ABOUT RAYMOND HAYDEN
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“For as long as I can remember, all I've thought about is music,” says Tacoma-based keyboardist Raymond Hayden, a fixture of the Pacific Northwest music community. “I wake up thinking about music and I go to bed thinking about music.”
 
Many can relate to that statement. Few, though, have a resume as extensive and diverse as Hayden's, which reaches into just about every corner of the music industry, and spans over thirty-five years and two continents.
 
Hayden's career as a touring musician began at age 9, traveling in a drum and bugle corps around the US. west coast and Canada. In 1986, he began playing keyboards in his first rock band, while serving in the U.S. Army in Mannheim, West Germany. “I'm very proud of my military experience,” he says. “It showed me how truly small the world is. That has given me grace that is in my music lyrically.”
 
In the decades since, Hayden has cemented a strong reputation back home in the States as a progressive rock musician, with forays into jazz, adult contemporary, pop rock, country, and blues. In 2002, Borders Music & Books sponsored him for a tour of in-store performances of his solo piano album, “A Doorway Through Your Tears,” to much acclaim. More recently, he has toured Europe with Sweetkiss Momma and Jessica Lynne Witty, and can currently be found performing with Witty as well as Strangely Alright, Grieve the Astronaut, and Monsters in the Dark.
 
“What I've taken from each band has prepared me for the next, and made me a more versatile player--truly playing for the song.” Over the years he has had the opportunity to play support slots for legendary acts, including April Wine, Blue Oyster Cult, Jonny Lang, Nazareth, Drowning Pool, Berlin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Trace Atkins, Sawyer Brown, Diamond Rio and even comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy.
 
Hayden has also had a hand in the success of a host of other artists, via his boutique label Maurice the Fish Records, as artist manager for Nolan Garrett, and as a concert promoter for countless shows including his collaborative Evening of Keys series. He is also a podcast host and blogger, creating content for Shure, Gigs4U, Seattle Wave Radio, NWCZ Radio and others.
 
His broad industry experience enables him to be a valuable mentor for up and coming artists, and he is passionate about doing so. In addition to personally taking young artists under his wing, Hayden also served as board president for Ted Brown Music Tacoma's outreach organization, and as a music mentor for their Live It Out Loud rock band summer camp program.
 
“Collaboration and nurturing other artists is paramount to my desire to support the collective.” Hayden says. “Connecting with my fellow humans is my real passion; music is the vehicle I utilize to do this.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
●      Current bands: Grieve the Astronaut, Strangely Alright, Jessica Lynne Witty and Monsters in the Dark (Showcase Band) ●      Opened for a host of legendary acts, including April Wine, Blue Oyster Cult, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jonny Lang, Berlin,           
         Nazareth, Drowning Pool, Diamond Rio, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Trace Atkins, Sawyer Brown.​
  • Collaboration with Nashville Recording Artist, Alena Rae
  • Collaboration with Jessica Lynne Witty, Cirke, Wanz, Kitt Bender, Lyle Ronglien, Jeff Eason, George Varghese, Paul Sawtelle, Anthony Ciarochi, Sean Van Dommelen on WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN
  • Collaborations with Regan Lane, Lee Gregory, Jessica Lynne Witty, Paul Sawtelle on ACCIDENTAL GRACE
  • Collaboration with The Chris Jones Band on "The Way"
  • Collaboration with Olivia Brownlee on "Gene's Song"
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SOLO / COLLABORATIVE ALBUMS PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT
●      Label CEO & Owner: Maurice the Fish Records         
RADIO & ON-LINE CONTENT CREATOR
    ●    Contributor to:   "HOME"  Poems and Songs inspired by American Immigrants by Deepak Chopra& Kabir Seghal 
    ●      Creator: 4S Philosophy on Success in the Music Business
            VIDEO SERIES:  https://www.grievetheastronaut.com/4s.html
            ​BLOG:  “4S Music Industry Philosophy for Success”  
  • Blogger for SHURE NOTES audio gear and GIGS4U
  • Podcasts: The Aquarium (NWCZ radio) and Houston (Seattle Wave Radio) ​ ​Highlight Interviews:  Steve Lukather (Toto),  Steve Lynch (Autograph) , Zane Carney (John Mayer),  Gus Seyfert (Beck), James McCartney (Paul McCartney's Son), Eric Tingstad (Grammy Winner), Geoff Ott (London Bridge Studios)​, Lynn Sorenson (Bad Company), Roger Fisher (Heart), Ben Smith (Heart), Ethan Tucker (THE VOICE CONTESTANT - Singer/Songwriter), Michael Tomlinson (Singer/Songwriter), Ron Rinehart (Dark Angel), Paul Sawtelle (European Grammy Winner) and a few interviews on the Unicorn Interviews...and new as of August 2022, Rubb'n  Elbows with Don Ellis Gatlin...first guests include James House, Roy Firestone, Rhonda Vincent, BIll Szymczyk and Jason Scheff
  • TV show: Strangely Alright TV with Regan Lane (YouTube)
  • Radio:   Ray's Music Minute  (FM KAYO - Olympia, WA)  
●      Comic strip series: SMEB with Regan Lane (Co-writer) & Daniel Lee (Illustrator)​
                  
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
●      Board president and music mentor for Ted Brown Music Outreach/Live it Out Loud            
  • Producer of Fish Food concerts, benefitting Pierce County Food Banks
  • Mentor to young up and coming artists as well as veteran artists.
  • ●      Grammy voting member since 1996