RAY KAINZ

Ray Kainz landed on Earth at Walther Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was extremely young at the time.

He grew quickly. Too quickly, in fact. Now none of his clothes fit. This has caused a great deal of frustration, so Ray copes the only way he knows how: by making music in this strange upside-down world… while wearing extremely tight pants.

Ray Kainz is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, performer, singer, songwriter, tone connoisseur, and unapologetic gear head currently based in Austin, Texas.

He describes his original music as smart progressive pop—hook-driven songs wrapped in adventurous arrangements, usually featuring plenty of tasty guitar licks and tones that would make a tube amp blush.

Ray studied instrumental performance and music composition at Columbia College Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. Since then he has produced music for TV and radio commercials, worn eyeliner and snarled at audiences across the United States, sculpted a heroic pompadour while rocking crowds in multiple hemispheres, and eventually—like many musicians who survive long enough—transitioned into trucker hats.

These days Ray performs with Brodie Lane, whose recent singles landed in the Top 5 and earned the 2025 Texas Regional Radio Music Award for New Band of the Year. He also performs with Love & Chaos, winners of the 2023 Texas Regional Radio Music Award for New Duo/Group/Band of the Year, who scored #1 hits on the Texas Regional Radio Chart with “Wildflower” and “Come Back to Bed.”

When he’s not performing, recording, or chasing the perfect guitar tone, Ray teaches privately and online.

More guitar adventures await at RayPlaysGuitar.com.