Scotty Wray, Longtime Band Member For Miranda Lambert, Dies

Longtime guitar player and songwriter Scotty Wray passed away on Friday (Feb. 18) after battling heart issues.

Wray was a member of country music superstar Miranda Lambert’s band, meeting the entertainer when she was 17 in Greenville, Texas. The pair spent more than two decades together performing on thousands of stages and writing countless songs.

“We wrote songs, played gig after gig, fought, cried, laughed & even got matching arrow tattoos after we made it out of some rough patches. He was one of the most talented guitar players I’ve ever known and I’m so thankful I got to witness his genius seasoned for over 20 years,” Lambert shared on social media. “He was the [one] I could count on. Always. No matter what. If he was there on my right side I felt like I could take on the world. Scotty Wray was family to me and I’ll never sing a note without him because I know he is there with me. He always has been. I love you my sweet Bud Wray.”

Heavy heart post?. Last night I lost one of my most treasured friends, band mates and road family members, Scotty Wray. We met in 2001 in Greenville Texas. I was 17 . That was the beginning of our journey together. We went through so much life together on and off the stage. pic.twitter.com/zW12FgoOlT

— Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) February 19, 2022

In addition to being a seasoned musician, Wray was also the older brother of country singer Collin Raye. The two began singing at a young age with their mother Lois Marie Chandler Wray, who was a local musician in De Queen, Arkansas, opening for the like of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Carl Perkins.

The brothers formed their own country rock band, The Wray Brothers Band, which signed with Mercury Records in 1986 and performed heavily in the Texas country circuit. They changed their name to The Wrays and recorded a string of singles, including “Reason to Believe” (1983), “Until We Meet Again” (1985), “I Don’t Want to Know Your Name” (1986), and “You Lay a Lotta Love on Me” (1987). The brothers disbanded shortly afterwards.

Wray went on to pen several songs for both Lambert and his brother, including the title track from Raye’s 2020 album, Scars, on which Lambert sings harmony.

Memorial arrangements for Wray have not yet been announced.