Editing Amy Ray

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Amy Ray
| image            = Amy Ray at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ 04202012 2sm.jpg
| caption          = Ray performing in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]] in 2012
| birth_name       = Amy Elizabeth Ray
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1964|4|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Decatur, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date       = 
| origin           = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], U.S.
| genre            = [[Folk rock]]
| occupation       = {{flatlist|
*Singer-songwriter
*record producer
}}
| instrument       = {{flatlist|
*Vocals
*acoustic guitar
*electric guitar
*[[mandolin]]
*harmonica
}}
| years_active     = 1985–present
| label            = {{flatlist|
*Daemon
*[[Epic Records|Epic]]
*[[Hollywood Records|Hollywood]]
*[[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]]
}}
| current_member_of = [[Indigo Girls]]
| website          = {{Official URL}}
| associated_acts  = [[Indigo Girls]]
}}
'''Amy Elizabeth Ray''' (born April 12, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo [[Indigo Girls]] with [[Emily Saliers]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Monger, Timothy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/amy-ray-mn0000025583/biography |title=Amy Ray &#124; Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date=2021 |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref> She also pursues a solo career, releasing ten albums under her own name, and founded the independent label Daemon Records in 1989. Ray is known for her alto and tenor range, and plays both electric and acoustic guitar, as well as mandolin and harmonica.

==Biography==
[[File:Amy Ray.png|thumb|left|150px|Ray in 2008]]
Born in [[Decatur, Georgia]], Amy Ray met [[Emily Saliers]] when they both attended the same elementary school.<ref name=AtlMag80>{{cite journal |journal=Atlanta Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOECAAAAMBAJ&q=Laurel+Ridge+Elementary+indigo&pg=PA72 |title=From Brenda Lee to Ludacris: A Sonic Portrait of Our City |first=Rebecca |last=Burns |page=80 |date=June 2003 |volume=43 |number=2 |issn=0004-6701 |publisher=Emmis Communications |access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref> They began performing together and recorded a demo in 1981. After graduation, Ray and Saliers went to different colleges with Ray attending [[Vanderbilt University]].<ref name=malkin/> By 1985, they had both transferred to [[Emory University]] in [[Atlanta]] and formed the [[Indigo Girls]].<ref name=malkin>{{cite book |last=Malkin |first=John |title=Sounds of freedom: musicians on spirituality & social change |year=2005 |publisher=Parallax |isbn=978-1-888375-47-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781888375473/page/48 48] |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781888375473 |url-access=registration}}</ref> In 1986, Ray graduated from Emory with majors in English and Religion.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

In March 2001, Ray released her first solo album, ''[[Stag (Amy Ray album)|Stag]]'', a southern and punk rock album. [[The Butchies]], a punk band whose members include [[Kaia Wilson]], [[Melissa York]], and [[Alison Martlew]], provided support for five songs, and [[Joan Jett]] played on "Hey Castrator". In April 2005, Ray released the softer edged<ref name="lung denver">{{cite news |last=Baca |first=Ricardo |title=Amy Ray: An Indigo Girl gone solo — but only temporarily |date=March 3, 2012 |publisher=The Denver Post |url=http://www.denverpost.com/music/ci_20276895/amy-ray-an-indigo-girl-gone-solo-mdash}}</ref> ''[[Prom (album)|Prom]]'', and in December 2006, she released ''[[Live from Knoxville]]''. Her fourth solo album, the melodic<ref name="lung denver" /> ''[[Didn't It Feel Kinder]],'' was released in August 2008. ''[[Lung of Love]]'', which has more of an indie-rock sound,<ref name="lung denver" /> was released in 2012.<ref name="lung denver" /><ref name="lung boston">{{cite news |last=Rodman |first=Sarah |title=Amy Ray's 5 top things about touring as a solo girl |date=April 13, 2012 |publisher=The Boston Globe |url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-13/music/31323470_1_tour-bus-rock-band-indigo-girls|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118090503/http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-13/music/31323470_1_tour-bus-rock-band-indigo-girls|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref>

Her backup band for her ''Stag'' tour was The Butchies.  In 2004, when she embarked on her ''Prom'' tour, she brought Les Nuby (guitar), Will Lochamy (drums), and [[Jody Bleyle]] (bass).  [[Tara Jane O'Neil]] replaced Bleyle when she began maternity leave in October. {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} Ray's backup band for her 2012 ''Lung of Love'' tour was The Butchies. Jenn Stone, former keyboard player for [[Kesha]], also performed on the tour.<ref name="lung boston" />

==Side projects==
[[File:Kaia Wilson and Amy Ray on stage at The Saint sms.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Kaia Wilson]] and Ray on stage in 2012]]
In addition to the Indigo Girls<ref name="outdoors">{{cite news |title=Where the Outdoors Are Humming With Melodies and Messages |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |date=June 17, 2009 |work=New York Times}}</ref><ref name="carson">{{cite book |author=Mina Carson |author2=Tisa Lewis |author3=Susan M. Shaw |title=Girls rock!: fifty years of women making music |year=2004 |publisher=UP of Kentucky |isbn=978-0-8131-2310-3 |page=144 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEDqNRkk6KIC&pg=PA144}}</ref> and her work as a solo artist, Ray also runs an independent record label, Daemon Records, which she founded in 1990 and which is based in Decatur, Georgia.<ref name="carson" /> Some performers signed to Daemon include [[Girlyman]], [[Magnapop]], Nineteen Forty-Five, [[Michelle Malone]], Three Finger Cowboy, [[Danielle Howle]] and the Tantrums, Gerard McHugh, [[New Mongrels]], Grady Cousins, The Oblivious, [[Snow Machine (band)|Snow Machine]], [[Utah Phillips]] and [[Rose Polenzani]].

She often collaborates with [[The Butchies]], a punk band featuring drummer [[Melissa York]] and vocalist/guitarist [[Kaia Wilson]]. She has contributed the live track "Lucy Stoners" on ''[[Calling All Kings & Queens]]'' (2001) and the [[Mr. Lady Records]] sampler album as well as a live recording of "On Your Honor" on a compilation for [[Home Alive]].

Ray is also an activist involved in multiple political and social causes, including [[gay rights]], [[low-power broadcasting]], [[women's rights]], [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous struggles]], [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]], [[Environmentalism|environmental protection]] and the anti-death penalty movement among others. She has made several trips to [[Chiapas]], Mexico to support the [[Zapatista Army of National Liberation]].

In 1993, she and Emily Saliers co-founded [[Honor the Earth]] with [[Winona LaDuke]]. Honor the Earth's mission is "to create awareness and support for Native [American] environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native [American] communities. Honor the Earth develops these resources by using music, the arts, the media, and indigenous wisdom to ask people to recognize our joint dependency on the Earth and be a voice for those not heard."<ref name="name">{{cite web |url=http://www.honorearth.org/about-us |title=Campaigns |publisher=Honor the Earth |access-date=January 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006123014/http://www.honorearth.org/about-us |archive-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref>

[[Justin Vernon]] ([[Bon Iver]]) appears on her 2014 album ''[[Goodnight Tender]]'', and she and Vernon continue to maintain a friendship.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cigarcitymanagement.com/podcast/2017/3/6/episode-22-amy-ray-indigo-girls |title=Episode 22 – Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) |work=Cigar City Management |access-date=March 29, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ray was also a judge for the 3rd<ref>[http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2004.asp "3rd Annual IMA Judges"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112142917/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2004.asp |date=November 12, 2015 }}. Independent Music Awards. Retrieved on September 4, 2013.</ref> and 11th Annual<ref>[http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/11th-annual-ima-judges/ "11th Annual IMA Judges]. Independent Music Awards. Retrieved on September 4, 2013.</ref> Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

== Personal life ==
Ray uses [[she/her]] pronouns and is a lesbian.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-30 |title=Amy Ray, the Indigo Girls, and the Soundtrack of Our Gay Lives |url=https://www.advocate.com/music/2021/3/30/amy-ray-indigo-girls-and-soundtrack-our-gay-lives |url-status=live |access-date=2021-03-30 |website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330182133/https://www.advocate.com/music/2021/3/30/amy-ray-indigo-girls-and-soundtrack-our-gay-lives |archive-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref>
Ray lives in the foothills of North Georgia with her partner, Carrie Schrader, and their daughter, Ozilline Graydon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amy Ray talks new country album, new baby and Indigo Girls |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=January 10, 2014 |publisher=Access Atlanta |url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs/atlanta-music-scene/2014/jan/20/amy-ray-talks-new-country-album-new-baby-and-indig/ |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928194037/http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs/atlanta-music-scene/2014/jan/20/amy-ray-talks-new-country-album-new-baby-and-indig/ |archive-date=September 28, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-02 |title=Indigo Girls' Amy Ray on tattoos and coming out - Windy City Times News |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Indigo-Girls-Amy-Ray-on-tattoos-and-coming-out/34539.html |access-date=2021-02-22 |website=Windy City Times}}</ref> In March 2021, Ray spoke on the ''[[LGBTQ&A]]'' podcast about having [[gender dysphoria]] and being [[Non-binary gender|genderqueer]].<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBTQ&A: Amy Ray: Indigo Girls FOREVER (!!!) |date=May 4, 2021 |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amy-ray-indigo-girls-forever/id1151561226?i=1000515007832 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |url-status=live |website=[[Apple Podcasts]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504023415/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amy-ray-indigo-girls-forever/id1151561226?i=1000515007832 |archive-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>

Ray identifies herself as "religious" and a "Pagan Christian".<ref name="hc">{{Cite web |url=https://holler.country/feature/ten-year-town-amy-ray |website=Holler. |accessdate=2023-05-04 |date=2022-11-16 |last=Jerome |first=Helen |title=Ten Year Town: Amy Ray |lang=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
*''[[Stag (Amy Ray album)|Stag]]'' (2001)
*''[[Prom (album)|Prom]]'' (2005)
*''[[Didn't It Feel Kinder]]'' (2008)
*''[[Lung of Love]]'' (2012)
*''[[Goodnight Tender]]'' (2014)
*''[[Holler (album)|Holler]]'' (2018)<ref name="HollerReview">{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/701048030/amy-ray-band-on-mountain-stage?t=1552225187905 |title=Amy Ray Band On Mountain Stage |website=NPR.org |date=March 7, 2019 |access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref>
*''[[If It All Goes South]]'' (2022)

===Live albums===
*''Live from Knoxville'' (2006)
*''MVP Live'' (2010)
*''The Tender Hour: Amy Ray Live from Seattle'' (2015)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Indigo Girls}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ray, Amy}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:American folk singers]]
[[Category:American harmonica players]]
[[Category:American lesbian musicians]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ singers]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ songwriters]]
[[Category:American mandolinists]]
[[Category:American non-binary musicians]]
[[Category:American non-binary writers]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:Daemon Records artists]]
[[Category:Emory University alumni]]
[[Category:American feminist musicians]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Indigo Girls members]]
[[Category:Lesbian singers]]
[[Category:Lesbian songwriters]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Non-binary songwriters]]
[[Category:Non-binary singers]]
[[Category:People from Decatur, Georgia]]
[[Category:Record producers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Singers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Christians from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Lesbian Christians]]
[[Category:Non-binary lesbians]]