Prior to becoming a University of Memphis professor, David Wray practiced entertainment law on the Oregon coast where he enjoyed the ocean, his new house and Corvette. He was living “the good life,” but suddenly things didn’t look so good to him.
Wray got a call one day saying a friend who he had helped get into the music industry died of a heart attack at age 36.
“For 13 years we contacted each other every day and talked about it, and I tried to give him some good guidance,” Wray said.
Wray said the untimely death of his friend got him wondering about his life choices and if he was doing himself the best service. The guidance he offered his friend over the years seemed to stand out.
“I really thought what I’d feel best about is teaching because while doing it on an adjunct basis, I knew at the end of the class that there were people that really got it,” Wray said. “You can actually see students when they really grasp something. You feel like you’ve accomplished something.”
Wray decided to take his love of teaching from part-time to full-time status and landed at The U of M in 1998 as a professor in the music industry division of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.
Students in the music industry program can concentrate in music business or recording technology. Wray, now division coordinator of the music industry program, oversees all the music business students.
Associate coordinator Jeff Cline is the recording studio manager and he’s responsible for the technological side of the program.
“The program has really come into its own,” Wray said.
Wray has rebuilt the entire music business curriculum. Program entrance standards were raised and are now highly selective, aiming at students with high GPAs and ACT scores.
A wide spectrum of concentrations are offered to music industry students.
Wray mentioned possible careers in music publishing, entertainment or entertainment law and working with record labels.
“It’s kind of nice because there are a lot of people in the music industry that don’t play an instrument,” Wray said. “For the recording technology students, when they’re in the studio and they have an ear for what’s going on there, I think that really benefits them.”
In addition to running the industry program, Wray is still active as an entertainment attorney. He represents members of the Steve Miller Band, Foreigner, Simple Minds and Survivor.
“I know that I’ve always enjoyed faculty that have actually been in the business because they bring first-hand, real world experience, not just theory,” Wray said. “I think that’s what the student needs.”
A few years ago, while Wray was teaching contracts in class, he was simultaneously negotiating a contract for a band with Atlantic Records that he represented.
He was able to share this real world experience with his class to illustrate what they should look for and try to get when negotiating a contract.
Last September, Wray took on a new responsibility and became a faculty senate representative for the Tennessee Board of Regents. The job involves the communication of faculty concerns to TBR.
“If I ruffle some feathers up there, I ruffle some feathers,” Wray said. “I do what I think is best for the faculty here and I’m obliged to represent their views.”
