Ray Foley creates poignant glimpses into the lives of iconic artists, from recording Aaron Neville in the studio to Harry Belafonte’s tireless efforts for global humanitarian change through music.

Foley’s emotional portrayal of musical artists on film has made him an industry standout for over 15 years. His intimate style has earned him prized collaborations with legendary artists such as Harry Belafonte, Joe Henry, Albert Maysles, Joe Jackson, George Coleman, Ahmet Ertegun, Mel Brooks and Joan Didion, among others, and has garnered him a variety of projects with various recording labels.

Foley’s lifelong love of music has driven him to work with world-class recording artists. In 2010, he accompanied Harry Belafonte across Europe for an ongoing film project, and his deeply personal photography was featured in Belafonte’s 2011 Oscar-shortlisted documentary, SING YOUR SONG. Grammy Award-winning producer Joe Henry chose Foley to direct a film for EMI Gospel during the recording of Aaron Neville’s album I KNOW I’VE BEEN CHANGED, featuring renowned R&B composer Allen Toussaint. Foley later collaborated again with Joe Henry and folk-rock icon Billy Bragg to document their train journey across the country for SHINE A LIGHT: FIELD RECORDINGS FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN RAILROAD. Foley’s intimate photograph of Joan Didion and her nephew, Griffin Dunne, is a visual highlight in Dunne’s recent publication, THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB: A FAMILY MEMOIR, Penguin Press, 2024.

Ray Foley also produces and directs films for corporate clients and commercial television. Foley’s producer credits include the Grammy Award-winning documentary The Recording of The Producers – A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks and the Dave Myers-directed opening sequence for NBC’s Saturday Night Live.