A native of northeastern Ohio, Justin has been playing drums for over 30 years and playing professionally for at least 25 of those.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the Hugh A. Glauser School Music at Kent State University and a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University.  He also spent a semester of post-graduate work studying percussion at Cleveland State University.  His principal teachers include Ted Round, Glenn Schaft, Tom Freer and Mark Gonder.  After graduate school, he spent 2 years touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra where he toured the U.S., Canada and Japan.

Residing in the Asheville area since 2008, Justin teaches drums/percussion at numerous schools, including the Asheville Music School, the University of North Carolina Asheville and Furman University.  He is also very active and in demand as a free-lance performer in a variety of styles.  In addition to playing with Jazzville, Justin plays regularly in the Asheville Art Trio, the Keith Davis Trio, The Justin Ray Sextet, the Mike Holstein/Justin Watt duo, Peggy Ratusz and the Greenville Jazz Collective Contemporary Ensemble, among others.