Artist Profile: David Ranes

The Jukes

By Natalie Del Valle

Music takes me anywhere I want to go at any time, says Cherokee County musician, David Ranes. Its not a job to me.

He discovered his love for music when he was just seven years old, and by the time he was fourteen, he taught himself to play guitar. Now, 30 years later, David says he loves the freedom of expression and creativity that comes with writing and performing music.

What he enjoys most is playing uplifting, meaningful songs with a story to tell, which led him to create Legacy Love Songs a business that specializes in writing personalized songs for any occasion, using peoples life stories. Through his music, David has performed at fundraising events to raise money and awareness for area homeless shelters, AIDS and cancer research, and his unique songs have also been part of weddings, anniversaries and other special life events.

David keeps busy with Legacy Love Songs and his own music publishing company, Ranes Music Publishing, as well as performing with two current bands, the Jukes and David Ranes Band, which released a CD entitled Fly this past year. David draws on personal experiences, primarily ones others can relate to, in order to write the rock and blues songs on his albums, including Breathe You In, a Billboard Award Winner.

Over the course of his musical career, he has been a part of eight bands, playing everything from old rock, pop rock and classical.

As a member of the Jukes, David and his partner, Jaymi Renae, like to say, You request it, we play it! The band includes an acoustic guitar and piano performance, with Jaymi and David singing from a list of 300 songs, from which their audience can make requests. The playlist includes covers from the 60s to current covers in country, rock and pop, as well as their own, original songs. Selections vary according to the demands of the audience.

The ever-evolving playlist can add up to as many as ten new songs a week, and the Jukes retire less popular songs to accommodate demands. Some of the most requested artists are Taylor Swift, Ray Charles, Maroon 5, Rihanna and Lady Antebellum, David says; It just depends on the age of the audience. 

The band plays for clubs, venues, weddings, private parties and corporate events all over the north and east Atlanta area, including Alpharetta, Roswell, Woodstock and Cumming. They also occasionally travel south and west of Atlanta, and sometimes commute out-of-state for a show. But no matter where or for whom they perform, the talented duos passion for music is evident in every gig they play.

Music is such a special and important aspect of both Jaymis and Davids lives, and that is what makes the Jukes so wonderful. You can see and hear their unmistakable enthusiasm in their performances and just by talking to them. Jaymi and David agree: Music is the greatest gift.

DavidRanes.com