By 1978 Strange Blend had folded and after leaving Country Fever (who went on to become Wishbone in late 1991 when John Derek retired), Ray joined The Muskrats a five-piece Country rock band. The band featured five singers with good vocal harmonies. The line-up was Vic Jones (vocals and acoustic guitar), John Smith (vocals, lead guitar and acoustic guitar), Derek Twig Minton (vocals and bass), Ray Kedge (vocals, pedal steel guitar and dobro) and Jeff Vanweenan (vocals and drums). The band had already released four albums by the time Ray joined. Their fifth and final album Insight was released in 1978 – they also released a single in 1981 called Half A Chance.
After leaving The Muskrats when they folded in 1984, Ray and Graham Walker joined Hickory Lake in the same year. Hickory Lake’s line up was Vic Woodhouse (vocals and rhythm guitar and member of the British Country Music Hall of Fame), Graham Walker (lead guitar), Lindsey St John (vocals and bass), Ray Kedge (vocals and pedal steel guitar and dobro) and Andy Richards (drum and vocals). Roger Brown later replaced Graham Walker and the band’s final lead guitarist was Colin Medlock. Their album (vinyl and cassette) The End Is Not In Sight was released in 1987. Ray left Hickory Lake in 1987 after the band had a bad crash on the M1.
Ray gave up working as a full time musician at this time and joined the Royal Mail but, although no longer playing full time he did join Badger, a semi-pro covers band. Over the years their gigs became more Country and eventually their name was changed to Nashville Sounds.
Ray has also played on a number of other Country albums including Firewater’s Brand New Vintage in 1986 and Campbell’s Country’s cassette album Cajun Explosion in 1988. He has also played with a number of visiting American Country singers, the most notable being the 1989 Billie Jo Spears tour with Hank Thompson. Ray was the only British musician on the tour – Billie Jo brought her own band apart from her steel player Terry Bethel who was tied up doing studio work so Ray got the gig. He also toured with Nat Stucky, David Houston, Billy Walker, Freddy Fender, Tex Williams, Barbara Fairchild, Margo Smith and Vernon Oxford. He was also a member of Lonnie Donegan’s band for a while. Lonnie came to a Muskrats gig and asked guitarist John Smith and Ray to join for a tour.
Ray retired from the Post Office in 2007 and formed Nashville Rose with his son Steve and Steve’s girlfriend Rachel Thomason. When Steve and Rachel split up in 2012 Nashville Rose became Stonecold Country duo who are still going strong today. Badger are also still together as a covers band working mainly in social clubs but they occasionally still get Country gigs. For these, Ray and Steve join them and the go out as Nashville Sounds.
In 2016 Steve Kedge won Musician of the Year in the inaugural CCN awards. He has been nominated in the same category every year since.
Research by Nick Catford.
Stonecold Country are a father and son duo, Ray and Steve Kedge. Ray has had a lifetime in Country music, joining his first Country Band, Strange Blend, in 1971. The line-up was Ray Kedge (vocals, pedal steel guitar, electric and acoustic guitar, banjo and dobro), Sam Thomas (bass guitar and vocals), Byron Giles (lead guitar and vocals) and Mel Jones (drums). Prior to forming Strange Blend, Ray didn’t play any instruments well and it was suggested that he should learn pedal steel guitar which he did. He is completely self taught but has never read music. Strange Blend were a Country rock band playing in the style of the Eagles and Poco. They released an album, Up Against The Wall in 1976.
John Derek (of Country Fever and member of the British Country Music Hall of Fame) said of the band: ‘Their extensive talents both vocal and instrumental, together with a good sense of humour and personality, ensure their position amongst the top Country bands both in Britain and on the Continent.’
While still a member of Strange Blend, Ray later joined Country Fever and played with them between 1975 and 1978. The line-up was John Derek (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Graham Walker (lead guitar), Rod Clark (bass) and Malcolm Hammerston (drums).