Photo Credit: Joseph Llanes
CMT Listen Up Artist, Amazon Music USA “Artist to Watch,” and Pandora “Artist to Watch,” Frank Ray today releases his most unique body of work yet – his self-titled debut label album Frank Ray – via BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records.
Listen to Frank Ray HERE.
Produced by Frank Rogers (Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery), Frank Ray seamlessly intermixes a traditional Country sound with R&B and touches of Frank’s Latin heritage. The album features 15 tracks – 13 of which were co-written by the rising star.
“Country has always been the music that’s closest to my heart. It’s always been like my comfort food for my soul,” says Ray. “With that said, it's also been fun to incorporate different elements of who I am into this new music. This project stays true to my heritage and upbringing, fusing a Latin flair, cool and funky arrangements, Classic Rock and R&B grooves alongside 90s Country inspired barstool songs. And there are definitely some high-energy party anthems to boot!”
“My intention was always to come into Country music with something refreshing, different and new. This album has always been my dream – to put out a body of work at mainstream Country music as a signed artist that isn’t just MY contribution to Country music, it’s also hopefully paving the way for other Hispanic artists to come into the format,” continues Ray.
Hot off a national tour supporting Old Dominion, Ray continues crisscrossing the U.S this summer, performing at some of the biggest festivals in the country including Milwaukee’s Summerfest (7/7); Nebraska’s MRL Country Music Festival (7/20); Wisconsin’s Country Jam (7/21) and Country Thunder (7/22); Colorado’s Ski Hi Stampede (7/27) and Ohio’s Voices of America Country Music Festival (8/11).
The star heads back to Nashville on Thursday, 7/13, to perform an album release show for fans at Ole Red – Nashville, in the heart of downtown. The show is free and begins at 6 pm CST. For those that can’t attend, the album release show will be livestreamed across Circle All Access’ Facebook and YouTube channels. For more info, visit Ray's Facebook page here.
“Looking to stretch Country music’s cultural boundaries,” (Los Angeles Times) with a sound praised as “easygoing contemporary Country with Pop-Soul hooks and a dash of Southwestern spice” (Rolling Stone), the rhythmic project opens with the anthemic “Streetlights” that showcases his Latin roots, perfectly setting the tone for what to expect throughout the rest of the project. Followed by the catchy “Country’d Look Good On You” and lively, party-starter “Y’all Showed Up,” Ray cranks it up, illustrating his innate ability to cross over from country into R&B and beyond.
Applauded by CMT for placing “his knack for songwriting on full display,” the kiss-off anthem “Somebody Else’s Whiskey” is currently climbing the county radio charts. The song finds the “smooth-voiced crooner” (Billboard) celebrating the freedom and excitement felt after ending a relationship, knowing your ex is finally drinking “Somebody Else’s Whiskey.”
Intermixing fun and sultry Latin vibes, standout track “Wasting Your Words,” finds Rolling Stone’s “Artist to Watch” painting a vivid picture of how a couple keeps their spark alive, despite distance.
Ray also pays tribute to country music’s greatest legends like Dolly, George, Waylon and more in the nostalgic “Back Before My Time.” From the wailing pedal steel to the rollicking guitar licks, the good-time track transports you back to Country music’s glory days, before rounding out the project with “Party with Strangers,” which perfectly captures who Frank Ray is – a guy who turns strangers into immediate lifelong friends.
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About Frank Ray:
Texas chart-topper, bilingual recording artist and former police officer - Frank Ray is busting open the doors for a modern Latino Country movement. Growing up just three miles from the border in New Mexico, Frank was immersed in the best of both worlds - enriched by his Mexican culture and surrounded by Texas Country music. Praised as “easygoing contemporary Country with Pop-Soul hooks and a dash of Southwestern spice” (Rolling Stone), Frank’s “catalog is representative of his fun personality and flair” (Country Now), expertly blending ‘90s Texas Country, Latin, R&B and Pop. As an entertainer, Frank delivers electrifying, high-energy performances that has something for everyone. With immense cross-cultural appeal and a panorama of influences, Ray “is looking to stretch Country music’s cultural boundaries” (Los Angeles Times).
In the three short years since embarking on his musical journey full-time, he has racked up two No. 1 singles and three Top 10 singles on Texas Country Radio, become a staff songwriter, landed Frank Rogers (Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker) as his producer, signed a record deal with BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records and much more. Along with being named an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone and Amazon Music USA as well as a “Listen Up Artist” by CMT, Ray has appeared on USA Network’s Real Country, been profiled in the Los Angeles Times and on NBC's TODAY.
Recently on tour with Old Dominion and now performing at major music festivals across the U.S, Frank visits first responders through his mental-health initiative FRAY, at each tour stop, and provides them with the necessary tools for mental clarity. Having shared stages with Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore, LANCO, Hunter Hayes and more, the versatile entertainer was just named to CRS New Faces’ Class of 2023. Featured on his self-titled, label-debut album, is the cheeky “Somebody Else’s Whiskey” is currently climbing the Country radio charts. The album, Frank Ray, is available across streaming platforms now.