Mel Ray is a singer, songwriter, musician and composer. Melody Rachel Abrams is the eldest of three daughters born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her musical style incorporates elements from her Persian roots and American upbringing. Although her contemporary influences include Muse, Tori Amos, and Katy Perry, her early musical influences stem from her renowned uncle, Menasheh Sassoon, a notable musician in Israel and Europe. He introduced her to the Recorder and the Persian Zither and always encouraged her to devote her life to music. 

 

 

Although Mel Ray started singing as early as two years old, she didn’t start taking vocal lessons till age 12.  At age 4 she pleaded to start piano lessons after hearing her mother learn to play the Suite from the Opera Carmen by Georges Bizet.  Though she always possessed a great passion for music, Mel Ray was not initially driven to pursue it because of her conservative upbringing which prompted her to follow more conventional vocations in architecture & social work.  It was not until she had completed her first BA in Sociology at UCLA that she decided that a career in social work would not be as fulfilling as music. Hence, she decided to follow her heart and audition for the music program at Cal State University, Northridge where she obtained her second BA in Music Education and Music Teaching Credential.

 

Mel Ray is currently developing her first Album which can be described as her journey of self-discovery.