michael ray

Michael Ray is an American country music star currently best known for his hit albums Michael Ray (2015) and Amos (2018), both of which made the US Country top five and Billboard 200. He has also released six gold-certified singles, and his debut single, 2015’s ‘Kiss You in the Morning’, hit the top of the US Country Airplay charts. His biggest hit to date is ‘Think a Little Less’, which made the Billboard Hot 100, the Country top three, and was one of the 50 biggest country songs of 2016. In 2020, he returned with ‘Whiskey and Rain’, the lead single from his much-anticipated fourth album.

Ray was born in Florida in 1988. As a child, he was taught guitar by his grandfather, Amos, who also encouraged him to perform at local retirement homes. In 2010, he released his first album, a self-funded, self-released, and self-titled effort. The album missed the charts but found him a manager, and his next step towards fame came when he won The CW’s talent show The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep in 2012, mentored by judge and country superstar John Rich.

In the wake of his TV success, Ray was signed by Warner Music Nashville and released a live EP in 2014. The following year, his second album (again, self-titled) was released to instant acclaim. It spawned three hit singles: ‘Kiss You in the Morning’, ‘Real Men Love Jesus’, and ‘Think a Little Less’. In 2018, he released his next album, Amos, named in honour of his inspirational grandfather. Now established as a country music force, his next album will be sure to follow the last two up the charts.