mr.RAY Will Perform for Warren Residents This Thursday

Ray Andersen has performed with stars like Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Meat Loaf to packed crowds, but when he takes the stage on July 14 in Warren Township, his audience will literally be smaller.

His audience also will be tougher to please. Now known to kids as mr.RAY, Andersen said he will perform original music as well as "warm n' fuzzy classic rock."

The concert, part of the , will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  in the front parking lot of the Warren Township Municipal Complex, at 46 Mountain Blvd. In the event of inclement weather, the event will move to the Watchung Hills Regional High School Auditorium at 108 Stirling Road.

Mr.RAY's band includes Paul Geiger on vocals, keyboard and saxaphone, Mike Doktorski on bass and Joe Bellia on drums. And his special guests will be Makenzie Brown & Emma Kothari, teenage singers from his Train To Rock Academy for kids 11-18.

So how did Anderson go from playing in the '80s with Cats On A Smooth Surface at the Stone Pony and later touring with bands like Matchbox Twenty to performing with and for children?

Well, back in 1994, his wife was working at a preschool and asked him to come and play some songs for the kids. They quickly dubbed him mr.RAY and he decided to pursue a musical career involving the younger set.

"I thought he was out of his mind," said Tim Sullivan, his publicist, of when Andersen decided to become mr.RAY.

But Sullivan quickly realized that he might be onto something and mr.Ray's first album, "Start Dreaming," was released in April 2001.

Describing himself as a Kindie (kid+indie) rocker, mr.RAY's target audience is 2- to 8-year-olds with songs about colors and dinosaurs, but he also appeals to older children and adults.

"This isn't 'The Wheels on the Bus,'" said Sullivan.

Mr.RAY has released several more albums, some include guest vocals from his daughter, Layla.

A Highland Park resident, including parties, festivals, parks and libraries as well as notable events such as Major league Baseball FanFest and Children Affected By AIDS foundation. He also manages his 7-week Train to Rock program, with each session ending with a concert for the students' families and friends.