Back in the day, Ray's Downtown Blues, at 519 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, was the place to be for live music. Ray Carbone, the man himself, started it all out in '95 with mostly blues, rock, and jazz flowing through the doors, but times got tough and money got tight, so he decided to open it up to a new generation of young, ambitious promoters with bands of their own, hungry for a
stage. All of a sudden, Ray's Downtown wasn't just about the blues (though they still threw down some good ones). All-ages punk shows, hip-hop nights, hardcore mosh pits, emo bands screamin' their hearts out, indie rock, alternative—you name it, they had it. It didn't matter if you were into loud guitars or beats that thumped in your chest, Ray's Downtown had something for everyone. It became a haven for the local music scene, and Ray, well, he became their champion. You never knew what you were gonna get walkin' through those doors—that was the beauty of it! Ray's Downtown closed its doors in August '07 after a long, hard-fought battle with the mayor and city regarding his all-ages shows, but the music didn't stop for Ray. Just two months later, Ray took the scene underground, literally. The Underground was a basement located on the far east end of Clematis Street that used to be a hip coffee bar/art gallery and briefly a dance club before it was shut down because of underage drinking issues. New ownership took over, and Ray was offered the chance to continue hosting his all-ages shows on Saturdays and a weekly Sunday blues night, while tending the bar and running sound as well. "Ray's Downtown Goes Underground" nights were a different scene, more of a clubhouse vibe, but the spot quickly became a favorite of downtown scenesters and Clematis Street veterans alike. Fast-forward to September 2017, and Ray's still got the music in him. He starts hosting Sunday jazz, blues, and rock shows at a new venue called Voltaire. Voltaire was located at 526 Clematis Street, on the 2nd floor above a pool hall called Lost Weekend, and right across the street from the old stomping ground. It was an intimate venue that featured a full stage with professional sound and lighting, comfy chairs, and sofas to lounge on. They even had a late-night sushi bar with Chef Jack Kwong called Yellow Jack Sushi. Ray himself was slingin' craft cocktails, keeping the good times rollin'. Those Sunday shows at Voltaire, under the "Ray's Downtown Presents" banner, lasted a good two years before they wrapped up in August 2019. Fast-forward again to July 2022, and Ray has started working a new bartending gig at the Blueprint Bar & Grill in downtown Lake Worth (L-Dub!). Located at 502 Lucerne Avenue, the spot was formerly known as the South Shores Tavern and featured an outdoor stage and patio bar out back. After some remodeling and the construction of a new stage, Ray was soon back at it again, booking shows. Reggae, blues, rock, and jazz were mostly what you could catch on any given night. He also started a weekly "Open Jam" night hosted by a rotating cast of local music pros. Ray left that gig in May 2024, but the story doesn't end there. In April 2024, Ray began bartending at the infamous and historic Frenchies Bar in Palm Springs. The bar is an old converted Air Force barracks that dates back to World War II! It's recently come under new ownership, and there are plans for live music on the outdoor patio starting in June. Stay tuned...
If you'd like to learn more about the history of Ray's Downtown Blues and the downtown WPB music scene, check out some of the links to the news articles posted below. River of Sorrow - AUGUST 8, 2002
www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/river-of-sorrow-6329653
Ray's of Light - JUNE 12, 2003
www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/rays-of-light-6329250
Street of Dreams - JUNE 19, 2003
www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/street-of-dreams-6329256
Grab a Plate - NOVEMBER 25, 2004
www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/grab-a-plate-6316534
Clematis Street Blues - JUNE 22, 2006
www.browardpalmbeach.com/music/clematis-street-blues-6328096
Not Down, Just Underground - NOVEMBER 15, 2007
www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/not-down-just-underground-6310893
Surf’s up in downtown West Palm Beach with the arrival of Longboards - JULY 1, 2011
www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2011/07/01/surfs-up-in-downtown-west-palm-beach-with-arrival-of-longboards
Ray’s Downtown Presents - JANUARY 29, 2018
www.purehoneymagazine.com/rays-downtown-presents
New Music Venue Brings Versatile Lineups - MARCH 24, 2018
www.theatlanticcurrent.com/voltaire
Camp Ray - MAY 3, 2018
www.purehoneymagazine.com/camp-ray
Interview with Ray Carbone on the Florida Sound Archive podcast, hosted by Jeff Kaiser - 2021
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5npXkTCls&t=1s
