Ray Steadman-Allen was born 18 September 1922 in Muller Road, Horfield, Bristol to Salvation Army officer parents. He is a composer of brass band music, and became a Salvation Army officer himself in 1949, from the Harrow corps. He graduated with a B.Mus. In 1951 he married Joyce Foster, who became a Salvation Army officer from the Hastings Citadel in 1949.