Raymond Joseph Bagato, third child of Auqalino (Eno) and Katherine Tortorici Bagato was born on April 6, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. Ray was raised in the neighborhood known as Little Italy. On June 12, 1982, Ray and Judy McFarland were united in marriage at Hoiles' Garden in Greenville, Illinois. At the age of 88, Ray died on June 5, 2024, at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois, after sustaining a traumatic brain injury from a fall, weeks prior to his passing.
Ray was always creative. His interest in playing the drums was frowned upon by his hard-working immigrant family, but he dreamt of becoming a concert percussionist. Since he was not allowed to pursue music academically, he received his informal education in Chicago jazz clubs and dive bars. In 1977, he obtained an Associate of Arts Degree from Lincoln Land College in Springfield, where he played in the college jazz band. Ray also played Latin percussion in a popular local jazz band known as Straight Life. Several family

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