Michael Ray has returned to the country scene stronger than ever. It’s been two years since the Florida native released Higher Education, the collection that features his No. 1 single “Whiskey and Rain.”
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Ray brought his A-game to CMA Fest over the weekend to debut his next EP. The vocalist kicked off his jammed-packed schedule at Nashville’s The 5 Spot and gave fans the first taste of the forthcoming six-song project, Dive Bars & Broken Hearts.
Ray worked with longtime collaborator and CMA Album of the Year-winning producer Michael Knox to cultivate the collection.
“I had been wanting a way to play this to the people who’ve been part of my life and my career from the beginning,” shared Ray in a press release. “CMA Fest brings country music fans together from not just across North America, but all over the world. So many of my fans come every year, this seemed like the perfect way to debut all this music as a whole collected work without playing favorites and picking a city.”
Ray has already released the title track, “Workin’ On It,” and “Get Her Back.” Each song displays Ray’s contagious country twang and witty wordplay. Although Ray was eager to share the project, he was more excited to connect with his devoted community live and in person.
“Songs on a record are one thing,” explained Ray. “But songs in a bar with real people are something else. Not until you get into that room and hear the people do you know. And growing up in Eustis, with my Grandpa working all day, coming home, getting dressed up, and heading out to where the music was, I learned the power of that pretty young.”
Following the sneak peek, he brought the project to the Grand Ole Opry. Ray stepped into the sacred circle on Friday (June 9). With an acoustic guitar wrapped around his neck, he delivered “Dive Bars & Broken Hearts.”
Damn, girl, we’re no good, but somehow still so good | Guess I’m just a Jones song, and you’re my steel guitar | We’ll dance on forever to that broken record | Girl, we go together like dive bars and broken hearts, Ray belted, backed by the Opry house band. Baby, love me slow, sunrise wakin’ up a long night | Misery and gin, we go like dive bars and broken hearts.
The six-additional tracks will become available on June 23. Ahead of the release, Ray will appear at Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Connor Vaughan Morrs / Courtesy Essential Broadcast Media
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