Colin Fox… Sorry to hear that. I had some great nights with Ray in Harry R and the Jump jets at the De La Warr Pavilion, some private gigs and studio recordings with Johnny Mars.
Lloyd Johnson… So sorry to heard this he played at The Big Beat Reunion with Cliff Bennet and The Talismen…..
Stuart Moir… That is sad, I knew Ray for many years and had the pleasure of performing with him in the band Harry R and the Jump jets, many wonderful memories of our De la Warr debut gig, always thought we could have put that line up on the road .
Tich Turner… Oh boy, this is terrible news. Ray was a big help to me and many other Hastings musicians in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I’ve been back in touch with him over the past year or so, and he’s been sounding full of life, with lots of projects on the go, typical Ray in fact. So this news is a big shock, he was such a big help, keeping my spirits up when I went through Prostate Cancer last year. A wonderful musician, a very sad loss.
Alan Esdaile… Shocking news. He was very supportive and helpful when I started the shop and remember many happy times seeing him at The Chatsworth. He helped many musicians locally. Very sad.
Colin Bell… Very sad news, a great musician, it was just a year ago this week i was reviewing his 3CD anthology in these very pages. RIP Ray.
Dave Nattress… Very shocked to hear this. Ray was very well known and liked. Used to rub shoulders in the Continental Club in Bexhill many years ago. Often in there. Saw him play many times in various line-ups in many places. R.I.P Ray.
Harry Randall… Very sad news! Fond memories of him in Hastings, Condolences to all concerned. RIP
Tim Moose Bruce… Wayne Elliot, Terry Pack, Remembering you guys and Ray with Johnny Mars. R.I.P. Ray.
John Wilde… Oh my word, sincere condolences to Rays family. He will be sorely missed.
Kurt Helge… Rip, great with Spencer Davis Group and Ian Gillan Band
John Gale… Very sad news
Johnny Mars… I am still finding this sad news hard to take it in, I don’t know what to do, we lost a great friend. The Johnny Mars band, the Mars Fenwick band was great, we recorded and played so great music gigs. I am lost at the moment. Lots of love to my friend
Catherine Ireland… Dear Johnny I think we are all in a state of shock I don’t know how to process this news. It’s so sad , we had some great times hope you are ok lots of love Cathy xxx
Chris Cozens… Sending love to you all. X
Terry Pack… Yes, indeed, Tim. It has been a difficult day for me. A lot of great memories and great friendships made. RIP old friend. 43 years of music making and all the shenanigans that go along with that. Gigs and recordings with a fantastic variety of artists. I feel very lucky to have met Ray all those years ago and to have shared so many stages and studios with him.
Stuart Moir… I had the pleasure of performing alongside Ray in the rock and roll band Harry R and the jump jets .I remember the gigs you did with Ray at the Chatsworth Johnny and as a part of an appreciative audience they will stay in my memory for ever RIP Ray you will be sadly missed
Colin Winn… R.I.P. Ray Fenwick. Supported you at The Chatsworth one time. Seen/watched on other occasions . . . A sad loss.
Andy Caine… Such shocking, sad news! He was such an inspiration. When he moved to Hastings, he helped so many of us get started in music, getting us to play on sessions, playing with him in Jim Jim and the Jim’s. I probably wouldn’t have had a career in music were it not for Ray. R.I.P. so many great memories. Xx
Trevor Spears… Sad to hear this,RIP Ray!
Paul Huggett… Used to play in Hastings quite a bit didn’t he?
Robert Searle… RIP Ray Fenwick Great guitarist, did three recordings with him, with Paul Freeman and Rev Stockdale, Nice guy
Chris Howard… Wonderful Times with Ray singing at The Hops, great musician R.I.P Show them how to Rock upstairs It was so good to know you.
Stuart Moir… He was one of the best mate so sad he’s gone
Catherine Ireland… So very sad to hear of Ray’s death. He was a very large part of my life, and Adam and Verity’s. RIP Ray x
Ken Copsey… I only spoke to Ray about two weeks ago and had been in contact with him quite regularly about doing a Teenbeats compilation in conjunction with Eddie Piller. Ray had so many amazing stories about his life in music, from recording with Joe Meek to having the drum break from a Fancy track being sampled by NWA. Without Ray getting the Teenbeats in the studio to record I Can’t Control Myself and getting it released on Safari we would not have had the success that we did. I only talked today with Tommy about going to visit him. On behalf the Teenbeats I would like to send my condolences to his family and loved ones.
Andy Qunta… So sad to hear this. He was so helpful to many of us musicians, and a great guy. RIP.
Reid McDuffie… Ahhh, no. Very sad news. Legend.
Terry Pack… The news of Ray’s passing has really clobbered me. I hadn’t seen him for a while but was half expecting the familiar greeting ‘Hello, Tel. Are you free on the xth of Y?’ and the offer of a gig or a session. He was always busy, always looking forward to the next thing. We had more ding dogs than the Bells of St Clement’s, but we also great friends and made each other laugh a lot. Life was never dull with our friend, Ray, and I’m sad beyond words that he has gone.
Chris Cozens… Finishing up a job yesterday, as a freelancer you’re always meeting new people and the chat invariably turns to what you had done previously. I was chatting to Steve whom I’d met this visit and Ray was part of the conversation along with all the opportunities he afforded me. I’ll be forever grateful for the pivotal role he played in my life and career over nearly 4 decades
Pete Prescott… I’m having a hard time with this. I Can’t believe it. Heartbroken. We had been talking regularly over the last year or two. He was the reason I got a publishing deal last year (like Tich it was with Cherry Red). I also got a record deal with them. A year or two too late… the cd market is dying so nothing is coming out. He was responsible for starting so many of us in music careers in Hastings in the 70’s. What he did for us and the impact he had was huge. He was short tempered and demanding sometimes. On a bad day a nightmare ! But in a good day it was thrilling. He had so many hilarious stories. He was brilliant company. He turned me on to Sammy Davis Jnr ! He took me to Bexhill sometimes to play snooker. He got me involved in Forcefield against the wishes several people including Cozy Powell. He was the only guitarist I’ve worked with who was into lyrics and loved singers. I can’t believe I’m not going to hear his voice again with more stories. I was trying to get him to write a book. We spoke the last time about how much weight we have put on in lockdown and what we’ve done in our gardens. I’ll miss him. I’ll miss the “Oh Man ! Oh and he was a fantastic guitarist !
Oliver Warburton… I am so sad to hear this. Ray was my guitar teacher, going back 22 years ago. As well as that, as a teenager, one of my real mentors and inspirations growing up. RIP Ray. They don’t make them like you anymore x
John Harper… What a shock. Very sad news. A loss of an amazing musician to the music world. Gigged with Ray many times in the past. First time back in very early 80’s when he augmented Tony & The Saints at Eastbourne Winter Gardens. We also backed Leapy Lee there at the time. He also did a ‘mini ‘ tour with us getting lost in the process! I had to guide him over the mobile phone to one of the venues! That was in the day before Sat Nav! He was also very helpful to me with gear advice. I’m still struggling to the news of his passing. Condolences to his family.
Pete Prescott… We must all have some memories of positive words from Ray in the studio… and some that are not ! Positive “Great man…Fucking great ! Less positive “Can’t you sing two fucking notes !” Less positive What’s all this “yeeeaah! Shit ?” Stop singing Yeeeah all the the time…its fucking boring !” Less positive “Memory man !!!” Less positive “Just go… I’ll get something else to do it !”
Jacquie Hinves… Pete, So Ray!!
Colin Fox… Tribute to Ray Fenwick by Phil Aston Now Spinning Magazine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7jGAC1MTP0&t=77s
Stuart Moir… Well done for finding that Col’ it was a great listen and appreciation of a top guitarist who was a close associate in the Hastings music scene .
Jane Dorsett… Very sad news to hear about Ray, I knew him from The Continental Bexhill, when I moved to Spalding, I found out Ray lived there too. I asked him if he would play at my mother’s 90 birthday, as she knew him from the Continental where she worked, he said yes, we all had a great evening, Great guitarist. RIP Ray.
Iain Cobby… so sorry to hear of Rays demise. A great influence on the music of this town , he really lived the rock live. Farwell the man with big hair! and the sound of my youth Magpie!! RIP
