CHARLES RAY

Recording Artist | Vocalist | Multi-Instrumentalist | Songwriter | Producer

Blues • Soul • R&B • Jazz • Rock • Adult Contemporary

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Charles Ray, born Charles Raymond Mack and formerly known professionally as CROS, is an American recording artist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer whose musical career spans more than four decades. A native of Chicago's South Side, Ray brings together the authenticity of traditional blues, the emotional richness of soul, and the sophistication of jazz with contemporary R&B and rock influences.

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Raised in a musical family and influenced by his father, blues guitarist L.C. Mack, Ray developed his artistry through classical training, jazz education, and Chicago's legendary blues scene. His musical journey eventually led him to perform with Grammy Award-winning blues legend James Cotton and acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Lucky Peterson.

Throughout his career, Ray has performed with or shared stages with an extraordinary collection of influential artists, including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, James Brown, Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, Hubert Sumlin, Robert Lockwood Jr., Otis Rush, Johnny Winter, Shemekia Copeland, Bernard Allison, Kenny Neal, and Keith Richards, among others.

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His recording background includes collaborations with R&B vocalist CeCe Peniston, house-music pioneer Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, and producer George Jackson. His more recent work includes the blues single I'm a Blues Man, featuring renowned harmonica virtuoso Billy Branch.

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A retired United States Navy and Army National Guard musician, Ray's distinguished military music career further expanded his experience as an instrumentalist, vocalist, and musical leader. His performances have crossed musical genres, cultures, and international boundaries, contributing to a distinctive artistic identity rooted in versatility and authenticity.

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Beyond music, Ray holds undergraduate and graduate business degrees and has pursued medical and biomedical science education, with particular interests in neuroscience and the therapeutic potential of music.

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Following significant personal and professional transitions, Ray has embraced his given name as the foundation of his evolving artistic identity. The transition from CROS to Charles Ray represents a return to his roots, a celebration of his musical legacy, and the beginning of a renewed creative chapter.

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Today, Charles Ray continues to write, record, and create music that transcends generations and genres—drawing upon a lifetime of experiences to deliver performances defined by musical excellence, emotional depth, and timeless storytelling.

 

Charles Ray — A lifetime of music. A legacy still being written.