Raymond was born in San Francisco, CA.
He grew up in a musical family. One
of his earliest mentors was his grandfather, Lorenzo Calica, who played
saxophone, flute, and violin and toured in a Jazz big band called “The Manila
Serenaders” in the 1930’s. Raymond’s
father (Ray Sr.-Ka Ehu Kai member) was also a big influence in his musical
training. Ray Sr. sang and played
saxophone in several Bay Area R&B bands during the late sixties and
seventies. “I remember going to my dad’s practices and falling asleep behind
the drum set,” Raymond recalls. He
took up the trumpet in the Fifth grade and played for his middle school band.
The band teacher quit and a choir director came in and recognized
Raymond’s voice. In the seventh
grade, he auditioned for the San Francisco Boy Chorus and sang first soprano
with them shortly (puberty kicked in and he became a bass). Raymond continued to
sing in high school and also played trombone in the symphonic and jazz band.
He also started dancing with Spirit of Polynesia (a Polynesian dance
company) at this time. Raymond
received a classical vocal scholarship for San Jose State University and
graduated with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Improvised Music Studies (voice). In college, Raymond danced, sang, and competed with Hula
Halau O’ Ku’uleinani of San Mateo. Shortly
after college, he joined Ka Ehu Kai in 1997 and has become an important
contributor to the band’s unique sound. “We
all share the love of music and want to share our God given talents with the
public.”
