Mixes country music with southern rock; brings out a cutting edge style he simply calls Swampy Tonk.

11 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Rock, ROCK: Roots Rock



Details:
Artist's Roots Run Deep in Louisiana

From the bayous of Louisiana comes a sound that is new, yet hauntingly familiar.

Being raised in the small community of Weston, just outside of Jonesboro Louisiana, Michael Ray would sing for the first time in church, and then go on to perform on weekend shows around the area such as the Louisiana Hayride. After landing the rhythm guitar seat in local rocker Jerry Tisdale's band, Michael Ray was soon making the circuit of beer-joints and dancehalls scattered throughout the region.

Michael Ray led the Cullen Baker band to regional success, and after it's break-up, founded the band Stars-N-Bars that would keep him working almost every night for the next few years. As the band evolved into a southern rock show, he would leave once more in search of his country roots. Michael Ray would go on to take a handful of Louisiana boys into the studio and come out with a great debut album entitled WANTED MAN and a powerful sound he calls "Swampy Tonk".

Shortly after its release he would meet Southern Rocker Jimmie VanZant, who invited Michael Ray to collaborate on his next album. After two weeks in the studio, Michael Ray was asked to join VanZant's band and go on tour.

Playing for so many people and traveling to so many places, Michael Ray found himself on stage with many of his heroes. Michael Ray was performing his song "Concrete and Steel" every night, and was blown away by the response he was getting.

"People were going wild every time we played "Concrete," remembers Michael Ray.

"We were selling copies of Wanted Man all over the country and, when fans found out the radio stations didn't have it, they began taking their own copies down and the stations started playing it. " My fans have done so much for me " says Michael Ray, "They are as big a part of what's happening as I am."

With the fans distributing the album, the first shipment quickly sold out and Michael Ray began to feel as if he needed to get back to his fans and music. Returning to Louisiana, Michael Ray quickly reassembled his band and began playing and promoting his album.

"Country music is where my heart is. My fans believe in my music as well as what I stand for, and I am just as proud of them as they are of me." This attitude, along with the way he delivers his hard driving songs and his soft country ballads, is just a part of what keeps him a WANTED MAN.