Ray Gomez

February 27, 1953 – July 29, 2026

Ray Gomez was a legendary Spanish-born jazz-fusion and rock guitarist revered widely as a "musician's musician". Best known for his explosive, virtuosic performance on bass icon Stanley Clarke's landmark 1976 album School Days, Gomez left an indelible mark on the late-1970s and 1980s instrumental music scenes. He passed away on July 29, 2026, at the age of 73.

Career Highlights & Collaborations

Early Success: Born in Casablanca, Morocco, his family relocated to Spain in 1965. At just 15, he joined the top Spanish instrumental band Los Pekenikes, and later played with the Pop-Tops during their massive 1971 hit "Mamy Blue".
The Fusion Era: After moving to the U.S. via an invitation from George Harrison, he became a premier session player. He contributed to definitive records alongside Lenny White, Narada Michael Walden, Herbie Hancock, and Alphonso Johnson.
A-List Sessions: His versatile phrasing and tone can be heard on recordings by icons like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, and Roy Buchanan.
Solo Work: He released his highly acclaimed, cult-classic solo album titled Volume in 1980, featuring the standout track "West Side Boogie".

A Legacy of Resilience

Beyond his technical brilliance—which was heavily inspired by Jimi Hendrix and featured a signature pinky whammy-bar technique—Gomez was famous for his awe-inspiring resilience. In 1980, he suffered a near-fatal seizure. Subsequent brain surgery left him with severe amnesia, entirely wiping out his memory of how to play the guitar. In a legendary feat of determination, he completely relearned his craft from scratch by listening to his own past recordings, fully reclaiming his elite virtuosic style.

Comprehensive Session Credits

Year	Primary Artist	Album Title / Project	Role / Credit
1971	Pop-Tops	Mamy Blue (Single)	Guitar
1975	Lenny White	Venusian Summer	Guitar
1975	Larry Young's Fuel	Spaceball	Guitar
1976	Stanley Clarke	School Days	Lead Guitar
1976	Patrick Moraz	The Story of I	Guitar
1977	Roy Buchanan	Loading Zone	Guitar
1977	Narada Michael Walden	Garden of Love Light	Guitar
1977	Cat Stevens	Izitso	Guitar
1977	Alphonso Johnson	Yesterday's Dream	Guitar
1977	Lenny White	Big City	Guitar
1977	Dee Dee Bridgewater	Just Family	Guitar
1977	Ray Barretto	Eye of the Beholder	Guitar
1977	Norman Connors	Romantic Journey	Guitar
1977	Stanley Clarke	Live (1976-1977) / I Wanna Play For You	Electric Guitar
1978	Roy Buchanan	You're Not Alone	Guitar
1978	Stanley Clarke	Modern Man	Guitar
1978	Narada Michael Walden	I Cry, I Smile	Guitar
1979	The Wonder Band	Stairway To Love	Guitar
1979	Narada Michael Walden	Awakening	Guitar
1981	Daryl Hall & John Oates	Private Eyes	Guitar Solo
1982	Chaka Khan	Chaka Khan	Guitar
1984	Stanley Clarke	Time Exposure	Guitar
1985	Aretha Franklin	Who's Zoomin' Who?	Guitar
1985	Stanley Clarke	Find Out!	Guitar
1985	Narada Michael Walden	The Nature of Things	Guitar Solo
1985	Scandal	Warrior	Guitar / Session Musician
1988	Eddie Palmieri	Sueño	Rhythm Guitar
1989	Steps Ahead	N.Y.C.	Guitar
1990	Chayanne	Tiempo de Vals	Guitar
1993	Jack Bruce	Somethin' Els	Guitar
1995	Michael Zentner	Playtime	Guitar
1998	Bunny Brunel	Brunel's L.A. Zoo	Guitar

Guitar Community Tributes

"One of the greatest to ever do it... a man that redefined modern electric jazz guitar in the late '70s."
— Joe Bonamassa

"With the sad news of the great Ray Gomez passing, Jimi [Hendrix] came to mind, as Ray was constantly posting pics of Jimi... God Speed brother."
— Neal Schon (Journey)

"Awww man, so sad to hear of the passing of Ray Gomez. He was one of a handful of 70s fusion guitarists we were in awe of. I suspect Mr. [Jeff] Beck was as well."
— Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)

RAY GOMEZ - Los ejes de mi carreta