Ray Reach, an American musician, died on February 17, 2026, at age 77.
Born Raymond Everett Reach Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama, he worked as a pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer and educator.
He performed and recorded in jazz, classical, pop, R&B, gospel, Christian and country music, and was perhaps best known for jazz, combining jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals. Reach was a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, which he founded and directed, the Ray Reach Orchestra and the Night Flight Big Band. He also wrote and arranged five Broadway-style musicals for Birmingham Children’s Theatre.
Raymond Everett Reach Jr. (August 3, 1948 – February 17, 2026) was an American pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer and educator, who was convicted in the State of Alabama on child pornography charges. Reach has performed and recorded in various genres, including pop, R&B, Motown/soul, gospel, rock, classic rock, country (contemporary and traditional), contemporary Christian, classical, and jazz music, but is perhaps best known for his work in jazz, combining jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals. He resided in Birmingham, Alabama.