CJ Ray Announces His Inspirational Weekly Radio Program

Following the release of his EP, For Each Other, lyric-centric, rock-infused-singer-songwriter, CJ Ray announces his inspirational music and talk radio program, The CJ Ray Show will be debuting August 22nd on AM 970 The Answer live and podcast online.  The thirty-minute show airing weekly on Sundays between 7-7:30 AM EST will feature CJ playing selections of his favorite music and talking about the inspiration behind it. “I will be sharing what I have experienced in life and what it has taught me with songs and uplifting subjects,” says the host. “I really want to get to know the listeners and hopefully start a dialogue that is mutually beneficial. I love all of God’s people!”

Week to week, The CJ Ray Show will feature topics from CJ’s own life – parenthood, entrepreneurship and music the singer-songwriter finds up-lifting.  “The songs that inspire me are musical and lyrical works of art. They strike a nerve and tell a story,” he says. “I hope my listeners find joy, entertainment and some concepts that help them see the world in a slightly new way. This life is amazing and that we have an opportunity to lift each other each day with a kind word, a song, or a pat on the back. I want the listeners to know that their life matters and that this life is our place to reflect God’s love to the world.”

The singer-songwriter’s latest EP, For Each Other – including the radio single “Today” currently spinning on Christian format — was released this summer.  Comprised of four original songs and CJ’s reimagining of Sarah McLachlan’s “Sweet Surrender,” the EP boasts visceral and heartfelt performances by the songwriter and his band and was produced by Paul Fig (Jerry Cantrell/Alice In Chains, Deftones, Coheed and Cambria) and Greg Karas (Andy Grammer).  Ray explores themes that include returning to normal life, caring for others, appreciating the past, desiring freedom, newness, and rebirth.

The rocker’s “For Each Other” micro-grant initiative is dispersing $100.00 grants to individuals whose family and friends have nominated them for being “there for each other” during this past, tumultuous year.

As son, father, husband and Granddude, family is at the forefront of CJ’s life.  “My granddaughter calls me Granddude, which I adore and I absolutely love being a dad to my kids,” he says. “I think having so many connections to others creates the ability for me to write music from numerous perspectives. I have been a kid and I have been in trouble and I have been a success and I have been a failure… I think the breadth of life allows one to interpret life from a perspective that can contain nuggets of wisdom and desire not to waste a word or a moment. I hope the listener feels that in my lyrics.”

Raised in a suburb north of Chicago, CJ started playing music at a young age at church and with friends from his middle school. His first venture was as a drummer in a four-member rock band that covered songs from bands like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and Bad Company and for a short while, featured now-famous classmate, Tom Morello on guitar and lead vocals.

Tune in to The CJ Ray Show weekly on Sunday mornings from 7-7:30 AM EST on AM 970 The Answer.