July has been a great month for this country music singer and TSE Entertainment Featured Artist, especially July 13th. That’s the day Frank’s single “Drive” hit number 1 on the Texas Regional Radio charts and Rolling Stone Country Magazine named his new single, “Tequila Mockingbird” as among the 10 best songs to hear that week.
It’s been less than a year since Frank handed in his badge and left his job as a Las Cruces, New Mexico police officer to pursue his dream of a career in country music. He partnered with El Paso-based White Knuckle Productions to launch his career as a solo artist. Since then his career has been on a fast climbing trajectory to country music stardom.
“Leaving my family in blue behind to pick up the slack was definitely hard.” But Frank added, “They’ve always been supportive of my music aspirations, and I think they knew it was coming.” After all, he’s been singing since he was a child and began writing songs in 2005. Frank later fronted the popular Las Cruces, New Mexico band, “Border Avenue,” which he formed in 2013 in collaboration with relatives and close friends. He made a name for himself as a local country artist when he was approached by White Knuckle Productions. Since then, everything in his life has changed.
A triple-threat songwriter, singer, and guitarist, Ray wrote all the songs on his debut EP, “Different Kind of Country.” The studio recording team coordinated by Oscar Chavira of White Knuckle Productions pulled off a great sounding EP. We partnered up with Tony Ardoin, music producer from Louisiana and immediately got to work at the world class Sonic Ranch Recording Studios in Tornillo, TX.
That effort spawned two top-ten hits on Texas Country Radio. The inspiration for the riveting title track “Different Kind of Country” comes from Rayʼs experience as a Hispanic American. The themes of his infectious songs are resonating with country fans nationwide, with his YouTube vlogs capturing his rapid rise.
Frank Ray, Country Music Singer and Rolling Stone Magazine Favorite
In December of 2017, Rolling Stone Magazine, named him one of the 10 new Country Artists You Need to Know. Here’s their comment about Frank
Why You Should Pay Attention: Frank Ray, a former police officer with the Las Cruces, New Mexico, force, left his full-time police job a few months ago and his country singing career has been accelerating rapidly since then. An experienced performer who had the chance to open shows for A Thousand Horses and Keith Urban with his previous band, Ray’s solo debut EP Different Kind of Country was released earlier in 2017. The EP’s forlorn lead single “Every Time You Run” is currently making its way toward the Top 20 of the Texas Regional Radio Report, a list highlighting the week’s most popular Red Dirt titles. In his song “Different Kind of Country,” Ray sings about the Hispanic immigrant experience in America, highlighting cultural differences but pointing out values – including family and hard work – shared with the country audience. “I wanted it to be a message to say, ‘Hey, we’re different but we’re very much the same,’” he says. “But also from a logistical standpoint, we can’t deport every single illegal immigrant – United States agriculture highly relies on that labor. We have to find a way to make it work.”
Easygoing contemporary country with pop-soul hooks and a dash of Southwestern spice is how Rolling Stone described his solo debut EP.
This July, here’s what Rolling Stone Magazine said about his latest single. Frank Ray, “Tequila Mockingbird”
“She’s my low tide and my high tide / My umbrella in my Mai Thai,” Frank Ray sings, rattling off a string of boozy, beachy metaphors in celebration of his lady friend. A former police offer who spent a decade patrolling the streets of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Ray tackled topical subjects like immigration on his 2017 EP Different Kind of Country. “Tequila Mockingbird” is a fowl of a different feather, though, with Ray – who filmed the song’s music video in the appropriate setting of Key West, Florida – shifting his attention to waves, women and popped tops. Surf’s up.
Hear for Yourself: Ray shows off his soulful vocals in the single “Every Time You Run,” where he subtly shifts gender narratives by letting his female love interest be the restless wanderer who refuses to be tied down. J.F.
The new track, “Tequila Mockingbird,” was recorded and produced in Nashville by Songwriter Hall of Famer and producer, Steve Dorff, and is available on all digital platforms.
This Country Music Singer Brings His Immigrant Heritage to His Songs
Frank sings about the cherished values in Country Music including family and hard work and the positive impact immigrant labor has in America’s agriculture. Ray’s inspiration for his first EP title track, “Different Kind of Country,” came from the Hispanic immigrant experience in America.
Touring the Country and bringing his brand of country music, Frank has shared the stage with the likes of Keith Urban, Granger Smith, Josh Turner, Eli Young Band, John Michael Montgomery and many other great country music artists.
You can follow Frank and see all of the hard work, struggles and behind the scenes if you follow him on social media. He has taken social media by storm and has grown a massive following in a just a short time. Changing the game, he vlogs evey time he hits the road. Every episode is raw, from emotional struggles to high energy performances, Ray shows it all.
“It’s a way for me to connect with fans on a personal level sharing advertures on the road from heartfelt moments to funny conversations. The game is changing with how social media helps an artist develop and it’s amazing to see what it has done for us so far” says Frank. He doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Neither does TSE as we seek to raise the awareness and booking of this fast rising country music singer. TSE is delighted to have Frank part of our roster family. Visit Frank Ray’s Artist Page on the TSE website.
With now 3 singles now charting with one already hitting number 1 on Texas Regional Country Radio Charts, Frank can bring his brand of country music to your next fair, festival, concert, gala or corporate occasion.
It’s time to lock him in now for your event while you still can. Call TSE at 1-800-865-8203 or email us at tsebooking@tseentertainment for Frank’s availability and pricing information.
