Ray Drummond, born on November 23, 1946, in Brookline, Massachusetts, was an American jazz bassist and composer. He began his musical journey with a strong foundation in jazz, eventually earning an MBA from Stanford University. His career took off with the release of Susanita in 1984, featuring collaborations with Manny Boyd, Branford Marsalis, John Hicks, and Alvin Queen. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Drummond released several notable albums including Camera in a Bag (as Ray Drummond Quintet, 1990), Excursion (with Joe Lovano, Craig Handy, Danilo Pérez, Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Mor Thiam, 1993), Continuum (with Randy Brecker, John Scofield, Thomas Chapin and Kenny Barron, 1994), Vignettes (with Renee Rosnes, Joe Lovano, Gary Bartz, Chris Potter and Billy Hart, 1995), and 1-2-3-4 (1999). He also co-led The Drummonds with Renee Rosnes and Billy Drummond. As a sideman, he contributed to hundreds of albums, working with prominent artists such as Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kenny Barron, and Art Farmer. Drummond was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey since 1980, where he lived with his wife Susan and daughter Maya. He passed away on November 1, 2025, at the age of 78.
