Former cop turned country music sensation, Frank Ray will soon perform at the Enmarket Arena as a part of the “No Bad Vibes” tour with chart-topping band Old Dominion. It’s Ray’s first time in the Hostess City, and he’s enjoying his time here albeit brief.
“I know I’ve probably passed through, but I’ve never gotten to enjoy Savannah the way it was intended to be, like over here at the Plant Riverside District,” said Ray.
Touring the country and performing the music he loves, Ray is truly living his dream. Music has enabled him to achieve much through the years, and he’s showing no signs of slowing anytime soon. So far, his career has afforded him many major opportunities, for which he’s grateful.
“CMA Fest has been super fun, just being a part of that community and getting embraced by mainstream country music and the organizations like CMA and CMT and the ACM — all these different award shows that I’ve been able to play to showcase my contribution to country music. It’s always going to be an honor,” he recounted.
Ray described his current tour with Old Dominion as a “big win,” adding that it was a great opportunity to perform with talented artists that he looks up to. He also said that collaborating with some of the best songwriters in Nashville has been another highlight of his career.
“I’ve had a lot of very fortunate things come my way,” Ray stated.
What he loves most about music is the creative process and being able to share his passion with the public.
“I think when it comes to the stuff I create, from playing with melodies and inventing different musical arrangements and things like that, and, of course, maintaining some honest lyrics as well. Those are all elements that I enjoy about music. Performing is obviously up there as well. Being able to perform these songs — you know, I can write them all day, but if I don’t get to share it with the public then it really means nothing. But just being able to create and perform is all I’ve ever dreamed to do. And the fact that I get to do it now, and in this capacity as a signed artist on a major label, it’s been incredible,” he expressed.
Ray described music as his “life’s passion” and said that he’s been singing as long as he can remember. In 2005, he picked up the guitar and began writing his own songs, playing with a local band in his spare time. From 2007 to 2017, Ray worked as a police officer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but he always sought out opportunities to perform.
“By day, I was a cop, and by night, I was playing country music in all the honky-tonks. And so, everyone always knew that I would lean to that side, and it was more than just a hobby for me,” Ray said.
Eventually he caught the attention of El Paso, Texas-based manager Oscar Chavira and together, they decided to pursue music more seriously.
“We hit the ground running. And with his business savvy and my musical talents combined, we were able to make some pretty significant strides in the genre,” he recalled.
When Frank’s music career really started taking off, it became difficult to balance it all while working full-time as a law enforcement officer. He consulted with his wife, and after receiving her blessing, he decided to go all in on his music.
“In August of 2017, I decided to hang up the badge and picked up a guitar, and here we are,” said Ray.
A point of distinction among other country artists is that Ray is of Hispanic heritage, and he’s at the forefront of a growing Latino country music movement. According to the Country Music Association, the genre’s Hispanic listeners have grown by 25 percent since 2010 and the trend is likely to continue. Ray recognizes the importance of representation and hopes to open doors for more diverse artists within the genre.
“I think we’re definitely pioneering this new generation of Latin artists in country music. It’s a culture that hasn’t really been represented by Hispanic artists or Latino artists for the better part of two or three decades now. I think it’s important because some of the fastest growing consumers in country music are of the Hispanic demographic. . . It only makes sense that they have an artist that they can relate to. Someone they can look at to carry that torch for the culture. That’s something I’m really proud to be doing,” he explained.
Making country music more inclusive isn’t the only cause Ray has taken on. He also advocates for and raises awareness about first responders’ mental health. As a former cop, Ray has an intimate understanding of the pressures and challenges that first responders face every day and how those stressors can negatively affect their mental wellbeing. To raise awareness, Ray has teamed up with his manager as well as his publicist Jeff Gulco to create FRAY, a mental wellness campaign for first responders.
FRAY stands for First Responders MentAl ClaritY, and the mission is to equip our nation’s first responders with tools, resources and education that promote their mental wellbeing alongside that of their families and communities. Through FRAY, Ray uses his platform to counter negative narratives and humanize police officers and other first responders.
“They often get painted with a broad stroke that they’re all bad people. Pretty much anybody who has a badge is worth caring about. And the fact of the matter is that they go out. It’s a human being who puts on this uniform every single day to go and provide a service. It’s far too often a thankless one. And they deal with traumas and experiences that the general public will never have to experience,” said Ray.
FRAY is an online hub that directs first responders to the resources they need when facing mental health challenges. The site also connects visitors to organizations that can intervene when there’s a crisis, be it domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse, suicidal ideologies or other issues. Ray hopes to provide first responders in need with a supportive place to turn.
“[Being a first responder] comes with a huge burden of responsibility and accountability. And that in and of itself takes a huge toll on you both physically and mentally. Not only that, but the trauma that you experience. It can range from officer-involved shootings, vehicle pursuits, fatalities, infant deaths, crimes against children, all throughout your career. And then they give you a pat on the back, thank you for your service and send you back out into society. . . That can be difficult to navigate through,” he explained.
Through his work with FRAY, Ray aims to help shift public perception of first responders away from politics and towards empathy.
“Remember that there is a human being who puts on that uniform every day. And despite how you might feel about police in America or firefighters or EMS, corrections, whatever it is — despite what your personal feelings might be, if you can set that aside and remember that these people are doing a very difficult job and that they could use all the help that you get, we might be better off as a society. . . The scary statistic is that first responders are 80 percent more likely to take their own lives than to die in the line of duty,” Ray said.
While he’s been touring, Ray has made a point to visit police stations and firehouses in the cities where he performs to speak with first responders about mental health and all the resources and organizations that are available to them. He plans to visit local first responders in Savannah before his performance.
On a national level, Ray recently collaborated with members of the U.S. Senate, Capitol Police, Veterans Affairs board members, mental health experts and representatives from the International Association of Firefighters, to advocate for first responders.
“It was just incredible to see how many people came together and how necessary this conversation is. That was just the first of many events that we hope to put on and work with our nation’s leaders to develop legislation to provide funding for more research and resources,” he stated.
Ray implores any first responders who may be struggling to take the first step of asking for help, adding that FRAY is a resource that’s available to them if they don’t know where to turn.
In all, Ray is honored to be able to use his platform to raise awareness and advocate for our first responders. And he’s glad that his music has made a way for him to do that. He encourages country-music fans to come out to the concert and enjoy what he has to offer.
“[The show] is high energy, fun and engaging. It’s just a party. . . It’s a great responsibility. It’s an awesome opportunity, and I know people are going to have a good time,” Ray beamed.
Frank Ray and Old Dominion will be performing Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Enmarket Arena. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com. To keep up with Ray, follow him on all social media platforms @FrankRayMusic and visit him online at FrankRayMusic.com.
