Johnny Ray brings his Piano Bar Concept to Palmer's in Andover

It was a beautiful summer day on Cape Cod and Johnny Ray was getting ready to open Bocce Italian Grill in Wellfleet for another busy weekend in August. Watering the landscaping had become a relaxing passed time while waiting for deliveries from food purveyors making the long trek to the outer Cape from Boston. They would only make deliveries twice a week to such distances so making the orders accurate were always a challenging but rewarding risk. Suddenly a lady rolled up on her bicycle from the Cape Cod bike path adjacent to the restaurant and asked Mr. Ray, “are you the guy that sings?” It was a frequently asked question of the soon to be restaurateur who had been performing his whole life and was in the process of transitioning from head of marketing and entertainment to director of operations for the entire facility. “Yes, I am” Ray said, “how can I help you?” As it turns out the lady had brought her elderly Mom for dinner just 2 weeks before for her birthday who in the interim had passed away from an illness. “I just wanted you to know”, she continued, “having that last night with her to celebrate such a life event and seeing the joy on her face is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.” As Ray’s eyes welled up with emotion, he thanked the young lady and told her, “This is why I do it. I never know who in the audience might be going through something and might be touched more profoundly by a simple lyric or melody. Creating life events is what it’s all about.”

Just a few short years later Johnny would bring this same attitude with him to the partnership he now enjoys as part owner of The Beacon Restaurant and Bar in Marblehead Massachusetts. Performing there nightly with his piano bar concept and accompanist, Dan Kenney has brought continued appreciation for the kind of “life events” he has shared with audiences for nearly three decades entertaining with bands from Boston to Las Vegas. One of Johnny’s partners at The Beacon is also one of the original owners of Palmer’s Restaurant and Tavern in Andover Massachusetts with chef and co-owner John Ingalls, a Swampscott native. Chef Ingalls is still at the helm of Palmers and going strong with his son Aron as General Manager. Since opening Palmers in the original Swampscott location in 1988 and then moving to Andover in 1995, Ingalls has “done it for the passion,” he loves cooking and having a place for everyone to gather. Recently this team of passionate professionals met to plan a collaboration that will have Johnny Ray visiting his longtime friends, the Ingalls, to perform with his piano bar concept at the freshly renovated Palmer’s on Elm St. This isn’t the first time this group has collaborated either. Back in the early 2000’s Johnny Ray was the resident entertainer on Horizon’s Edge Casino Cruise Lines in Lynn while Chef Ingalls operated “Palmer’s on The Horizon” on the ship with great success. “I’m very excited about performing at my friend’s restaurant”, says Johnny, “and I can’t wait to try the piano bar concept in another great town like Andover.”

The Piano Bar performances featuring songs from the great American songbook begin Thursday October 13 and will run through the month of December. Showtimes are 6-9 PM. Call Palmer’s @ 978-470-1606 For more details and information.