piano solo or with his afro-jazz sextet or with a vocal trio from Congo. Always open to new musical encounters, he frequently plays with Symphony orchestras (Brazil, France, China, Cuba) or with his fellow pianist Laurent de Wilde with whom he just published a second album (Wheels).