Ray Barbee (born October 5, 1971) is an American
skateboarder, photographer, and musician from
San Jose, California.
Skateboarding
Barbee was one of the first skateboarders to bring
freestyle
Freestyle may refer to:
Brands
* Reebok Freestyle, a women's athletic shoe
* Ford Freestyle, an SUV automobile
* Coca-Cola Freestyle, a vending machine
* ICD Freestyle, a paintball marker
* Abbott FreeStyle, a blood glucose monitor by Abbott La ...
/flatland tricks to
street
A street is a public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, ...
, technical
ollie combinations and numerous
no comply
The no comply is a skateboarding trick that was invented by John Lucero and then named and popularized by the skater Neil Blender in the 1980s.
Features and history
To do the trick, the rider must plant his or her front foot and ''pop'' the board ...
variations. He is best known for his no complys and fluid style.
Barbee appeared in the
Powell Peralta videos ''Public Domain,'' ''Ban This'' and ''Propaganda.'' Barbee also appears in the video games ''
Skate 2'' and ''
Skate 3'' as a playable skater.
In 1991, Barbee left Powell Peralta for The Firm Skateboards (now defunct), headed by another Powell veteran,
Lance Mountain.
Barbee has a signature shoe with
Vans.
His other sponsors are
Independent Truck Company, and
WeSC.
Barbee is also known as a photographer and takes pictures with analog cameras such as a
Leica M6.
Music
A music writer and multi-instrumentalist, Barbee released his debut
EP on Galaxia Records in 2003, ''Triumphant Procession'', a collection of jazz-influenced instrumental tracks which Barbee produced and engineered in his home studio. His 2005 release, ''In Full View'', also on Galaxia, featured guests appearances by drummers
Doug Scharin
Douglas Arthur Scharin is an American drummer and percussionist. He has served as a member of a multitude of bands, including Codeine, Rex, HiM, Enablers, June of 44, Loftus and Mice Parade. He currently resides in San Diego, California.
...
(of
HiM and
June of 44) and
Carlos de la Garza
Captain Carlos de la Garza (1807–1882), also known as "Don Carlos," was a fourth generation Tejano rancher and entrepreneur in Goliad, Victoria and Refugio counties of Texas. His participation in the Mexican Army leading to the Battle of Coleto ...
(formerly of
Reel Big Fish) as well as
saxophone player Glen Darcey. Barbee plays guitar, bass guitar, drums,
harp
The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orche ...
and
xylophone.
In March 2007, Barbee recorded in Japan with the Mattson 2. That recording became ''Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2,'' a collaboration melding the guitar/drums of the Mattson 2 with Ray Barbee playing additional guitar. When playing live together, Ray sometimes assumes a dual bass line/lead role (both on his guitar) during the set.
Barbee is also known for his live performance solo work using looping delay pedals and drum machines. His music has been featured on
NPR and has been used in a number of surf videos.
He is sponsored by
Fender Guitars
The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC, or simply Fender) is an American manufacturer of instruments and amplifiers. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment, however it is best known for its sol ...
.
References
Sources
OP Classic
External links
Video: Ray Barbee, PropagandaVideo: Ray Barbee, Ban This
* Ray Barbeeat Allmusic
SkateboardManiaks, All about Barbee in the Dutch language.Galaxia Records - Ray Barbee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbee, Ray
American skateboarders
Sportspeople from San Jose, California
Living people
1971 births
African-American skateboarders
African-American photographers
African-American musicians
Skate photographers
Artist skateboarders
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople