Ray Makeever was born in Joliet, Illinois, grew up in Ottawa, Illinois, and studied at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (BA, 1967) and Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota (MDiv, 1972). Between receiving degrees at these schools he completed a certificate in human relations training in London, England (1971). From 1972 to the present has been a Lutheran campus pastor at the University of Minnesota, a Consultant for Men's Issues for the American Lutheran Church, an associate for worship and music at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and a music director at Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and Trinity Lutheran Congregation in Minneapolis. He left the pastoral ministry in 1976 for a career as a song leader and songwriter. He plays the flute and guitar, composes and publishes music, leads workshops, and presents concerts. His most recent song collection is Dancing at the Harvest (Minneapolis, 1997) which includes a CD. With his first wife, Elizabeth, he had a daughter, Anya Jane. His second wife, Judy, died of breast cancer in 1992. He and his third wife, Linda Clare Breitag, a singer, songwriter, and folklorist, live in Minneapolis with their daughter, Sophia Ray.

(Bio from Ray's web site, 2011.)