For our 12th episode of Working Vacation, we are joined by special guest Rudy Ray, a Juno Award winning musician/actor based in Toronto who has worked with a variety of A-list and overall talented individuals across both disciplines. 

We go on to to discuss:

- His initial interest in the field of neuroscience and the circumstances that led to his shift in focus towards music

- His love for jazz and the trumpet, the move from Ghana to Toronto and his university experience at UTSC

- The beginnings of his first forays into session music/studio work/album placements: namely playing the trumpet on Drake's 'Trophies' and J Cole's 'Middle Child'

- The realities that session musicians/instrumentalists face in the music industry, ghostwriting, why receiving credit can be more important than a onetime cheque as well as his love and appreciation for the Wu-Tang Clan

- His initial break into the film industry and the difference between being represented by an agency and not having any professional representation

- The differences in the US and Canadian film industries regarding black-led productions and the continued need for equal representation

- What he's learned from finding himself on productions with high level actors/actresses/directors such as Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Guillermo del Toro, Bradley Cooper, Hiro Murai and many more

- His experience going back to Ghana for the first time since his initial departure as a teenager more than 10 years ago, the importance of connecting with your roots by visiting the motherland

- Hopes for future collaborations, advice to young artists and an impromptu performance!

- Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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Check out our guest on instagram @rudyraykwaku

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