Ray Cappo, also known as Raghunath Das, is an American punk rock musician best known as the vocalist for the bands Youth of Today and Shelter and as founder of the independent record labels Revelation Records and Equal Vision Records.
Originally from Connecticut, Cappo played drums for the band Violent Children.
Career
Earlier career
Cappo was occasionally a guest DJ for college radio station WXCI, in Danbury, Connecticut, on a radio show called "The Adventure Jukebox" hosted by Darryl Ohrt of the band No Milk on Tuesday. Cappo played a wide array of hardcore music on the program, largely culled from his massive collection of records, rare unsigned EPs, and demo tapes. During this time, Cappo enthusiastically supported local hardcore shows including gigs by many early hardcore bands such as No Milk on Tuesday, 76% Uncertain, Seizure, End Product, and Abusive Action, and was often mentioned in the liner notes of their records.
Youth of Today
thumb|Cappo performing with Youth of Today in Germany, 2010
Along with guitarist John Porcelly, also known as Porcell, Cappo started the seminal hardcore band Youth of Today in 1985, which quickly became one of the most well-known bands in the New York hardcore scene. Based on their straight edge ethics and a fast, aggressive sound, they created a subgenre known as Youth Crew, influencing a large number of bands. An important figure in the early days of Youth of Today was Kevin Seconds, singer of the Reno, Nevada, band 7 Seconds. Kevin not only influenced the band, but also released their first EP, "Can't Close My Eyes" on his Positive Force Records. Before disbanding in 1990, Youth of Today released two 7-inch EPs (one later remixed and released as a 12-inch) and two LPs, widely considered to be some of the most influential American hardcore records of their time.
Revelation Records
In 1987, along with Jordan Cooper, Cappo started Revelation Records. The label's first release was Warzone's "Lower East Side Crew". This was soon followed by a compilation entitled New York Hardcore 1987: Together, or simply the Together Compilation. This compilation included tracks by Youth of Today and Bold, (formerly Crippled Youth). This was also the first time bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, and Side by Side would be recorded and heard all over the world. Revelation would soon expand its roster westward, releasing records from California bands like Chain of Strength and No For an Answer. Today, Revelation remains a functioning record label operated by Cooper, who moved from New Haven, Connecticut, to Huntington Beach, California, in 1990.
1990s and Krishnacore
As Youth of Today began to wind down, Cappo found himself drawn to Krishna Consciousness, due in large part to his study of religions that embraced his vegetarian and straight edge ideals. He became a devotee and an outspoken proponent of the ideologies laid out in the Bhagavad Gita. Cappo resolved to create a final album to express his beliefs. The album was a marked departure from the style of Youth of Today, and Revelation Records decided to release it under a new band, which became known as Shelter. The rise of Shelter would unexpectedly create a musical subgenre called Krishnacore, with bands such as Cro-Mags as its spiritual forefathers and 108 among its main proponents. They recorded their first album, Just One, in five days while Shelter was on break from touring, Cappo recorded his vocals for the album in a bedroom studio in two days. Aside from the European Youth of Today reunion tour in 2003 and occasional American and European reunion shows, Cappo has been only intermittently involved in the hardcore music scene.