Big Black has been played on NTS shows including Martyn's Darkest Light, with Love, Sweet Like Sugar Cane first played on 3 July 2015.

Percussionist from Savannah Georgia, born in 1934. Big Black was William "Fish" Ray's younger brother who was a Vauderville performer. He started playing percussion in Miami in the 50's and performed with various salsa and calypso bands until he moved to New York in the 60's. He got connected with various Bebop artists and bands there and soon was a regular percussionist for Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard and Randy Weston. He was dubbed "The king of Congas" and is a highly regarded institute of the african culture in Harlem. Over the years he has worked with Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, Harvey Mandel and Thelonious Monk to name a few.