 During his college undergraduate years, Ray began his choral directing career at Village Falls United Methodist Church.Following this, he was a paid singer at Fairview United Methodist Church, then later was choir director at Norwood United Methodist Church.Subsequently, he sang at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham (under Sam Owens and later under Hugh Thomas) and was baritone soloist and choir singer at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham under choirmaster and organist Joseph Schreiber.