The Language of Raymond K. Roberts

Photo credit Mikasi

By Colleen Kappeler

My guitar is a universal instrument of communication.” Writing music “gives me complete control in a life where there aren’t many things you can control. In my music there are no time restraints, no deadlines. It is cathartic, a stress reliever. I don’t know how people make it without music.”

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Raymond Roberts play his music before, but getting the chance to sit down and talk with him was amazing. Ray is a deep thinker, kind, respectful, intelligent man who also happens to be an amazing musician and has served his country through the Army and Army National Guard. He writes and performs both original pieces and soulful renditions of classic rock songs from the past. He’s spent years traveling the world, playing music on every continent but Australia, and learning about people in a way most of us never have the opportunity.

We settled into the couches at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection, him on the edge of his seat and me with a list of questions that slowly disappeared from thought as I was lulled into the music that flows through his voice and thoughts, even without a guitar in hand. Ray explained to me that music, for him, is not just about loving a type (like Jazz or Country), but about having the freedom to say things in a new way. Even if it’s an old song, “the way you express the song may be to others like hearing it for the first time. Musicians have the freedom to do that if they choose to.”

As a musician, Ray has the ability to get people to open up in a different way with music than they can with words. “You cannot change people or the world, but I go into music with my eyes open, ready to discuss things in a new way. With words you can ask people, “Do you like Rock and Roll?” and they’ll say no. Then I play a song and they love it. “That was David Bowie,” I’ll say, proving that their initial impression wasn’t what they thought. It would take hours to explain with words what occurs in minutes with music.” Music takes people outside what they think the world is and gets them to see things in a new way.

Ray usually writes music first and the song later. Oftentimes it isn’t until months or years later that he truly understands the impact of what he wrote. “Subconsciously our depth of understanding is much deeper than we realize. I wrote a song years ago about the changes in the world and now, when I come home from tours to a world that continues on and keeps spinning, the song means a lot more.” Everyone’s had an experience where it feels like a song was written just for you; music allows us to feel that, to connect, to see things outside the box we normally put around our thoughts.

Music is a universal language. Ray has learned that he doesn’t need to speak the language to connect with people. Everyone understands music. Ray’s guitar is always with him, no matter how far away he travels. He calls it his “ticket” to go anywhere and meet anyone. At times planes flying out on oversea missions have been too full, and yet no matter what has to come off, the guitar gets a spot. In fact, on his last tour he took three! Sometimes, having no common language, locals strum air guitars, asking Ray to play for them. On one mission where he couldn’t speak the language, he spent a night playing with a local drummer and singer as over 2000 people gathered to listen. He’s even used his music to connect with locals during deployment. “Music lets you express emotions and ideas to other people without words. You don’t need to know the language to express sadness or joy. My guitar is a universal instrument of communication.” Writing music “gives me complete control in a life where there aren’t many things you can control. In my music there are no time restraints, no deadlines. It is cathartic, a stress reliever. I don’t know how people make it without music.”

Come hear Ray play at BeExposed! 5.1 at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection on Friday, July 16th. The evening begins at 6:00 and the entertainment goes till around 9:00. Drinks of all kinds are available for purchase, as is food. Community, conversation, and entertainment are on the house!