Ramon (Ray) Ludwig was
born in Washington, D.C. but
grew up and spent most of his life in Sarasota, Florida. Ray started playing guitar at the age of 12 when he became inspired after hearing a band play "Hold On, I'm Coming" at a school pep rally.

Ray spent countless hours learning the guitar solos of the Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton by slowing down 33 RPM records to 16 RPM. Ray started playing professionally at the age of 15, and at age 17 performed in a band that opened for the Allman Brothers in Sarasota. After high school Ray moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University, and in his junior year became a music major, studying classical guitar for one year.

He also learned how to play bluegrass banjo. Ray then got an offer to join a hot band and left FSU to go on the road. He played professionally all over the southeastern United States for the next three years. During that time Ray's bands opened for Neil Sedaka in Tampa and played for then-presidential nominee Jimmy Carter. Ray then taught guitar and bluegrass banjo for 3 years and studied jazz with Dave Gould and Mo Friend.

In addition to being heavily influenced by the melodic styles of Duane Allman and Eric Clapton, Ray's guitar heroes include Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Halen, George Benson and Eric Johnson.