Unleashing the Musical Journey of Tribe, King, and Ray Kwan Green: From Punk/Metal Enthusiasts to Celebrated Songwriters
Nov 01, 2023
Co-hosted by John Noblitt and Donna Green
Ever wondered how punk and metal enthusiasts morph into celebrated songwriters? Unleash the story behind the musical transformation of Tribe and King, and choir aficionado turned songwriter, Ray Kwan Green, in a festival they never dreamt of being part of. Discover their musical journey, from their roots to their current fame, and hear first-hand experiences of their struggles, victories, and the unforgettable experience of singing in an old church, which played a significant role in their success.
Want to carve a career in the music industry? Absorb practical advice from Tribe and King and Ray Kwan Green, learn about the hustle it takes to make it, and the power of never accepting "can't" as reality. Are you inspired by the sound of country music resonating within church walls? You're in for a treat as our guests share their gratitude for the success achieved and the power of grace in their lives. Hear their tales and tune into the rhythm of their journey, a testament to talent and perseverance that will inspire you to chase your dreams in the music industry.
You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org
Ever wondered how punk and metal enthusiasts morph into celebrated songwriters? Unleash the story behind the musical transformation of Tribe and King, and choir aficionado turned songwriter, Ray Kwan Green, in a festival they never dreamt of being part of. Discover their musical journey, from their roots to their current fame, and hear first-hand experiences of their struggles, victories, and the unforgettable experience of singing in an old church, which played a significant role in their success.
Want to carve a career in the music industry? Absorb practical advice from Tribe and King and Ray Kwan Green, learn about the hustle it takes to make it, and the power of never accepting "can't" as reality. Are you inspired by the sound of country music resonating within church walls? You're in for a treat as our guests share their gratitude for the success achieved and the power of grace in their lives. Hear their tales and tune into the rhythm of their journey, a testament to talent and perseverance that will inspire you to chase your dreams in the music industry.
You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org
Speaker 1:
Welcome back to the 266 Express coming to you from the old Bolivar station songwriter festival. We're very excited for our first annual having a great night. We're going into the late night hours. I'm John Knoplet here with my co-host, donna Green. Donna, what have we got?
Speaker 2:
We have two more of our songwriters that we're here inside our venues playing. So, gentlemen, would you like to introduce yourselves, sure?
Speaker 3:
I'm Tribe and King.
Speaker 4:
I'm Ray Kwan Green.
Speaker 2:
You got the best last name ever. That's pretty good.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it's a lot of greens. Yeah, I'll take the world over One day at a time. That really makes me nervous, donna, when you say it, it makes me nervous. So, fellas, how do you hear about the festival?
Speaker 3:
Well, I think I was on Instagram or Facebook or something and saw the ad come in and I just submitted to it, not thinking that I would have a chance. And then here we are.
Speaker 2:
Here we are.
Speaker 4:
For me it was on Facebook. I personally, I was just going through Facebook I think I was actually coming back from a gig back home in Louisiana and I was like I screen shot it and I was like I'm going to keep that in mind and I went back and I searched it up and I applied for it. I was like I haven't been to Texas in a while, you know, and so I was like, oh, give it a shot. And then I was it's good to think.
Speaker 2:
So are you the one that brought all this heat today?
Speaker 4:
I'm sorry, that wasn't my fault, that's mother nature, but I mean we've been swept back home to a man.
Speaker 2:
She's very mad. She's very mad today, yeah.
Speaker 4:
We've been. We've been having a hundred and fourteen hundred fifteen.
Speaker 2:
Okay.
Speaker 4:
As high humidity, as low as it hasn't been fun yeah.
Speaker 1:
I feel like everybody smells right in the house, so we're probably in good shape at this point. Shall we test it? No, I'm going to go get my box of my axe. It's an axe body Axe. Go get my axe. So tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Speaker 3:
I'll go first. So I'm actually a relatively local amount of Fort Worth and originally from the mountains of Pennsylvania but down here in Texas for maybe like 12 or 13 years. So I grew up actually with punk music and metal music and did that for a long time, Quit music for a while, and then when I moved down here I fell in love with like the songwriter Bob and the girl Soulful Music, fell in love with bands like David Ramirez, Sean McConnell and man. That's. That's why I do what I do now. I'm doing this really soulful soft singer, songwriter music.
Speaker 2:
Being from Pittsburgh, you're not a Stillers fan, are you I?
Speaker 3:
am.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so you can't.
Speaker 3:
Apparently, this interview is over.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, you can't come back next year, but it was nice to know you no, no, no, I think, I think I'll allow it.
Speaker 3:
I'll allow it. It used to be like a rivalry, not so much anymore.
Speaker 2:
He's the one.
Speaker 1:
Well, I just think that Cowboys can overcome Well challengers.
Speaker 2:
I'm from West Virginia, yeah, so let's start with the bingles.
Speaker 4:
Okay, yeah, okay, okay. And for me, first and foremost, I'm from a small town within Lafayette, paris, louisiana, called Caronkru, but the community I grew up in was called Vatican, so it's within Caronkru, but it's the same thing, same town, small town. And as far as music came, for me it was always been a thing I was interested in. I was in band and high school and college and just always had a hand in music. I always had an interest in church choir and so basically with me, just I opened up for Laney Wilson in January and I did all that stuff and I've done so much things so far and I'm very proud of it.
Speaker 4:
But what it all boils down to me, no matter the success I'm growing and getting, is why I do it and it's to show that because you may be different doesn't mean you can't do it. And I enjoy songwriting. I've written songs. I have probably like 40 or 50 songs that I've written and probably going to put them out of, probably pitch them. But a little bit about me in particular. I just like making good music and I feel like good music is important and if we don't have it, then there's nothing to live for, I guess.
Speaker 1:
That's good.
Speaker 4:
And also used to be a harsh trainer, stuff like that. So I used to be a cowboy. I'm retired right now, temporarily.
Speaker 1:
You can never retire right, Right.
Speaker 4:
Right, I'm still getting phone calls on my phone, like I get calls pretty much every week. Hey man, you want to come back and train for us? We got a bunch of coats, we needed a break and you could train them. I'm like I'm kind of retired. I don't know if I want to do that right now. I'm trying to kind of focus on music. I want to not get hurt, at least for that right now.
Speaker 1:
That's for real. So when did you determine that songwriting was your craft?
Speaker 3:
Gee man, that's a hard one. I haven't played music since I was like 12. But again, different genres. I grew up in like punk and metal, but I just always loved music. My dad was a bass player, a great bass player. He's the one that taught me how to play guitar. And, uh, man, when I just, I guess when I was like 13, I just started writing songs. They weren't good, but they were songs.
Speaker 3:
Go start somewhere and uh, yeah, but I kind of think what I was saying before when I switched genres from like punk and metal to a singer-songwriter.
Speaker 3:
I was probably only four or five years ago and be kind of honing that craft and it was only two years ago where I really felt like it was any good. I think everything up until that point was just practice. Then two years ago I wrote a song called the Tide and I just released that actually a couple of weeks ago Like this is the first song that I wrote. That I didn't think sucked and from that point it's just been slow growth from there.
Speaker 2:
Wonderful. How about you?
Speaker 4:
Well songwriting. So I had my very first management company that I got with that discovered me and sorts of stuff like that. I wasn't much of a songwriter. I had ideas. I had maybe a song or a tune that I'd written and I was like, if I ever get the chance to record it, I would want to record this. But the moment where I knew that my songs and what I'm capable of recording was worth something and that it mattered was Three instances for me was when I opened Philaniel Wilson in January this year and I played all originals except for one cover that had the access to play one cover and everybody was screaming and it was crazy.
Speaker 4:
It was crazy for me. It was honestly made me cry because it was like something that you it's always personal, you know, when you're something that you sit down and write, you're always like, oh my God, and I saw him for my best friend, the fortune he passed away two years ago, but I wrote one for him and people just love it when I play. I barely played because it's more personal. I played it tonight just a few minutes ago. People loved it, it's great. So I pull it out when I feel like I want to pull it out.
Speaker 4:
And one song I wrote you Look Good in Neon. I wrote that a few months ago probably longer than that, almost a year ago which I played in January as well, and I didn't play it. Tonight A friend of mine from Louisiana is here and she was mad I didn't play it. So sorry, nicky, I apologize, but that's been a successful song for me back home in Louisiana it's kind of a staple. They played at the local night clubs and the local saloons and bars, and dance also is pretty cool. But the decision to be a songwriter was always I want to sing the songs that matter to me and I have a connection to, and so far, for me personally, I've written them. I know what they mean, so it's easy for me to not only be an artist but be a songwriter too. Sorry, I'm not trying to take it. Everybody's down.
Speaker 1:
No, that's what we're here for. We're here for you. Music we've said this a few times, or I've said it a few times tonight Music is something that people connect with on an emotional level, and so, for singer, part of community is that. I mean, a community is not just a physical thing. There's a lot of emotions and a lot of connections that go on to make a community whole. So, just like with what we do on a daily basis, we look at other cities and other towns and I know Donna looks at what other communities are doing when we're looking for events and things to do. So we have a lot of outside influences that help us shape what we do. What about your influences?
Speaker 3:
My influence, yeah, ok. So what influences me? Probably the most? So I'm not a Christian artist, I'm not like in that genre, but personally I'm definitely a believer and a lot of my songs come from the inspiration is about faith. So you wouldn't really know it if you weren't a believer. You'd hear the song and you'd have no idea. If you really read the lyrics, you've got to see where that's at. If that's not the inspiration, then it's going to be my family, my wife, my kids. That's where the biggest inspiration comes Faith, family, kids, things like that, and just basically just wanting every song to be a glimmer of hope. I write a lot about how horrible a person I used to be, where I am now, where the hope is now, but, by the way, what y'all did is this is awesome, by the way y'all killed, y'all crushed it.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, this is really cool. Thank you very much. Thank God for doing this, by the way.
Speaker 1:
Oh, we're super excited, we're super excited and so great.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I'm talking about 12 years down the road. You know how big it's going to be. And he's like just slow down, We'll get there once the time as long as you're going to keep inviting us back.
Speaker 4:
I think we'll keep coming.
Speaker 4:
Absolutely, it's been a minute since I had a chance to just travel, even though I'm sorry. But as far as inspiration for me, I mean that's a loaded question, always been a loaded question for me, because I'm inspired by just real country music and guys like Merle Conway, george Streets, my idol. I want to meet that man so bad. I got a chance to meet one of the guys I look up to and that was Cody Johnson. I met him. He played in Lafayette, louisiana, at the Ketchum Dome and I met him, I shook his hand and he was just like In my head. I was like I have to just eventually reach what he's reached. So I could sit there and just pick his brain and know, you know, and just compare notes and what went on in our careers.
Speaker 4:
And one thing he told me was good luck. And then it's fireman, it's like, you know, because to see somebody look up to who's a hero to me, one of my heroes, say good luck, is that influenced me. It's like keep going, you know, keep chasing it. And I'm chasing a dream that hopefully one day I'll catch. And when I do catch it, hopefully I'll be able to say you know, I played at a songwriter's festival, the first annual. Well, the first ever right First first one in San Diego, texas. And I, and now look at me, now you know, and I come back every year to come play a show.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, we'd like that, absolutely yes, I got that. I got that recorded, just saying.
Speaker 4:
You have all behalf of my email, my phone number. Keep calling me, I'll come. I mean, I don't mind, I mean some friends of mine one's right there videoing me right now. She, she's from, she's from, uh, Apollousa, Louisiana, and she, uh. So we literally all decided to make this a road trip just to have fun. And I was like, well, I got to work still. You know, I still got to work to do.
Speaker 1:
I got a job, got a job, and I've been doing that all day.
Speaker 4:
We're like, as far as influences I'm going to keep it short, I don't want to, you know, keep hogging the microphone but influences, just I'm influenced by the greats of country music from the 70s, 80s and 90s and I just want to keep making something that's real and people can't understand. Everybody's had the heartbroken, everybody's had somebody that they miss, and I just want to write something. If you connect to Sorry, I'm getting off my soapbox. No, you're not Right, you're gonna stay on your soapbox, that's fine.
Speaker 2:
So I want all questions. I just have to know so did you actually get to meet Lainey Wilson?
Speaker 4:
Yeah, so funny enough, that show that I played with her I played with Lainey Wilson, jackson Dean and Dylan Carmichael all three artists that I enjoy listening to, and it was this little private show, yet to win tickets, or try to like submit for tickets, something like that.
Speaker 4:
And so it was like 400 people, real small downtown Lafayette, louisiana, and I sat right across from her and all my friends that were playing because there's a bunch of other local. There's two other local artists in the area and they're all talking to her and I'm just sitting there patiently waiting just to say hi and I remember saying hello, miss Wilson, it's an honor to meet you, and the first thing I said and ironically, and I don't know why I said it, I shouldn't obviously do it I said if there's ever a need for another black cowboy on Yellowstone, please Touching. So, by the way, taylor Sheridan or Kevin Costner, if you're watching this break, juan Green music at gmailcom, just email me, I can use some acting experience. Kevin Costner my big fan, by the way. So yeah, he's one of my favorite actors always. Hey him, tom Hanks and Denzel Washington and Samuel Jackson and Edd Merffin.
Speaker 3:
And they're listening right now.
Speaker 1:
I think we all agreed we would all take a shot at that. Yeah they're listening and Cole and I said the same thing to her, by the way Funny story.
Speaker 3:
when I met her, I said the same thing.
Speaker 2:
You got to meet Lainey Wilson as well. No, I didn't oh.
Speaker 1:
So OK, so songwriting, music in general. I laugh because I'm an old bass player myself. I actually heard the story today. It was a different reason for some ever heard the story. You know. The bass player passed away and the whole band broke up. I've never heard of him break it up because of the bass player, so that gave me hope. But so when you look at the hustle that it takes to really survive as a songwriter, a singer songwriter, what advice would you give other singer songwriters that are pursuing that Great?
Speaker 3:
Well, I mean definitely I haven't made it yet. You know I'm still working and growing. But music is very subjective and what somebody might hate, another person looks and you're going to get going to do good gigs. You're going to do bad gigs. You're going to have people say your music sucks, but other people say it's the greatest thing in the world. You know it's good, just keep, just keep going at it. You know, just keep grinding. You got to put the work in. You got to put the time in. You know, every once in a while some people get famous overnight, but realistically, the rest of us. It doesn't work like that. You just got to keep working. Just do the grind and don't let what other people tell you have too much value. Unless it's good, then hold on to that.
Speaker 4:
And I'm the same way. You know I've had people that Even back home that are maybe not national big but statewide big and and and I'm like man, you know that's kind of aggravating it's. You know, I'm I'm barely packing bars and I'm barely packing nightclubs. You know I'm taking a loss and they're making, you know, big bucks. You know bigger bucks in Louisiana because you make, you can make a lot of money playing music in Louisiana, but it's, it's always Good to know, good to know. It's like gotta be zyna, but what was that was out of? Coca-cajun music always will reign supreme. Louisiana. I'm sorry, I'm gonna just be blunt. If you got outcourt in, you'll make money. If you play country music, you gonna have to work your ass off. I could curse on here.
Speaker 1:
I'm sorry, yeah, you're fine.
Speaker 4:
I'm not. I'm a limit myself because I got a pot in my mom. If you're watching this, your child has a pot in my. Excuse me, but um, as far as what was the question, again, I'll just lost my train of thought.
Speaker 2:
What advice oh?
Speaker 4:
what advice.
Speaker 4:
Okay, sorry, sorry excuse me, yes, so of course I'm known I haven't made it yet and some people may say I have or haven't, but it depends, I'm like this the day I do make it. The one thing I'd probably say to him, whether it's a 50, 60 year old person, 80 year old person or a five year old Never let somebody tell you you can't do it. I've had a, I have back problems, I have a bunch of injuries that I was born with in all type of conditions and stuff like that when a doctor said you can't do this, you can't do this, you will never be able to do this. You know be able to do this. And I told him I will and I have a personality where I'll prove you wrong. You see, I can't do something. I'm gonna prove you wrong, just to say I did it and now let. That's negative kind of. But Never say can't or never accept can't as a reality.
Speaker 4:
And it's hard for me sometimes. I'm pretty sure you experience it too. We're like man, it's never gonna work, like you're downing yourself a lot. Yes, it's really easy to get downing. Somebody told me this a few months ago. I was playing in banders, louisiana, at a Hall and he said in the music business, the highs are not high enough and the lows are always lower and lower and lower. Yeah, it's never good enough. When you get to the high, it's never good enough. I'm pretty sure guard brooks Wish it could be bigger than you know. Guard brooks wants to be bigger and bigger and bigger, but it's never enough. But them lows get lower. But it's in the lows that you realize why you're doing it, and so just never accept can't and keep trying and keep trying, because eventually you'll catch it. Eventually you will Sorry again.
Speaker 1:
No, you guys are awesome. I'll tell you what. We couldn't do it without you and we are so happy that came out to Sanger and it's just spent your time with us. We hope. We hope to see you again for years to come. Donna knows how to get with you guys.
Speaker 2:
Yes.
Speaker 3:
How would other people find you? So you can find me at all your all the social media Facebook, instagram, tick, tock, drive and king all one word. You'd also listen to all my music on Spotify and Apple music and amazon youtube you name it, it's out there Would be absolutely honored if you would listen and follow Every single person that listens. It still blows my mind that anybody would want to give me A minute of their day to listen to myself. So definitely, greatly appreciate it. Drive and king.
Speaker 4:
Thank you.
Speaker 4:
And for me. I mean, I'm sorry, I got a complicated name so I have to spell this out, but if you would like to see me on social media or find me on social media, excuse me, it'll be r a I k w o m g r e e n music. If you just go and search it, you should pop up. If you go to facebook, just go to the page section when you search, and you'll find it. And if you just type in r a I k w o m green so ray quant green on any streaming platform from music, you'll be able to find me. It's it. I'm the only black guy in a cowboy hat and when you search me up. So it should be fun, it should be pretty easy.
Speaker 2:
Yes, racha, he shows up.
Speaker 4:
Well, I mean, there isn't where I'm no friends there. If you know, if you listen to this there's I love you to death. I'm just being. I never saw him in a cowboy hat. I think I'm the only one there was a cowboy hat, at least Am.
Speaker 2:
I Do. You know, cafe Anderson. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, but, but. But coffee's on a different level and then coffee's more successful. You know who coffee Anderson is and I would love to coffee If you listen to this. I want to meet you this is my song.
Speaker 1:
These people are listening to this. That's funny.
Speaker 3:
I got to say one thing and then I'll let you all do things. So my keys player, his name's Kwan. We'll do like three hours set sometimes and I play a various rocker wagon wheel or his version of it. And he didn't realize it was a black man that sang that song. And then he come back like a week later after we played. He's like I didn't know, it's a black man. And then now he likes that song.
Speaker 4:
So, believe it or not, but he doesn't wear cowboy hats, so so, believe it or not, the two songs. Back home I get all his acts to sing and I've kind of gotten forced to learn them because I was like I'm not going to learn it, I'm not going to do it, these two songs, it's not going to happen, because I've heard them so much and every band back home plays them Wagon wheel, wagon wheel and Tennessee whiskey.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 4:
You got to play them, they're awesome songs. And so now in my band set list we pull it out from time to time and wagon wheel I play by myself. I play a lot of acoustic stuff too, and so I pull it out. But it's always hilarious and it just makes me laugh. It's like you got forced to play two songs that you said you would never play, Just because and I listen to them, they're on my playlist, I listen to them. It's just like give the people what they want.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 4:
Sometimes you got to suck it up.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and they'll keep coming back.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, exactly. And if I hate doings, I'm sorry. I'm always. I'm the person where, even if I hate it, I'm a stupid dude because if y'all love it, you're going to love me at the end of the day, right? And if I ever make it big and I'm successful, I'm on the level of George Shrittis of. I will always remember in my heart the fans made me. Yeah, I guess I worked my ass off to make me, but the fans are the reason why I have the nice house, the buses, the big celebrity status. It's them. Yeah, and hope I never lose sight of that, just praying to God. I never lose sight of that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, They'll remind you.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, yes, they definitely will.
Speaker 2:
They will definitely so well. Thank you guys so much for stopping by and visiting with us on the podcast. We really appreciate having you. Thank you so much for coming to Sanger making that trip. I really appreciate that. I'm glad you enjoyed it and we hope to see you back here next year.
Speaker 3:
Love to be back, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Enjoy the rest of your night, Listen, Bob let's back again.
Speaker 4:
I'm pretty sure I'll be back next year.
Speaker 2:
You better be back next year. I got you a number. I know where you live. I got your address.
Speaker 4:
Hopefully you have us drag the band on here. I'll bring the band there.
Speaker 2:
Yes, next year we're going to have a little bit different format, I'm thinking. So I want to bring out more of the band.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, hoping to have more days too. More days too, that's what we'd like to do, because we missed out some things that we'd like to have. We think it'd be great for you guys to be able to have some free time sometime to have some song swaps or song circles.
Speaker 3:
I do, I'd love to see some songs Absolutely. That's a great idea. Those are all things we're looking at. All things we're looking at.
Speaker 2:
If I can convince him to let me do three days.
Speaker 3:
I love song swaps yeah.
Speaker 2:
We're thinking ending Sunday with more like a gospel jam type of thing, that's cool. I would love that. I think that'd be awesome.
Speaker 3:
I work in church. I'm a church, so I'm in.
Speaker 1:
I know all the songs. Well, we actually have our council meetings in an old church. The city owns an old church there. So yeah, call us. We all sing amazing songs.
Speaker 4:
Amazing. We all sing Great house with the sound. It's perfect for country music.
Speaker 2:
It is Perfect, amazing. Grace has been saying so many different ways.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I say the grace like me, he showed off those.
Speaker 1:
No, no, Well again. Thank you guys so much and we look forward to seeing you for years to come. Y'all get great success. Be well, yeah, get. Thank you.
