RAY THOMAS was born on 29th December 1941 in Stourport on Severn, attended the Paget Road Secondary Modern School, and later qualified as a toolmaker.
In the early '50s Ray joined the Birmingham Youth Choir and then sang with various groups including The Saints and Sinners and The Ramblers. At that time playing the harmonica, he joined John Lodge in El Riot and the Rebels in the mid-'50s and made several television appearances. Around 1962 Ray and Mike Pinder formed The Krew Cats and spent the next year or so touring in Hamburg before disbanding and forming The Moody Blues 5, shortening it to The M & B 5 when Mitchell and Butlers Breweries agreed to sponsor the band. When this sponsorship did not materialise they changed the name to The Moody Blues in 1964. It was around this time that Ray started to play the flute.
When The Moody Blues took a rest from touring and recording, Ray released his first solo album FROM MIGHTY OAKS in July 1975. His second solo album HOPES WISHES AND DREAMS was released in June 1976.
Ray is a lover of symphonic sound, as well as rock 'n' roll and his rich, solid voice provides The Moody Blues' harmonies with a 'melodic middle' while his flute is nothing short of haunting. His song LEGEND OF A MIND has become a "standard".
When away from the spotlight, Ray likes to fish in his own lake, in Wales, or out at sea, and the biggest fish he's caught is a 75lb blue shark. He is also an excellent cook.
