"Reachin For The Stars "
Playing His Autographed Guitar
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1983,
Ray has written many songs
In south Oklahoma City on an indian summer day,
Ray stopped to buy a drink,
his favorite beverage milk ...at the local Circle K.
A ragged young man with an old guitar
walked-up to him in the parking lot and asked him,
"Hey Man!" "Can you help me out
...would you buy this guitar for twenty bucks?"
Ray said, "I would, but I don't have a twenty on me".
The man said, "I havn't eaten in two days."
Ray asked him, "Well would you take ten for it?"
The man agreed and Ray took the guitar home. 
on that old yamaha guitar
and in that time
it's been in the hands
of alot of Country Stars.
Fall of 1990
in south Oklahoma City, Clinton Gregory while on his
"If It Weren't For Country Music I'd Go Crazy" Tour.
He was the first entertainer to put his mark on Ray's guitar,
before signing Clinton asked,
"Are you sure you want my autograph on your guitar?"
October 1991
Ray's wife, Tammy had a chance to meet
Sammy Kershaw while on his Cadillac Style Tour.
Sammy penned, Ray, Good Luck & God Bless, SLK.
Ray and Sammy have a few things in common
...aside from singing bon-a-fide country music and Hank Williams
being their all time favorite singer
...they both have a daughter named Emily.
Sammy & Tammy
June 3rd 1995
Ray was invited to perform
at the Hank Williams Boyhood Home & Museum
for the International Society Fan Club's
19th Annual Salute to Hank Williams Sr. Festival.
Ray took this wonderful opportunity to meet
Hank Williams' original Drifting Cowboys:
Don Helms, Jerry Rivers, Clinton Holmes,
Pappy Neil McCormick, Pee Wee Moultrie & Bernice Turner
...along with Hank Sr.'s daughter, Jett Williams.
She travels and performs with The Drifting Cowboys.
Jett signed: To Ray -Jett Williams.
Ray Bruce is very honored to meet Don Helms
Ray is most proud of the autographs signed by • www.HankSrFanClub.com
April 4th 1997
April 2, 1997 Skull was the most memorable and colorful person In Memory of
September 15th 1995
June 1997 Ray had a great time
Hank Williams Sr. Festival 1997 Whatta thrill, Mustang Sally are the most talented group
April 1, 2000
May 6th, 2000
"The Wild Side of Life" with Hank Thompson Visit www.HankThompson.com
Every last Saturday in September Dennis Davis host
October 14, 2000
Ray opens for the "Queen of Country Music" Kitty Wells, Ray & Johnny Wright share an unforgettable handshake. The Queen of Country Music"
Hank Williams' original Drifting Cowboys,
bassist- Hillous Butrum & Don Helms -steel guitarist.
Don Helms wrote:
Best To You ~ Don Helms.
• Official Hank Williams Sr. Site
• The Drifting Cowboys Website
Two years later accompanied by good friend and fellow Oklahoman
Dennis Davis (I-40 Country News editor),
Ray met Hillous Butrum at a Radio Station in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hillous said he was flattered to sign his signature on Ray's guitar.
He signed "Drifting Cowboy" -Hillous Butram
David "Skull" Shulman & Ray Bruce
Ray had the opportunity of meeting on his 1st trip to Nashville.
Skull was a good person and a sincere friend to the stars
and "Wanna Be's" in the musicbiz at
the "Rainbow Room" for 55yrs in Nashville, Tennessee.
Skull loved to say that his stage was the only place where
all three Hanks had performed Sr.,Jr.& the III.
David "Skull" Shulman
1918 - Jan.21,1998
Ray Bruce & Hank III
Ray recalls fondly a very unexpected opportunity
to open for Hank Williams III's, Hank Sr. Fan Club debut.
After the show, they partied 'till the wee hours with the fans.
Shelton Hank Williams and Colin Leatherwood of Alabama.
Hank III pic Ray's guitar
playing a few Hank Sr. songs
at the Hotel Club "Hank Place's"
located in Montgomery,Alabama where the great
Bronze Hank William Sr. Statute Stands.
Gene Watson & Ray Bruce
being one of the opening acts
for Gene Watson and Confederate RailRoad.
It was a great pleasure to meet one
of my favorite Country Legends; Gene Watson.
Gene, Danny Shirley and the whole Confederate gang
were a little crazy ,alot of fun and nice enough
to scribble their names on my guitar.
Danny reads his fellow feds names as he signs.
Ray Bruce & Danny Shirley
www.GeneWatson.com & www.ConfederateRailRoad.com
Mustang Sally & Ray Bruce
of young ladies you'll ever find on one stage,
playing their own instruments.
They've really raised the bar on entertaining the mass of
Hank Sr. fan in his own backyard at the
Hank Williams Boyhood Home & Museum
in Georgianna, Alabama.
Visit www.MustangSally.com
Meeting
"Country Bumpkin" Cal Smith
was a great country music experience.
Backstage at Bill Brown' Oklahoma Jubilee,
Ray opened the door and there sat Cal Smith.
Ray said, Well, Hello Country Bumpkin,
Cal stood up, smiled and welcomed us with a hand shake.
He gotta once in a life time chance
to visit with the Legendary Cal Smith.
He signed Ray's guitar: To My Good Friend -Cal Smith.
Between songs Cal was a very comical cut-up on stage.
He delivered an awesome true country show
perfoming his greatest hits and new songs from his
latest album Cal Smith on First Generation Records.
In this photo Cal shows off his guitar
given to him by his best friend,
the Late, and Great...Ernest Tubb.
Ray with Hank
Again at Bill Brown's Oklahoma Jubilee,
Ray had the chance to visit with this great country music legend.
Hank Thompson performed a well-seasoned show.
Hank's music career spans over sixty successful years.
After reading several other fellow Country Legend's autographs,
Hank smiled and said, "I'd be honored to sign this guitar".
Harlow Wilcox & Ray Bruce
his Okie Knob Country Music Farm Show in Minco, Oklahoma,
for the second year Ray shared the stage with
and finally got the autograph of musician
and fellow Oklahoma Harlow Wilcox,
Harlow is famous for surf tunes
Wipe Out & Groovey Grubworm.
Ray Bruce & family were saddened to hear of Harlow's passing
Ray remembers Harlow as a down to earth,nice guy,always smiling.
He'd made me feel welcomed on stage and in his presence.
May Peace Be Yours, Harlow
Rock-On Man! ~Ray
along with her husband Johnny Wright of "Jack & Johnny"
and their son Bobby Wright. Bobby is recognized in his own "right"
in the showbiz world,aside from a great music career a younger
Bobby is also known for a role in the tv show McHale's Navy.
Ray: They are a close-nit family full of character.
On stage Johnny said "We've celebrated 60 years of marriage
I think we're gonna make it and I think she's a keeper.
The Legendary Family trio played an
awesome energetic true country show.
They were very gracious and more than glad to
autograph my guitar and all my Kitty memoribilia.
Emily has her guitar signed by the trio too.
photos by Tammy Mullendore Copyright 2002
KITTY WELLS
FareWell Tour
October 14th 2000
Oklahoma Jubilee
Shidler, Oklahoma
Kitty Wells
Website
April 13th, 2002
Ray had the unique opportunity to meet one of his
all time favorite country singers Mr. Johnny Rodriquez
Ray Bruce, Miss Emily & Johnny Rodriquez
Please Pass by Johnny's Fan Club
October 2003
Willie's Harmonica player Mickey Raphael came along
MARCH 4th, 2004 "SPEND MY TIME"
February 4th 2006 Billy Joe Shaver
It was a great pleasure to finally meet
Click here to listen to: Tammy's Interview with Billy Joe Shaver
If You're Only Passing Through !
*Johnny Rodriquez Fan club
2002
Halloween With The King!
Tammy, George Strait & Ray Bruce
"BACKSTAGE"
At The Ford Center in Oklahoma City,Ok.
Ray didn't do any pickin' with George
...but they sure did alotta grinnin' !
While waiting to get Willie Nelson's autograph
outside his bus at Rose State College in Midwest City,Ok.
Mickey Raphael
while we were visiting with him he said,
"Willie wasn't signing anything due to a hand injury"
We asked him, "Well, Would you mind signing Ray's guitar"
He read off some of the names and said, I'd love too.
He was such a nice guy and he even thanked us for coming bye.
with
CLINT BLACK
As Clint Black signed the guitar he wished Ray the best of luck!
signs his autograph on Ray's guitar,
I said, "You just signed where he will rub it off pickin'"
Billy Joe said, "Well I don't mind"
I said well "I do"
He nicely said, "Okay woman, How's this?"
as he signed Ray's guitar again with
His alter-ego's signature
"Slim Chance"
Ray Bruce ~ Miss Emily ~ Billy Joe Shaver & Tammy Mullendore
Favorite Country Outlaw Legend
"Honky Tonk Hero" Billy Joe Shaver
We had the pleasure of spending a little
time with him and listen to him
talk about his Hank Williams experience,
and what Hank means too him!
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Pictures from the Billy Joe Shaver Concert
"The Sooner Theatre" Norman, Oklahoma
February 4th, 2006
photos copyright 2006 Tammy Mullendore
A few years ago a man in Montgomery, Alabama
offered him $5000.00 for it
but Ray refused to sell
to him it's priceless.
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"Troubadour"
written by Merle Haggard
performed by Ray Bruce
| www.RayBruce.com contents ©2002 All Rights Reserved.
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