Michael Ray‘s new album, Amos, is named as a sweet tribute to the man who inspired him to become a musician, his grandfather. Ray’s grandfather passed away just two months prior to Ray’s debut on the Grand Ole Opry, and he was the one who gave him his start in music, inviting him to play with the family band from the time he was just 9 years old.
The 11-song collection produced by Scott Hendricks is set for release on Friday, June 1, and includes songs penned by Rhett Akins, Josh Osborne, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Matt McGinn, and more. Fans can pre-order the album today and hear Ray’s current Top 20-and-climbing single, “Get To You,” as well as his show opener “Fan Girl.”
“When it came time to pick the next song for fans to hear, I listened to the fans,” shares Ray. “For months we have been playing these songs on the road and we start most every show with ‘Fan Girl,’ so it was time to put this song in their hands. The lyrics, ‘You give me that front row feeling/Screaming with my hands up/Walk in the room and everybody stands up,’ create such a powerful visual. That – equated to how you feel about a girl — is a perspective I had not heard before, yet I know exactly what that feeling is.”
The collection includes songs like the nostalgic “Summer Water,” which evokes memories of Ray’s upbringing on the waters of central Florida, “Dancing Forever” a tender ballad, and “Drink One For Me” in which Ray pays tribute to his friends in the military.
Amos Track Listing:
“Fan Girl” (Matt Jenkins/Brad Tursi/Josh Osborne)
“One That Got Away” (Josh Osborne/Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Jesse Frasure)
“Summer Water” (Heather Morgan/Lee Thomas Miller)
“Get To You” (Abe Stoklasa/Pavel Dovgalyuk)
“Forget About It” (Luke Laird/Jaren Johnston)
“Her World Or Mine” (Brett Beavers/Jamie Paulin/Travis Denning)
“You’re On” (Chase McGill/Jessi Alexander/Matt Jenkins)
“I’m Gonna Miss You” (Corey Crowder/Matt McGinn)
“Dancing Forever” (Ross Copperman/Shane McAnally/Matt Ramsey/Trevor Rosen)
“Girl From Spring Break” (Ben Hayslip/Emily Weisband/ Rhett Akins)
“Drink One For Me” (Josh Thompson/Jimmy Robbins/Jon Nite)
About the Author
Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
