John Daniel Ray is a progressive jazz bassist, composer, and innovative producer with over two decades of professional experience. Through his production company, Mr. Haircut, he has released more than 30 albums spanning progressive jazz, electronic, experimental, and genre-blurring music. His extensive session work includes collaborations with hundreds of artists and ensembles, with notable appearances alongside The Allman Brothers Band, The Roots, Common, Wu-Tang Clan, George Clinton, and many others.

John began studying music at age five, learning piano and music notation before reading English. By eight, he was studying classical guitar and became Suzuki-method certified at thirteen. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, earning a Music Performance Certificate in 2000, and at seventeen became the youngest member of the Winston-Salem Symphony. He has toured nationally and internationally since 2001.