Help The Singing Cab Driver

Hello! I am Ray Suges, musician, writer, street philosopher, widely known since 1991 as Chicago’s own Ray St. Ray, The Singing Cab Driver.

I love Chicago. I love singing to people in a taxicab. I live to make their day. Ask any of the 100,000+ passengers who experienced me. I AM Chicago.

More of a performance artist than just a taxi driver, I was never in this for the money. But I do have to cover expenses.

Rent, utilities, the price of everything has gone up in the last few years. Everything except cab fares in Chicago. On top of that, COVID and Uber decimated the industry, a lot of stores and restaurants closed and fewer people work downtown. Automatic payment apps have really cut into my tips. Many taxi drivers weren’t even making minimum wage before all this.

While all of this was happening I was writing more than cab driving, barely breaking even. I recently finished ANXIETY SOCIETY: How Our Future was Stolen, a musical podcast almost ready for recording. It is an aggregate of my life’s work.

Suddenly, I had to find a place to live and move ASAP.

I’m 72 years old, driving 10/7 some weeks and am still too broke to afford the expense of securing a new apartment, hiring movers, etc. I hate begging but things were dire and waiting too late to ask for help would have left me totally in the lurch. I was getting too close to living in a taxi.

Although we didn't reach my goal of $3500, contributions from family, friends, fans and Secret Santas have helped me deal with my living situation so at least I can stay in my current home.

Housing crisis averted, Phew! Now I can finish my 68,000 word, 24 song audio experience. I will leave this page up for another week or two, so any further donations will go towards getting this project released to the world.

One of the songs, WRONG SIDE of ENOUGH was recorded in a studio and released as a single.

All contributions are greatly appreciated.

Please help me out with whatever you can and spread the word.