RAY HESSON

• A banjo player from Bowie, Maryland.
• Performs extensively around the Washington, D.C. area.
• Has taught music since he was in high school. One of his students was actress Goldie Hawn.
• Retired from the Federal Government (21 years with NASA, 6 years with U.S. Navy).
• Played with a D.C. group for 20 years called Foggy Bottom.
• Performs in a duo with his son Michael, and with other children in a group called Pointer Ridge. Ray and Michael performed at Bill Clinton’s first Inaugural Dinner.
• 1994, won the Winfield banjo contest.
• 1996, recorded his first banjo instrumental album “Five Picker” (no label).
• 1996, on the way to register for the banjo contest at Merle Fest, he suffered a heart attack (he recovered.)
• 1999, released “Windfall” album (Old Line).
• 2004, released “Sunrise” album (Old Line)
• 2016, died at the age of 74 after a long illness.