Deemed by Rolling Stone as a “lonesome track” with “shades of Gary Allan and the Eighties swing of Ronnie Milsap,” Michael Ray readies the official music video for his latest single “Whiskey And Rain” with a teasing prequel, presenting visualizer elements and a cinematic theme. Watch the prequel HERE.
With two hit albums, five RIAA-Gold certified songs and three No. 1’s under his belt, Ray released “Whiskey And Rain,” the lead single from his upcoming third project, while looking back on the songs and heroes he grew up with, equipped to deliver what he loves about country music: storytelling, vulnerability and honesty.
“I miss story songs that you have to listen to all the way through to understand. This song is everything I love about country music – traditional country music, like Tim McGraw and Earl Thomas Conley, and I want to bring that back,” shares Ray.
Written by Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure and produced by Ross Copperman, “Whiskey And Rain” is “a throwback to brooding songs from the ‘80s and ‘90s with solid production by Ross Copperman highlighting Ray’s vulnerable delivery,” declares Billboard, while Sounds Like Nashville notes the track “leans more into the warm familiarity of 90’s country and boasts plenty of beautiful steel guitar and fiddle sounds— marking the singer’s return to his roots.”
Ray’s prequel video for “Whiskey And Rain” follows his performance video released alongside the single on Sept. 25. Watch the performance video HERE.
With touring currently on hold, Ray has established a weekly virtual series, Honkytonk Tuesday, where he is joined by surprise guests to perform their favorite ‘80s and ‘90s tunes. To-date, Ray has been joined by Clint Black, Mark Wills, Marty Raybon, Aaron Tippin and Steve Wariner, among others. Honkytonk Tuesdays are streamed live on Ray’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter at 7 p.m. CT and shared on Instagram immediately following the stream.
“Whiskey And Rain” follows the release of “Her World Or Mine,” with the official music video starring Chad Michael Murray garnering over 19 million views on YouTube since its premiere with “Good Morning America” and ABC.com last October.
About Michael Ray
For Michael Ray, music is his grandfather singing and sweating on a rural Florida stage. It’s the childhood refuge he found during the pain of his parents’ divorce. It’s family and stories, history and hope. Ray says music saved him, but it did even more: Music made him. In four short years, Ray has built an impressive foundation. Three No. 1 songs “Kiss You in the Morning,” “Think a Little Less,” and “One That Got Away,” plus “Get to You” and “Her World or Mine,” brings his tally to five Gold-certified singles. The poignant “Her World or Mine”––the third song off of his sophomore album Amos––also produced a video that has captured more than 19 million YouTube views since its debut less than a year ago. Now, two hit albums into that all-too-rare blend of critically acclaimed and commercially successful career, Ray has released “Whiskey And Rain,” the first single off of his upcoming project produced by GRAMMY-nominated song whisperer Ross Copperman. Proof that heartbroken wallowing can feel good if it swings, “Whiskey and Rain” also cements Ray as the ideal bridge between vintage country cool and modern country’s best sounds. See Ray live every Tuesday on his Honkytonk Tuesday virtual series, where he plays his favorite ‘80s and ‘90s tunes with surprise guests. Learn more about Ray at MichaelRayMusic.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelRayMusic and Facebook.com/MusicMichaelRay.