Today, we’d like to introduce you to Grant Ray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
They call me Gking. I’m not saying I’m the king of everything, but I believe I am the king of what I do. I am a veteran indie pop and R&B music artist who’s been a contestant on various TV shows, including American Idol and Ultimate Miami Voice, and I am the current lead singer of the renowned Naples-based luxury event band THE BRETT FOREMAN BAND.
My career began over a decade ago, recording my first studio album and performing at countless venues in Miami, Florida, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. You name it, I have done it by performing both solo and as lead of various bands across Florida, Atlanta, and New York.
I’ve been there and done it. With five studio albums, over 20 Music Videos, magazine features, radio appearances, and so much more to my credit, I have become a name in my own right in the entertainment industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything but smooth. For context, my life began as a struggle from the moment I entered the world. I was the biracial child of a white American mother and a black father and grew up dirt poor, severely abused both physically and mentally, obese, and an outsider, but I had one thing that no one could take away – my talent. I struggled terribly through it all, though.
The bullying, the abuse at home, the torment, the racism, the self-hatred, and the desire to take my own life. One thing kept me alive, though – my love for music and singing. And it has truly saved me in every way, through hell and high water, and with every ounce of strength in my being.
I enlisted dedication, faith, courage, and sheer discipline and, in my teens, overcame obesity, losing over 100 pounds. I overcame self-doubt and rose above everything that tried to destroy me to become a new person ready to start a new life as an adult, a music artist, and an entertainer. And I was finally ready for the spotlight.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a National indie music artist and the lead singer of THE BRETT FOREMAN BAND in Naples, Florida. I have done it all, including some weddings, casinos, clubs, festivals, lounges, parties, country clubs, and the works. I would say my favorite gigs in the present day would be country clubs, as I am a lifelong lover of anything upscale and luxurious.
I am at my best when I am in my element, and luxury is my element, baby, lol. I would say what I am most proud of is the look I get from people who wanted to see me fail in the past and people who didn’t believe in me early on, to the present day, when they see me winning. It’s priceless, to say the least, and keeps me motivated to keep proving naysayers wrong.
What I believe separates me from so many others in my field is my originality, my professionalism, my presentation, and my authenticity. I have an instantly recognizable sound and vocal style that I truly made my own, a distinct fashion sense and style, a very elevated, should I say, manner of how I carry myself, and while being the ultimate professional, I keep true to who I am in the midst of a world full of fake personalities.
What do you think about happiness?
Seeing my audience enjoy my shows and people love what I do truly makes me happy and keeps me doing what I do. There is nothing like being appreciated for what you’ve dedicated your life to—that and quiet time at the jacuzzi with a glass of wine, haha.
Pricing:
- Live Band: $15,000 and up
- Solo: $500 and up
- Studio Demo work: $250 and up
- Feature: $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Gking100.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/grantray100
