| Background: | group_or_band |
| Vonray | |
| Alias: | VonRa |
| Origin: | Orlando, Florida, US |
| Genre: | Alternative rock, post-grunge |
| Years Active: | 1996–2003 |
| Label: | Elektra |
| Past Members: |
|
Vonray was an American alternative rock band from Orlando, Florida. Originally composed of brothers Vaughan and Dave Rhea, they went on to release three studio albums under the name VonRa and one major-label record as Vonray. The group disbanded in 2003 after being dropped from Elektra Records.
The group formed around singer-songwriter and guitarist Vaughan Rhea, originally from Tennessee, who had come to Orlando playing as an acoustic coffee shop act with his brother and co-lyricist Dave, on bass. Inspired by grunge music, the brothers put together a band and began playing somewhat harder-sounding tunes, though still acoustic-based. Soon after, the band was opening locally for national acts as they toured through Orlando venues such as Hard Rock Live and House of Blues. They released an independent debut album, Panes, as VonRa, in 1997.[1] A second independent release, VonRa, followed in 1999, and a third, Fame, in 2001.
As major-label attention increased, the band scored a high-profile slot opening for fellow Florida-based rockers Creed, in the summer of 2002.[1] The band was signed to Elektra Records in late 2002 and, under the moniker Vonray, saw their first major label release in early 2003. They charted a single hit in the US in 2002, with the song "Inside Out", which was featured on WB Network's television show Smallville, on which the band made an appearance, as well as its soundtrack.[1] "Inside Out" subsequently peaked at no. 31 on Billboard's US Top 40 Mainstream chart and no. 32 on Billboards US Hot Adult Top 40 chart.[2] A second single, "I'll Show You", followed but received little promotion from the label and failed to chart. Due to Elektra then merging with Atlantic Records, promotion for the band all but ceased, and they were dropped from the label soon after. Rhea and the band went on hiatus in October 2003.[3]
Due to the success of an online petition, a fan-demanded reunion show happened in September 2007 at Hard Rock Live Orlando.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Panes | Jacob's Ladder Records | as VonRa | |
| 1999 | Von Ra | Jacob's Ladder Records | ||
| 2001 | Fame | Self-released | ||
| 2003 | Vonray | – |
EPs
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Top 40 Mainstream | US Hot Adult Top 40 | |||
| 2003 | "Inside Out" | 31[4] | 32 | Vonray |
| "I'll Show You" | — | — | ||
Music videos