Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Raymond was born on November 16th, 1973. His parents are Ronald and the late Rita Vautour. Growing up in Minto he began playing music after receiving an acoustic guitar as a Christmas gift from his father in 1988 at the age of 14. Having always loved music as long as he can remember, Ray took to the instrument instantly. His prominent country guitar influences include Vince Gill, Albert Lee and Brent Mason, but he also had a love for blues-based players like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. At 16, he was invited to play rhythm guitar in “Dirt Road” with Glen Cunningham, who filled that band’s lead guitar slot at the time. The group also included Glen’s brother Wayne on bass and Kim Blyth on the drums. A few years later Raymond played lead guitar after Glen moved on from Dirt Road to help form the Ridge Kickers. During the next couple of years, “Dirt Road” continued to play in the Minto/Chipman area. At this time the band saw a few members come and go; notably John ‘Boomer’ Hache on guitar, Steve Waylon on drums and vocals, as well as Alan Stilwell on lead vocals and guitar.

Later, at the age of 19, Raymond moved to Fredericton and went on to play with his father Ronnie in the band “One Way Ryder”. The band was comprised of Ronnie Day on bass, Danny Richard on drums and occasionally John Clayden on keyboards. The band provided backup for many singers and artists around New Brunswick, but spent the majority of their time playing with local country singer J.R. Vautour.

In late 1997, Raymond received an offer to go on the road with Julian Austin, who was then just signed to BMG Records. Julian’s back-up band, “The Austinators”, originally included Raymond on guitar, Glen Cunningham on guitar, Darrell Chambers on bass, Mike Porelle on drums , Kim Dunn on keyboards and Ira Morehouse on pedal steel guitar. The band went on to tour Canada extensively, going back and forth across the country 27 times in the first year alone. During this time he found himself playing the various outdoor country music festivals and numerous club dates. Most notable of the larger shows were opening for Aaron Tippin and Sammy Kershaw at Saint John’s Harbour Station, opening for Alabama at Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum, as well as opening for Lonestar and Brooks & Dunn at the Calgary Saddledome and the Skyreach Centre in Edmonton, along with the remainder of the Austinators.

Raymond also had the opportunity to play on national televised award shows such as the Canadian Country Music Awards and the East Coast Music Awards, as well as talk shows including ‘Open Mike with Mike Bullard’. In 1999 and 2000 Raymond and his band mates took home the CCMA for ‘Best Back-Up Band of the Year’. He was also nominated for CCMA ‘Guitar Player of the Year’ two years in a row.

Around 2001 Raymond left the Austinators and moved out west to Edmonton, Alberta. There he continued to be active in the country music scene, freelancing around western Canada and playing with such artists as Chris Cummings, Charlie Major, and newcomer Lisa Hewitt. During this time he also had the opportunity to do a few gigs abroad, including Las Vegas and Lithuania in North Eastern Europe.

In 2007 Raymond decided it was time to come home. Since his move back home to New Brunswick he has come full circle and once again is playing with his father Ronnie, along with Danny Richard, Phil McGeehan, Brice Brewer and Mike Bozanson. He continues to be active in the local country music scene.