Ray Silkman has been touted as one of the best saxmen in the business. Emerging from humble beginnings, Ray Silkman has persevered through the hardest of times to be recognized as a viable force in the music industry.

Silkman began playing the saxophone at the age of 12 in an effort to feel a connection with the father that he never knew. His love for the craft inspired him to practice daily and achieve first chair ranking in Middle School and throughout college. Growing up in a struggling household, he found his greatest inspiration to be his mother who told him "you can do anything that you put your mind to". Silkman moved to Chicago shortly after his mother's death only to find himself homeless and alone after being robbed and abandoned by the very persons who brought him there.



After spending months on the streets playing in subways and on street corners, he got his first break performing in a fashion show entitled OGGI, interpreted "Live for the day". Other opportunities followed including a principle role in a recurring Chicago HMO commercial.

Since those lonely and cold days performing on street corners Ray Silkman has gone on to perform at countless clubs, festivals and special events in and around the Chicagoland area. His many performances have taken place in venues such as Chicago's United Center, Donald E Stevens Convention Center, Poplar Creek and virtually every major jazz club in Chicago over the past 17 years.



Ray has independently released 5 CDs including his signature work "Sound Check" which features the hit single "So Saxual". Soundcheck has received national and international acclaim as an epic work producing multiple hit songs which still receive airplay on public and NIC radio stations across the US. Jazz FM in Europe has featured...