Dave Ray began playing electric bass, guitar, and trumpet at an early age and now teaches guitar and bass at the Austin School of Music. He studied at the University of North Texas School of Music, focusing on bass, including upright bass, and rose to the UNT "3 O'Clock Jazz Band," earning his Bachelor of Music in 1988.

Since moving to Austin in 1989, Dave has performed with artists including Texas Music Hall of Fame guitarist Van Wilks, Texas country artist Kevin Fowler, southern rock band Johnny Law, and singer/songwriter Mark Jungers. With Van Wilks, Dave has performed across Texas at SXSW, Gruene Hall, the Dallas International Guitar Festival, and the Republic of Texas Biker Rally. He has also toured internationally in Europe, the US Virgin Islands, and India. He has shared bills with Billy Gibbons, Eric Johnson, Christopher Cross, Robin Trower, and the Flatlanders.

Dave also performs on acoustic guitar and vocals as a solo singer/songwriter or in small acoustic ensembles, playing his own unique brand of tongue-in-cheek Americana at venues around Central Texas.