LAS CRUCES, NM (KTSM) — Five years have passed since former Las Cruces police officer Francisco Gomez, better known these days as “Frank Ray,” decided to quit his job and devote himself full time to country music.
“I served with the LCPD for ten years, and we all knew that if we just put our best foot forward, we could do it,” Ray said.
That leap of faith really paid off last year, as Ray saw his hit song, “Country’d Look Good on You,” soar up the country charts.
He has now had the chance to tour the country and has even performed at the Grand Ole Opry several times, fully heralding his arrival on the country music scene.
“When we decided to do this we knew we wanted to do something big and we wanted to leave a mark,” he said. “It’s like we’re kind of in the circle now. You know what I mean? And all thanks to the success of the song.
Ray was back in Borderland earlier this month, hosting a school supply drive that took him to several schools in New Mexico and El Paso. Along with donating supplies, he also gave a few special performances and talked about his journey from police officer to country music star.
“It’s been a long time since a Hispanic artist emerged, especially in this genre of music, country music,” Ray said. “And I don’t think it was ever with malicious intent or for a discriminatory purpose. I think the timing just fell off.
But the emergence of Ray changes all that. His new EP titled “Getcha Some” may also help cement his place as one of the most important bilingual voices in country music.
The title of this album is actually a phrase he picked up from his fellow officers-in-training with the Las Cruces Police Department.
Ray says some of the other officers, especially former Marines, used the phrase ‘Getcha some’ as a motivational tool when they were struggling or needed an energy boost during their time at the academy. from police. It has now become a phrase he has applied to the rest of his life as he pursues his dream of country music.
“I’m just lucky that we come in at the right time and with the right music,” he said.
