Atlantic/Warner Music NashvilleSunshine State native Michael Ray grew up playing in what he describes as a “redneck Partridge Family” band with his grandfather, dad, and cousins. In fact, the band was called Country Cousins.
So when it came time to name his sophomore effort, the “Get to You” hitmaker decided to make it a tribute to his family’s patriarch, Amos, who inspired his love for country music.
“Amos, my grandfather, got out of the Army, married my grandmother,” he tells ABC Radio. “They were married 53 years. They had my dad and my uncle.”
“He was so passionate about music,” Michael goes on, “and all those shows that we played — that I played together with him — he wasn’t getting paid for that. And he was traveling all over Florida. But he took it as serious as if he was playing Madison Square Garden and getting paid a million dollars.”
So what would Amos think of the album that now bears his name?
“Oh!” Michael laughs, as he ponders the question. “He would love it… ‘Summer Water’ and ‘Her World or Mine’ would probably be his two favorites. He would love ‘Fan Girl’ and ‘You’re On’ because of the guitar. He’d give me a little crap about ’em being too rock, but he wouldn’t say too much. But he would love the album as a whole.”
While Michael’s grandad did enjoy rock and the blues to some extent, there was no doubt what his first love was.
“He was a music fan,” Michael explains. “He had all the Eric Clapton, all the Stevie Ray VaughanDVDs. He had all of that stuff, but in his heart was traditional country music.”
Michael’s second album, Amos, is new in stores and online today.
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