I'm not sure what the meaning of life is, but I know it has something to do with the Ray Mason Band.

Ray Mason was born in Holyoke in 1950, and he spent his first twenty years there. He was living in a housing project right next to the Sears store where he would constantly look at the guitars. Finally, his grandmother presented him his first Silvertone for 8th grade graduation. That was 1964. By '65 he'd started his first band, but he'd still never seen a live show. In '66, too young to get in, he huddled in the pitch-black alley behind a bar called the Beachcomber trying to hear snatches of Barry & the Remains. "We were waiting for them to open the back door, and the sound would just kind of shoot out." He actually got close enough to the Rockin' Ramrods once to pick up some fashion tips. "Not only did these guys sound great, they smelled great. They all reeked of English Leather. We all had to go out and get English Leather. I'm sure if I ever cracked open a bottle it would take me right back."

Ray’s band consists of Stephen Desaulniers (ex-Scud Mt. Boy) on bass & backing vocals, Frank Marsh on drums & backing vocals, and Tom Shea (another ex-Scud Mt. Boy) on second guitar and backing vocals

The group, fronted by Ray and his road-worn Silvertone electric guitar, has been tirelessly touring and shaking awake jaded audiences since 1982. I've seen it happen! There's something about Ray's quirky yet catchy way with a verse and chorus, the raw yet lush pop sound of the band, the honest rock-and-roll energy the guys throw at their instruments – crowds form, people dance, fans are born, word gets around.

Ray's like a teenager with thirty-plus years of rock-and-roll experience. He plays hundreds of shows each year -- as he has for decades now – but you'll never see him go through the motions. It's no wonder: thanks to all his songs' lyrical hooks and catchy melodies, he's constantly being recharged by the music.