Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymond Hayden.
Hi Raymond, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m not sure if I can remember back that far. Lol well, I started out on tour buses at nine years old playing drums in drum and bugle corps. Soon after, I switched to brass instruments… Trumpet, French horn, baritone, and then ultimately tuba. I performed in jazz band, pep band, concert band, marching band and honor band. After graduating high school I joined the army and went to Manheim West Germany. When I was there, I met a guy named James Rose and him and I tried to Jam. It turns out that a guy playing Van Halen rock guitar and a guy playing Maynard Fergusson chameleon on trumpet makes for an interesting get challenging jam session.
Anyway, when that session was done, on the way out, I saw a Polaroid picture of somebody selling a Roland Juno 106. I ended up getting a loan for it the next day and became a keyboard player. In the beginning, I started with having a mentor, and still a friend today from a gentleman by the name of Michael Hein. My first band over there was a band called ambition. We played throughout Germany and France and had a great time. Eventually, we moved to the East Coast and began touring there. Ultimately, that band ended up breaking up, and I moved back home to the West Coast.
Over the past 35 years I’ve played in numerous bands, started three podcasts, owned a record label for 10 years, multiple collaborations and recording sessions… And to this day, one of my favorite things to do is collaborate and write new music.
Of course there’s a lot of gray area, but what I’ve learned at this point in my life is that the destination is not important. It’s the journey. With all the things I’ve done in the music industry, to include opening up for numerous large acts, touring Europe, getting signed into a record deal! The best part has been the journey here. And I’m really looking forward to what comes next….
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Going after your passion is never just a smooth road or a struggle, it’s both. The music industry is extremely challenging and you have to have superhero strength, both mentally and physically to get through it.
There is so much involved… Practicing, rehearsing, having all the right gear, having the right attitude, all the networking, the money involved with Recording and promoting. Ultimately, when you have the right talent, the right attitude, you are in the right place at the right time, with a little bit of luck… It comes down to the biggest obstacle and struggle of all, money.
The recipe for success is a doozy. These days, the biggest struggle is that because of technology, people who haven’t earned the right to call themselves…An artist , produce music in minutes…murking up the aquarium.
The biggest struggle now is recognizing that new technology is a tool. Utilizing it in a way that continues to give you control and artistry is the trick.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
That is a great question and the best way to answer that is to give you my website so you can go and read more about me and see what I’ve done and what I’m doing.
Ultimately, I am a keyboard player and a songwriter. But I also have great strength with connections, and connecting people.
https://raymondhayden.weebly.com/
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people to mention, but the main people who have supported me along my journey are my Mom, Jane Maximov, Michael Hein, Brooke Lizotte And currently my wife, Jessica Lynne Witty, who is also an artist.
From the very beginning of my musical career at nine years old, my mom has always been there. Encourage me, support me and remind me of the importance of practicing, but also taking time to relax. In the early days she was at nearly every performance and to this day, is still a huge supporter.
My friend Jane Maximov, who is still a friend to this every day, introduced me to James Rose in Germany and got my career as a keyboard player started. All the while, and even to this day, she is one of my biggest supporters and dearest friends.
Michael Hein and Brooke Lizotte are both keyboard mentors of mine. Michael taught me in the beginning and Brooke taught me later on in my career, but both of them instilled professionalism, humility, and love more than anything.
And my wife, Jessica Lynne Witty, who is also an artist herself… She is my biggest supporter. She never tells me what I wanna hear but what needs to be said. She has made me a better musician from day one. We are both fans of one another.
Like I said, in the beginning, there’s too many to mention. Over the years I’ve been very fortunate to have good friends that are independent, musicians, rockstars, and just regular people who don’t play music. Their support and encouragement helped me for the good times and the times where imposter syndrome took over.
It takes a tribe!
Pricing:
- https://raymondhayden.weebly.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raymondhayden.weebly.com/
- Instagram: Raymond_a_hayden
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DKJf4zCVc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mauricethefishrecords?si=-pfbLqpyk8CiTqVr
