Ray Harris is founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Living Legends Foundation. He brought his idea of creating a Foundation to Jerry Boulding and the rest is history. Ray was a rare executive of color in the early ‘80s to have total responsibility for a Black Music Division when he was named Vice President Black Music at RCA in NYC from 1980-1982. He had total budget responsibility for his division, which included A&R, Promotion, Marketing, Sales, Publicity and overall administration.
Ray left RCA and relocated to LA to accept a position as President of Solar Records. His illustrious career includes consultant to Avant Garde Management, Vice President of Black Music Promotion for Warner Bros. Records, Senior Vice President of Black Music and Jazz Marketing & Promotion for Warner and Reprise Records and Senior Vice President Black Music at Epic Records.
Ray has won every major industry award given including induction into the BELSA (Black Entertainment And Sports Lawyers Association) Hall Of Fame and was by honored by his native Harlem, NY by receiving the Adam Clayton Powell Award by the Adam Clayton Powell Foundation. He was awarded the Impact Music Publication’s “Record Executive of The Year Award” for a record breaking 5 consecutive years from 1990-94. The award was later renamed the “Ray Harris Award” for deserving executives.
Ray’s motto is “Each one Teach one” and he continues to do that to this day. He is always open to sharing his knowledge and experience and many executives and artists have benefited from his mentorship. The Foundation is eternally grateful to Ray for his vision and his leadership.
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