Bwana Ray
My Semi-True Story
Home Port | Semi-True Stories | Gigs | Six String Music | Contact Bwana Ray / Booking / Links | Scrapbook

Believe it or not....
 
Ray and 'Jolly-Mon' Jerry Buckner were working the membership and merchandise tables one night at a Panama City Parrot Head Club Meeting.  Ray was telling Jerry about the legendary Annual Borel's Banana Republic Bash that he and his wife, Karen, used to host while living in Atlanta. Ray and a few friends (under the guise of the 'Banana Republicans') used to play Jimmy Buffett music while about 50-70 of their closest friends drank Margaritas and sang along.  Ray mentioned to Jerry that he'd like to find a lead guitar player and start playing Buffett music, mostly for fun, and to entertain the Panama City PHC members.  Jerry said he played lead, but hadn't played in a few years.  To make a long story short, Jerry dusted off the old guitars and he and Ray started playing together. Things soon began to come together and Karen was added to sing backup vocals. A few months later they were asked to play their first gig - the Panama City PHC February 2006 Phlocking.  The band held a 'name-the-band' contest among the Panama City PHC members and the 'Dockside Junkies' were born. Jerry moved to Virginia in August 2007, and we will miss him dearly.  Bwana Ray is now playing solo acoustic gigs, with a little help now and then from Conky-Tonk Karen and other occasional guests.

docksidejunkies2.jpg
Dockside Junkies: Jerry Buckner, Karen Borel, Ray Borel

BIO

Ray.jpg

"Bwana" Ray Borel  Acoustic Guitar / Lead Vocals

Hometown: St. Martinville, LA (Cajun Country)

Started playing guitar around age 15 (self-taught).

Musical Influences: Jimmy Buffett (well, duuuhh !?!?), James Taylor, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Eagles, Boston, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx (pre-'Mr. Roboto'), Van Halen (the 'David Lee Roth' days), the original Atchafalaya and numerous other Cajun artists

Remembers hearing old Buffett songs on the radio (Wino and I Know, Come Monday, Margaritaville, Changes in Latitudes) early on, but first Buffett album purchased was 'Somewhere Over China' (1981). Fell in love with it and quickly went back and bought all of the old albums and have kept up buying new ones on release ever since.

Ray plays a Yamaha Compass CPX-15 Electric-Acoustic Guitar

Karen.jpg

"Conky-Tonk" Karen Borel  Background Vocals

Hometown: Port St. Joe, FL

Karen occasionally helps Ray out with background vocals.

.

Bwana Ray - Panama City's Buffett Man
Panama City, Florida