Remembering Ray Prestegard

I first met Ray Prestegard in 2016. I was outside of the Rosburg store and Ray was driving by. He stopped his car and introduced himself, then told me about watching a recent TV performance I did. The Skamokawa Grange was reorganizing at the time, and I urged Ray to attend an upcoming meeting. We chatted a little more and the encounter was over.

Ray showed up at the meeting. There was some social time after. I had brought my accordion and Erik Friend happened to bring a mandolin. Erik showed me a chord progression he wrote. I had happened to have a melody I was playing with at the time and it worked quite well with Erik's part. People were interested in the impromptu jam, but the hour was getting late. There was an idea for a proper session at the Grange and the word was put out regarding the jam.

Jillian Raye, Erik, Ray and myself were the only musicians to show up on that day. Erik played drums, I was on bass and accordion, and Jillian played banjo and sang. Ray played guitar and harmonica. We had no idea, but this turned out to be the day we started Giants in the Trees. We wrote the song "Sasquatch" in the first two hours of this new connection. There was a certain chemistry. Ray was an essential part of this musical connection.

Ray was one of the best musicians with whom I had ever played. The man was talented. He knew how to fit the right notes in. I learned quickly to listen to the off-hand guitar riffs and licks Ray would emote between songs at band rehearsal. There were some real gems that turned into whole songs. He was channeling something. Ray was versatile. He could play acoustic and electric guitar with equal virtuosity. He could bust out a mean slide to this instrument.

Bob Pyle and I were also writing Butterfly Launches from Spar Pole. This is an Art Music project based on spoken word exploring natural science. Ray brought his chops into this project and it makes a difference. There is one Spar Pole piece titled "Ceremony." It's about how we deal with losing a loved one. Ray contributed some violin which set the musical tone. On another number, "Swallows," he added mandocello and, again, set the musical mood. Ray knew how to conjure the moment through a musical instrument.

Ray wrote the Giants in the Trees song "Moving Targets." His lyrics say, "I'll keep on moving, I'll never stand still. I'll keep on moving, because moving targets are harder to kill."

As I remember my time with Ray, I can see what music had to offer him. It seemed like Ray was searching for a safe space. He was carrying some kind of psychic burden, and the beauty of the music he created must have provided protection. It's as simple as turning dark into light. Ray was a musician who really shined.