THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501120173
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Ray Evans is a busy man these days. He's the vice president of Dareware, a company that operates the six Ace Hardware stores in Elizabeth City and on the Outer Banks.
And in his spare time, the husband and father ducks into his own den of hardware - the ``Sound to Sea'' recording studio he has built in a converted storeroom behind his Manteo home.
The studio features 16-track digital recording capability. (By comparison, Phil Collins recorded one of his albums on an 8-track machine. The Beatles used a 4-track.) It has a full range of outboard equipment, the stuff that does all the tricks like reverb and delay. In addition to the technical toys, Evans has keyboards, guitars, and other musical instruments.
In the control room of the two-room, acoustically sound studio is a 24-channel Mackie mixing console. The studio's other room is the ``booth,'' where most of the singing is done. All finished recordings are transferred to DAT - digital audio tape - which is superior to compact disc sound.
Evans, 42, built the studio five years ago as a way of staying in music without playing in a band.
He had dabbled in bands during his high school days, groups like ``Red Barons,'' ``Housecats,'' and ``Frills Pickle.''
``I played guitar, drums and keyboards,'' Evans said. ``Most of what we played was soul music, the kind of stuff being played at the Casino.''
Evans also worked at his dad's hardware store in downtown Manteo. After graduating from Manteo High School, he attended High Point College, earning a degree in political science.
Evans returned to the Outer Banks after college and picked up where he left off: selling hardware and playing music.
He played in a few local bands. But the playing didn't last. Evans left his musical instruments behind, got married and started a family. The hardware business consumed a lot of his time. For almost two years, Evans didn't play.
But music never really left him. Evans worked on music composition and started acquiring sound equipment. And about three years ago, the band bug got him.
Evans was invited to play drums for a benefit at the Pioneer Theater. From that gathering, the ``Carolina Country Band'' was born. It's an ensemble featuring Evans, Donna Walston, Ray Johnson and Joe Ponzillo. The Carolina Country Band plays about once a month.
That's just fine with Evans. He'd rather be in the studio.
He has high hopes for the place.
``There's a lot of musical talent here,'' Evans said. ``I'd like to record an album of original material from the musicians in the area.''
So far, Evans and partner Monte Hooker have recorded a number of ``demos,'' demonstration tapes that musicians and singers send to agents and club owners. Many songwriters make demos of original songs to send to music publishers.
Another project in the works is a locally produced Christmas album. Three years ago, Evans composed the music for a commercial jingle for Ben Franklin stores on the Outer Banks. Remember that ditty? ``Save every day, the Ben Franklin way.''
Evans is also working on his songwriting. He recently attended a songwriters workshop held on the Outer Banks.
``I played three of my songs,'' Evans said. ``The panelists blasted the first two, but said the third one had potential.''
Most of Evans' material is of the ``New Age'' genre. It's that moody, spacey music usually heard on television and movie soundtracks.
``My wife and I both like it. It's relaxing,'' Evans said.
Evans wouldn't mind seeing his recording business become a full-time job. But's he's content with it as it is.
``I have no grand illusion about being super successful,'' Evans says. ``This is really just my hobby. I love it.'' MEMO: To contact Ray Evans about his Sound to Sea Recording Studio, call
473-3666; or call Monte Hooker at 261-7860.
by CNB