22 Flix: Fred Smith and Jeff Fay on what it was like to film Ray Villadonga talking about his last album — see 22 photos from the session

All the love in Tampa’s music community spilled onto the Internet over the last week. The unfortunate occasion was the passing of Bay area scene staple Ray Villadonga, who died on June 10 at the age of 62 after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

One of the best looks at Villadonga’s 2016 album, 10 Earflix, came at the hands of Bay area writer and storyteller Fred Smith, who tapped photographer Jeff Fay to help capture the essence of the album straight from the creator’s mouth.

A force of love and nature: Remembering Ray Villadonga, a linchpin of the Tampa Bay music scene

“Last year, he asked me to help promote his new album. I suggested a documentary style series of videos that would allow him to do what he does best: tell stories,” Smith, who first met Villadonga in 2005, told CL about the 90-minute session filmed last summer. “I wanted to create a series that gave viewers a chance to be in the room with Ray and experience his art—music, culture, history, and the creation of his album."

Smith, 40, says neither he or photographer Jeff Fay knew that Villadonga was sick. Fay, 52, remembers Villadonga’s nine-year-old chihuahua Jaco Pastorius Viladonga just kicking it with them during the session.

Read: Tampa Bay reacts to the death of music scene legend Ray Villadonga

“Jaco was just there, a good little boy, just hung. You get the feeling that he’s hung with a lot of people and that this was not his first gig; he found a slice of sunshine and sat in it,” Fay said. He said hadn’t met Villadonga until that day, but he was a member of the Villadonga bear hug club from that moment on. “He hugged like he knew me for years. It was like that every time since then. Once you’re in the circle you get to experience Ray’s giving, loving spirit.”

The session itself is typical Villadonga, complete with stories about Tampa and how every shred of music was inspired. Smith said he he’s done some with Tampa’s poet laureate James Tokely and Bay area songwriter Maggie Council since.

“I wish Ray were still with us, but I’m so glad we got to capture Ray in his element so anyone who wants can spend some time with him,” Smith added. It’ll never be as good as the real thing, but it’s what we have, and I’m grateful.”

Watch the video via theonlyfredsmith.com and see Jeff Fay’s photos from the session below.