Bongo Fury

Australia Wide

Ray formed one of Australia's first percussion bands 'Bongo Fury' in 1992. The band thrilled audiences all over Australia and overseas with their powerful drumming (conga, djembe, timbales, dun-dun and drum kit), percussion (shekere, cowbells), and vocals, based on Afro-Cuban and West African rhythms. Members of the band included Javier Fredes, Elvis Aljus and Cristian Silva, who are now established as some of Australia's finest and most in-demand Afro-Cuban & Latin percussionists.

Bongo Fury released their self-titled debut album in 1995 to rave reviews. 'Bongo Fury' was voted as one of the Top Ten Australian CDs of the Year by the Sunday Age Newspaper and runner up in Rhythm Magazine's Reader poll from the Best World Music Album. The music on the album covers freedom songs from South Africa, drumming from the Santeria cult of Cuba, Sri Lankan fishing songs and the arresting rhythms based around the djembe drum from West Africa.

Ray released a second album 'Home' in 1997, developing the sound of Bongo Fury to embrace the kalimba of Valanga Khosa, the guitar of Ross Hannaford, sax, bass and balafon.