Junior Ray considers himself a lucky man—why? Because he was born a cowboy, and raised blue collar, in a ranch community in the high country of the Rocky Mountains. The sixth generation cowboy and fifth generation rodeo man’s talents go beyond just that of a hand; a reputation his peers speak highly of. Fact is, his list of accomplishments leave one wondering if he’s one man. It is why he tours the country both as an artist but also as a motivational speaker.

The last decade has seen Junior Ray break out in many arenas, and not just the ones where he’s a three event professional rodeo cowboy; riding bare back, saddle bronc, and bulls; but in the arenas of entertainment and media. His first novel Sanctuary Ranch from his series The Seven Roads to Cheyenne, made several best seller lists within its first two week of release (Barnes&Noble 41/2 stars). In its first six months, it was optioned for film, scheduled to begin production in 2009 (IMDB.com). Ray is looking to release the next books to the series in 2009. All portray modern cowboy life in the world and sub-culture of professional rodeo with the ‘Daddy of’em All’ Cheyenne Frontier Days and Wyoming as the back drop. “Its my way of carrying on our legend, pay homage to my heroes and peers and bragging on the one true place I call home  . . .Wyoming.”

Ray’s writing talents opened even more doors for the cowboy/businessman. The songwriter and vocalists released his first country/western album Rodeo Heroes and Friends in April of 2006. The concept album was a tribute to his idols and heroes; most importantly his biggest life influence, Chris LeDoux. The record saw a familiar name to LeDoux fans, song writer Donny Blanz of (You Just Cant See‘em from the Road) fame worked on tracks. The album such a cult success a follow up was decided on. Teaming up with Executive Producer and world renowned western painter, Gary Sohrwied, and producer Ernie Martinez, the album ‘I Do It for Me’ hit stores August of 2008.

Ray’s artistic vision has been sought out in the business from top to bottom. He’s appeared in numerous Hollywood productions, from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Shadow Walkers, to a role in the NBC/USA series ‘In Plain Sight”. He’s also spent the last three years as one of the front runners of a national Dodge truck commercial series. A stunt man for several years prior to taking on acting, but the most impressive line item on his resume is director. From directing music videos for major label artists to witting and directing four American and European films including the action film My Fallen Angel, Chasing Yesterday and Muse. His dedication to being an athlete, Hollywood smile and good looks have open doors even in the modeling world, a small fact he‘ll blush more than talk about.

“It’s been a serious ride of momentum. In the beginning I let myself just get swamped and took on everything. I was rather green in the beginning but I spent some time focused on the business, lived in L.A. and really learned the business. Now I’m focusing on my goals of music, rodeo and writing; if I stay focused the rest will fall into place.  Failure is not an option.There is a misconception that cowboy’s and I mean real cowboys are not educated. Cowboy’s are businessmen and built this country from the back of a horse. There is nothing I can’t learn or do. Cowboys never brag about what they can do they just do it. At the end of the day, whether in the saddle, behind the camera, in front of it, on the stage, in studio or breakin my back, like the song say’s I’ll be the last to quit and first to by the beer.”

The latest album from Junior Ray was born strictly from fans inside and out. The first album, a sub-culture success; Rodeo Heroes and Friends had been done with a specific purpose. It had the sound and feel of the late seventies and early eighties raw country/ western albums. The ‘Old stuff I grew up on and influenced me” Ray said. However, when his first record deal went bad with, what he called “People who not only didn’t know about country or its fans but didn’t have any try or want to promote the album” Ray goes on to say: “It was a terrible experience. We all had schedules to keep so the album suffered. Then the so called first label I signed with was horrible. They were so thoughtless they even spelled my producers and executive producer’s names wrong on the album and didn’t keep one promise. So I leave and thought the big break had come when a major label stepped in”
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Junior Ray felt he was on the verge. Following in his idol’s foot steps, the rodeo man was about to sign a three album deal with a major label. In the eleventh hour at signing Junior was faced with one of the biggest decisions of his career. When the powers at be showed the outlined ‘Re-invention’, as Ray called it “They  said maybe they’d consider a few rodeo songs and my new image would be more main stream and less country and NO COWBOY” Junior said he felt like his heroes and idols of the past were on his shoulder.

Not willing to sell out, he stood up tipped his hat and walked out.           
The next year would be a proving ground for his grit. His rodeo career had suffered due to injury and dubbed the ‘Ironman’ in the town in Wyoming he calls home; he seemed to take beating after beating. He spent a year on the road; promoting his best selling novel and selling his album the LeDoux way as he said. “Hey, when in Rome.” Living in horse trailers, the back of semis, the ground, he hit 127 rodeos in seven months, spending hours after each signing autographs selling CD’s. Burnt out he decided to call his music career good.

A divine encounter would come after the Brawley, California rodeo. Sitting in the airport in San Diego, Junior was ready to give up on music, movies, rodeo and pretty much life. “The whole time I kept asking myself ‘why am I doing this” Of all places for things to happen, a seriously injured, battered and beaten down Junior Ray was asked to sign an autograph from a little girl that “Had to be an angel”  an autograph on his CD. Junior wrote the very personal song I Paid the Price, But at What Coast, right there at the airport. In stepped long time friend and world renowned western painter, Gary Sorhwied; follow by the famous and talented Ernie Martinez (producer). Looking to invest he would sway Junior to do it one more time. Irritated at how Hollywood was portraying cowboys Junior and famed writer Donnie Blanz (You Just Can’t See Him From the Road) wrote the song Last Real American Cowboy, which seemed to be the theme the CD was taking. The attitude grew fast and songs like Die with Your Boots On, and the in your face Walk Your Talk. Still a fan of the ‘old stuff’ team Junior wanted to add songs that fit him, the cowboy way and the feeling of the album. “Because of my traveling I get exposed to music that some never hear.” Junior would add songs like Crazy Cowboy’s Dream, also re-doing classics with his own flair like This Ain’t My First Rodeo, and Tight Fightin’ Jeans. The album had taken on a personal life story for Junior and when some pushed for a love song Junior just couldn’t “Feel it”   “ . . . I had been on the road for four years; lost a great woman and love was just not in me. But what was, was lost love and the visions of it so I had to be true to what we were trying to say in the album.” Junior would add a very personal song and favorite from the Red Dirt genre, called “The Toast” a song not about love lost but about missed opportunity. From there he would add Broken Heartland, a song close to him because like so many farmers and ranchers, in 99’ he lost his ranch.

But the one that got it all started was the answer to a simply question. Why do I do this? Junior exhausted from life and hardships searched for exactly what he wanted to say. On the road, paying the price, friends scorned him for not giving it up and getting a ‘real’ life. Junior went back “I mean way back” and found a song that had stuck in his head from the time he was a young child. He would find his answers, the song and reinforce the cowboy in him. A song not picked up by major labels, written by Steve Buttel, for the legend himself and Junior’s idol Chris LeDoux, was the message he wanted to send to the world. A song about why he’s still a cowboy, still living the dream. The message of his life would become the name of the album and incidentally, he would shoot the video as a tribute to his home of Wyoming and his hero, Chris LeDoux. “It’s the song I’m most proud of but most likely will never make it on radio.”
A simple answer to every thing the song: I Do It for Me.

Junior’s focus on making I Do It For Me a success began even before the album had a defined release date. With no staff to handle issues and other matters like licensing, print production, etc; he took it all on. They embarked on a press tour traveling from Texas to Montana. Doing shows, radio and television interviews; just he and his Executive Producer, who admits it’s more then what he saw coming when they started out. In that time he also shot his new video and a film for entry into the Sundance Film Festival; all this while maintaining a rigorous rodeo schedule. With a budget of none.

“His pace was ridiculous but his attitude is infectious. Somehow his level of drive makes people gravitate toward him. You’d think he’d burn out but after five years on the road I think he knows what needs to be done for his goal to be achieved.”
                                                                EP, GSStudio, Inc; Gary Sorhwied

The pace grew ever faster. With his only outlet to promote himself and the new CD the business of rodeo, Junior embarked on a quest. He would compete in 117 rodeos and 91 straight with out even one day off to promote his CD; both as a saddle bronc and bull rider. With scores of wins, three series championships, a year end Championship, a cracked leg, twenty stitches, six bruised ribs, a bruised lung, multiple torn muscles, a fractured wrist and a concussion he never took one day off.

“Junior’s like a machine. You’d see him doing Rocky workouts at the rodeo grounds . . . flipping two hundred pound tractor tires, doing chin ups in horses stalls. He got hurt so bad one night( bull riding) we thought he was done. Next thing you know he’s taped up an still bleeding . . . someone helps him over and he spends the next two hours talking, taking pictures with fans and signing autographs before he goes to the hospital.”
                                                            Justin Rumpford Professional Rodeo cowboy

What did this accomplish? Junior would gain notice from his actions a get a chance to take it to Nashville. He will also be representing the U.S. in a rodeo held to promote the American Cowboy in Madrid, Spain in 2009.

Many country singers call themselves a cowboy. But Junior Ray is the real deal. The Bronc rider from Wyoming is hoping to take the music to the people he sings about and to. America’s cowboys and blue collar fans with a drive to do the same in music as in rodeo . . . be the best.