A Rey of Light and Sound

Singer/Musician Susan Rey


By Michelle Snyder Signal Entertainment Writer
ESCAPE, THE SIGNAL, Friday, June 23, 2000

Saugus resident Susan Rey has performed at Carnegie Hall and is working on her first solo CD project.

The old adage, "freaks come out at night" never rang truer in Santa Clarita last Saturday night, when more than 100 hurly-burly folks packed Doc’s Inn to see Susan Rey and "The Kick Ass Band" perform a classic rock and roll set, and er... charm the pants off at least one attendee.

Rey, a Saugus resident and a versatile singer for two other local bands that perform regularly in Santa Clarita, as well as a recent performer at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall said that particular night was an example of another classic motto, "sex, drugs and rock`n' roll."

"Welcome to the adult world!" Rey told the audience, as the daring events unfolded.

Fortunately enough, Doc's Inn was only privy to wild behavior until smashing good tunes were unleashed into the night. (But just enough spice to give Santa Clarita nightlife and one disastrously blind-sided reporter a run for their money.)

And who says nothing exciting ever happens in Santa Clarita?

During their three and a half hour set, Rey's "Kick Ass Band" (featuring local bassist Mark Bacon, and guitarist Steve Kara with Al Estiamba on drums) stirred the souls of party animals and old-timers alike, with a wide ranging repertoire from "After Midnight" by Pasty Cline to "Me and Bobby McGee" by Jams Joplin to a couple down-home Allman Bothers favorites.

But it was "Play that Funky Music" by "The Average White Band" that proved to be the evening's euphonious winner.

During that 1970s funkmaster serenade, a saucy woman and her wildebeest of a date sashayed "hither and other" across the dance floor.

Inspired of course, by the talented quartet and the fact that the woman - a nearly nude fatale - was clad only in a see-through blouse and short leather skirt, minus her feminine "Fruit of the Looms," (or anything else for that matter.)

This eye-popping spectacle takes our "bedroom community" to another level entirely.

But Rey and "The Kick Ass Band" did not seem fazed by the night's fevered antics. Apparently, neither did the energetic patrons who crowded the bar and stayed until the "last call," long after the lusty couple was ushered politely from the bar.

For the native Californian who has been a performer for more than 15 years, the couples' behavior was nothing new. Rey's dynamic voice - a salty eruption of tonal storm, and slowly weathered harmonies - is as confessional as the songs she sings.

The world-weariness of her vocals are especially evident in lyrics like "Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for the train/ I was feeling nearly faded as my jeans..." (Joplin). A rough tenderness shines through in `'Fleetwood Mac" greats like "Landslide" and "Go Your Own Way."

"I have been doing this for so long," Rey said. "It's become a real talent, I can adapt to almost any audience in any club, whether the listeners are young or old. It doesn't matter where I go."

One of the first things that Rey said she learned to do as a performer was to find a way to make her audience feel right at home in the music club or auditorium.

"I'm very personable. I always know the right songs to sing, or the right jokes to tell. But most of all I want to have a good time up there, so most likely the audience will have one too," she said.

Rey also makes it her business to be as widely versed in different music genres as the audience for whom she performs. She said she has been likened to other musicians, people like Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks, but it is her own talent that has helped her develop a solid fan base right here in Santa Clarita.

"Don't get me wrong, it's great to be compared those great musicians. A real ego booster. But I think the trick to maintaining staying power is honing in on your craft and making it yours. New musicians don't really have their own flavor when they begin, but as you progress you start developing your own style," Rey said.

One of the ways that Rey helps differentiate herself from the rest, is by separating her musical tastes into three different bands with three different kinds of musical stylings and band members.

"I've really done my homework when it comes to this. I really narrowed down what I like to sing, but at the same time I've allowed an openness, a certain versatility," she said.

When Rey started playing the Santa Clarita nightclub circuit more than seven years ago, she said she had a difficult time finding her musical niche.

"If you can imagine, there was even less of a nightlife then there is now," she said. But now Rey said she is able to recognize faces in the smoky crowds that gather to hear her play at the various Santa Clarita nightclubs and bars she frequents.

In order to garner such a growing fan base, Rey said she had to hand pick band members who were "only the best." Some of her band members include Michael Keeley, a former member of "Three Dog Night" and Nick Smith, a former member of "The Tonight Show Band." Now she has a rapidly growing mailing fist of more than 250 people in the Santa Clarita Valley.

But even before Rey selected her bandmates, she had to do the things the old‑fashioned way, one step at a time.

"One of the weirdest places .l have played was outside the old "Sugar Babies Donuts" on Sierra Highway. I was 25 years old and had to perform solo, with cars whizzing by at top speed. Back then I only knew 20 or 30 songs," she said.

Times have sure changed for Susan Rey, who said the numbers of songs she knows now arc countless. Then, things really got better for Rey. In 1999, she performed with the San Diego Southwestern College Choir and a 30-piece orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

After attending a Spanish-fused show at a nightclub in Hollywood earlier that year, she befriended a Spanish singer named Mar Castro who shared Rey's passion for gypsy and flamenco music. Eventually, Rey was persuaded by her Latino companion to join the San Diego choir, and was convinced to audition for the choir.

"All the hard work was really worth it," she said

For four months straight, Rey endured a weekly three hour drive for a rehearsal that only lasted two hours.

"I was willing to go that extra mile," Rey said.

The Choir, led by Dr. Terry Russell, an acclaimed music professor from the University of Miami, helped Rey re-discover and cultivate her musical roots, which originated in a small church in Southern California.

"As a young girl, I sang in church and in glee clubs in school. Being in the Carnegie choir reminded me of the innocence and purity that music can have. I absolutely loved the whole experience."

1t was also a very spiritual experience for the enterprising singer.

"Can you imagine, 260 voices together in one space? It was enough to bring tears to my eyes. It's nothing like rock and roll," Rey said.

But Rey was determined to find a parallel between the two music styles.

Upon returning to California, Russell granted Susan permission to use the choir on her upcoming CD project, which boasts "a successful blend of rock and older, soulful rave-ups:"

"Now I'm concentrating on getting bigger and better," Rey said.

Her musician husband, Jay Dean helps keep her focused and ahead of the game. The day after her Saturday gig at Doc's Inn, Rey helped her husband get ready for a trip to Poland to tour with his band, "Romeo."

"He's a rock and roll animal, "she said Her husband, who has played gigs on the Royal Caribbean Princess Cruise liners, has helped Rey realize the importance of networking and experimenting with new styles.

That's why she sought out the professional expertise of musicians Hussain Jiffries, Flamenco artist Yussi, Joe Sample and Freebo.

The lyrics Rey sings on her upcoming CD are not for the faint of heart, but the way the songs are arranged will embrace the musical polarities that Rey holds dear. The CD is another side project of hers, performed with her other band, "Cheap Perfume."

"My lyrics are aggressive and raw, with exotic arrangements that compliment the emotional intensity," Rey said.

Before Santa Clarita, Rey spent three years singing on cruise ships with Princess and Norwegian cruises, traveling the world.

"I have had some very fantastic times, but it's good to be back," she said.

Rey is also very popular with the Country music scene, and has performed with Ronnie Mack

Barndance on numerous occasions, as well as with some of Los Angeles's finest performers such as Jerry Donahue of "The Hellecasters."

For more information on sessions, recordings and performances call Susan Rey at 661 295-3426 Phone or
661 713-2522 Cell Phone