Songwriter's Tales with Bobby Ray

Anyone who has the privilege to meet my next featured artist has experienced the Bobby Ray effect. Something about that meeting makes you leave feeling a little lighter and like you were meant to be where you are. Whether that be the jokes he tells which make you immediately right at home, the stories he shares between songs that bring you into the experience that is his music, or the serenading with vocals that make you feel like you're listening to James Taylor's newest music.

I had the privilege to meet Bobby Ray when he was hosting his Rocking Writers Round at the Bad Axe. He hosted these rounds weekly, providing a place for any songwriter coming through Nashville to have a place to grace a stage. Bobby met me at the beginning stage of my musical journey, and that seems to be the best place to start this interview.

When I asked Bobby about the process for his musical journey his response was " I started playing when I was 5 years old. I grew up listening to Classic Country Music. Johnny Cash was the biggest influence. As I grew my musical influences had changed. Elvis, Kiss, Cheap Trick, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, and The Eagles, took my music in a whole new direction. The singer-songwriter is what I strived to be. The thought of being able to play the guitar other than the 4 chords I knew, was to me something only the guitar Gods could do. I played in church most of my life. At 16 I had a Gospel Group "Higher Ground" that played on the radio, In College I had a group that had traveled as a Youth Ministry "Cracked Image", and in my 30's I had a Contemporary Christian Rock Group that traveled and recorded an album, "Penitent Heart". During Bible College I played in my first Bar with a Country band called Darkened Creek, we didn't last. After I left School I joined my buddies band "The Hearts of Stone", as a bass Player. Jump ahead to 2018 after years of playing in Church, I got my real taste of playing music and making money When I played for the Western Pennsylvania Funeral Directors convention. When I saw the fruits of my labor, I knew then this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. My wife Adrienne and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2021 right after we got married."

That's probably my favorite part of Bobby Ray's story is when he met Adrienne and moved to Nashville. I can't imagine what Bobby would be like without his other half! When I asked Bobby Ray about the highlight of his career he doesn't share from the success of his time with the other bands but focuses more on his recent growth. "Getting Nominated for a Josie Award, I would say is one of my biggest Highlights. It was the only time that I've been to the grand ole Opry for the ceremony. It was special because most of my family was here. I was nominated for two categories, it was for my song that I wrote with my Wife, Daughter and Son in law. "Red Bull and Cigarettes". My wife rented us a limo it was great I felt like a real winner, I lost, and came home in an Uber...I think that's hilarious!"

I am definitely taking notes on that moment! If my husband is reading this, plan for a limo if I get nominated to a Josie's award this year. My next question to ask Bobby Ray was to tell me about a story he never gets tired of from his musical journey. He responded with, "When I was with my Christian Rock band Penitent Heart, We were invited to play at the Ohio State fair. What We didn't know was that We had to play with no Electricity, on top of that they set us up in a tent in front of a Go Kart Track, right across from the High Diving Pirate act. Needless to say the Pirates stole the show. I measure the success of my performance not on the money but if you can get the people to dance. whether it be with a band or an acoustic guitar, it makes it all worth while."

Now that I know it is all about the dancing for Bobby Ray, I will be dancing at his next 422 West (Bobby Ray's band) show. My favorite question to ask other songwriter's is out of all the song's you have written which one is special to you and why. For Bobby Ray, that song is, "You and Me in Tennessee", when asked this question he stated, " It's the story of Adrienne and I making the move. We both went down some rough waters with our past relationships, and it wasn't until we found each other that we found true happiness. and the icing on the cake was She followed me to chase my dream. No one ever believed in me like she has."

What is up next for Bobby Ray? "422 West has a busy schedule this summer. I'll be playing regularly at Lee Rascone's Writers night at the Maxwell House Hotel, Music for Seniors Music Programs, Rockin on the Roost, Scooters Place, Clifton Marina, East Nash Beer Works and a bunch more"

Check out Bobby Ray's latest release, "The Preacher's Daughter. the story of a rebellious child that came to the end of her Rope. I wish I could have got this song to Johnny Cash, but He had already passed by the time I made it to Tennessee. It was inspired by the Mini Series Hell on Wheels, and all of Johnny's Death Row songs. I recorded it with my band 422 West. Brian Baudino, Steve Brown. Matt Depoister, Drew Pieratt (Matt Nagy, Zach Lass)"