Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Ray.
Hi Zach, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started taking piano from our church pianist, Deidra Fuzzell when I was eight years old. It wasn’t long before I started singing on that same stage there at our little church in Blanchard, Oklahoma. Music has been a part of my life ever since. Moving on from piano I decided to take up guitar after a buddy of mine said that he was going to.
An Oklahoma treasure, by the name of Joe Settlemires, decided to open a guitar shop on Main Street in our town, and boy was I glad he did. He and his wife Donna instilled knowledge and a whole lot of confidence into a kid who could barely play a G chord. Not only did Joe teach you how to play the guitar, but He also taught you why you were doing certain things this way, and other things that way.
Once I got to my freshman year of high school, sports started taking up a lot of my time. Music didn’t take a back seat, it just moved over to the passenger side for a while. It was during this time that our church started a praise band and I got to play guitar and sing and lead worship.
It was there that I got to learn what being in a band was all about! During my junior year of high school, a few of us formed a band and after some long, thought-over discussion we came up with the name MacArthur Road. Although it was short-lived, we rocked the talent show and the FFA Barnyard Dance!
After high school, I was recruited to play football at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Little did I know, that those four years would shape me into the artist that I am today. I ended up with a minor in music and got to learn from so many brilliant professors in the music department at Southeastern.
In my freshman year, I started playing in a band for a guy named Logan Russell, and a year or so later branched out and started my own band with a good friend, Drew McKinney. We played all over southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. A lot of great memories were made with those guys! We learned what being on the road was like and how to live out of a pickup truck and a covered trailer!
A new chapter began once Nashville came calling. My wife (Brittney) and I moved here in July of 2016, just six months after we got married. The last six years have flown by so fast! In just a short time, I have met so many amazing people, and I recorded and released 2 EP’s!
I have gotten the chance to play at a lot of great venues in Nashville, and play regularly at Ole Red, and the Wildhorse Saloon. At the beginning of 2022 I started releasing brand new music. My newest EP “Roots” comes out on May 27th!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being so far away from family has always been hard and their love and support have definitely made being here easier.
Finding my sound and the direction I want my music to go took a while to figure out. It’s easy to buy into what commercially is selling and what people are into at a certain season. At the end of the day, you have to stay true to yourself and it took some time to learn that. I never want to be fake or not genuine.
The hardest thing for me personally is comparison. It’s easy to compare myself to others who are further along than me, but also to those who are on the same level as me. I do think it’s good to see what other people are doing, and taking what you like and leaving what you don’t.
I don’t have it all figured out but once I stopped comparing every little thing, I became a whole lot happier!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an aspiring country music artist and songwriter. I sing about the things that are important to me. My faith, my family, and the things that happen in life, good and bad.
I love songs that tell a story and that are genuine. Writing songs helps me process what I’ve experienced in life and hopefully helps others who are going through the same thing.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Brittney – my wife, and my biggest supporter. I am so lucky to have her by my side and she inspires me to continue pursuing my dreams and achieving my goals.
Momma – Linda Ray. Growing up she was and still is my biggest fan. She gave me the early confidence that I could do anything! She would film, take pictures, pick out my “wardrobe” and so much more.
Dad – Greg Ray. He taught me everything I know. Running a tractor, clearing brush, building fences, and a whole lot more. He showed me the importance of working hard, and never giving up. He also introduced me to George Strait and Elvis, two of my biggest influences.
My sisters – Alex and Jacque. For putting up with all of the noises I made learning how to play all kinds of instruments!
Uncle Ryon – He was the first one to introduce me to music. I thought he was the coolest, singing and playing his guitar. Anytime we get together music is made!
Deidra Fuzzell – She taught me to play my first instrument, the piano. Truth be told, I kind of had a crush on her, so it made going to lessons a lot easier!
Joe and Donna Settlemires – He taught me how to play the guitar. He is one of Oklahoma’s best-kept secrets that a whole lot of people probably haven’t even heard of him. He was only the youngest Texas Playboy to play for THE Bob Wills back in the day. Anyone wanting to play guitar in a 30-mile radius most likely found their way to Joe! So thankful for him and Donna. She always said, “chicks love guitar players.”
FUMC of Blanchard Praise Team – Tim Nagode and Michael Reardon and myself made up the first band I played in. Shortly after we added Marci Corey and Dylan Nagode and we were set! Loved the time I got to spend with each of them.
MacArthur Road – The high school band. Kolby Yarbrough convinced me to take guitar lessons with him. Josh Warren, who provided the beats, and Thorne Stallings on the bass. Childhood friends who were bonded together with our love of sports and music.
Southern Company – College band with one of my best friends, Drew McKinney. We met our freshmen year of college and formed a band shortly thereafter. We learned so much together and added some awesome guys to play with us! Joey Todd, Nate Lamb, and Corbett Potter.
Southeastern Music Department – Such a great staff and faculty that I got to learn from. Dr. Stacey Weger, Dr. Tristan Eggener, Mrs. Debbie Gilliam, and many more!
Dr. Jeremy Blackwood – He was my first voice teacher and really taught me how to sing correctly. He was one of my biggest supporters during my time at Southeastern.
Matt Papa – He was the reason we initially moved to Nashville. We didn’t know anyone except him and his family. They got us through the first few years of being gone and so far from our family.
Clearview Baptist Church – Thankful for such a caring church family who believes in helping you find your purpose and why God created you.
TW Hale – He took me under his wing and helped me craft my songwriting skills. He also helped produce my first EP.
The Warren Brothers – Great friends and mentors who have helped me every step of the way, by giving me advice and letting me sing their songs!
My band – Beau Tackett, Philip DeSteiguer, Tracy Broussard, Kevin Post, and Larry Craft. They all play for major label artists for their day jobs, but I am so lucky to have them when they’re in town. They make me a better performer and musician every time we take the stage.
My fans and supporters – I’m so honored to gain fans after each show. Y’all are the reason I do what I do. Thank you for coming to the shows and following my career!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zachraymusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zachraymusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/zach.ray.33
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/zachraymusic
Image Credits
Derrick Hood, Dillon Sherlock, and Brett Culver