Remembering Ray Wood • 1942 - 2024
Ray Wood passed away peacefully at home on November 14, 2024. We know he always wanted to stay at home, and we send our condolences to his family and also friends who miss him dearly. We are grateful for the support everyone provided both near and from afar, especially his family for caring for him as he aged in place for the past few years. First responders were on the scene when Ray’s gaze drifted off for the final time.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, January 18 from 12-4pm at the Olympia Eagles #21, 805 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501 — there will be a potluck and jamming among friends and family. A memorial celebration will also take place during the National Old-Time Fiddle Contest in Wesier, Idaho in June in the Stickerville Camp. Weiser Friends of the Fiddle, Inc.(501(c)3) is accepting contributions in Ray’s memory. On the Stickerville website, you can donate to the Ray Wood Memorial & Scholarship Fund.
Read more about Ray and our experiences together on the Remembering Ray Wood page – https://www.hotclubsandwich.com/remembering-ray-wood/.
Listen to the full 2003 Hot Club Sandwich album: Digga Digga Do
Now streaming on all major services like Pandora (link here) and Spotify (link here)
Hot Club Sandwich
More than twenty years ago, hot-jazz string band Hot Club Sandwich formed in Olympia, WA after a chance meeting on a front porch. Each band member offers compositions and arrangements, with instrumentation featuring guitars, bass, violin, mandolin and drums. Everyone in the band sings. The fifth Hot Club Sandwich recording, No Pressure (2018), features a guest appearance by master mandolinist David Grisman. Joseph Mascorella delivered an outstanding performance on No Pressure, see our page devoted to Remembering Joseph Mascorella.
In 2023, Hot Club Sandwich is still led by four core founding members who have played together for over 20 years: Kevin Conor on guitar, James Schneider on bass, Matt Sircely on mandolin, and Tim Wetmiller on violin. In performance, the ensemble often grows to include members of the band’s extended music community, and Hot Club Sandwich is always happy to furnish a quintet or sextet.
We congratulate Ray Wood on his retirement after 70 years on the bandstand. Ray joins us in mourning the tragic passing of Joseph Mascorella due to unexpected illness in October, 2022. Joseph’s salient vocals and brilliant drumming continue to shine our most recent recording . We hold his memory in our hearts every single day.
Visit the ‘Concerts‘ page to see information about upcoming shows. Visit the ‘Contact‘ page to subscribe for the email list. HCS is on Facebook.