By Maggie Schauer
Murphy News Service
Osseo’s Katie Ray Murray has been taking the country music world by storm.
Murray, better known as Katie Ray in the music world, said: “According to my family, I was singing from the time I could talk.” Now her albums “Take Me with You” and “All In” have been released.
Her first performance was in Baudette, Minn. at age 10. Now Katie is 18, and a student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. She is majoring in music business and pre-law.
Katie’s fan base is growing. She has performed at the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Irish Fair, Anoka Riverfest, MoonDance Jammin’ Country Fest and Carlos Creek Winery.
She performs live in Nashville and has played at the Bluebird Café and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The Bluebird Café is featured on ABC’s “Nashville.” Many famous performers started at the Bluebird, performers from Faith Hill to Taylor Swift.
The guitar and her voice are Katie’s main instruments. She writes her own songs. “My favorite song that I’ve written is ‘Cloudy Weather,’” Katie said. “It’s more serious than my other songs … it’s a song with a deeper message of sticking by someone through their best and worst times.”
Her love of music spans the country genre. She is a fan of other country stars such as Hunter Hayes, Chris Young, and Scotty McCreery. “I like so much music, so it’s hard to pick,” Katie said.
Katie’s family has helped her as she has started her career. “My dad (David) was a huge help (in releasing my first album),” she said. “He recorded and produced it with me in our home studio.”
Her family joined in with recording the songs. Her mom, Rayetta, and dad, sang background, while her brother, Sean, played the bass.
She’s serious about continuing her education, as her enrollment in Belmont University demonstrates. She graduated with high honors from Osseo High School and participated in the National Honor Society, dance team, speech team, choir, musicals and the junior and senior leadership teams.
Katie will perform on the “Shotgun Red Variety Show” on cable’s RFD-TV. It is available on Dish Network channels 231, 9398, and HD channel 231. It airs Thursday, April 10, and Sunday, April 13. She’ll be performing live at Maple Grove Days on July 12 at 1 p.m.
Katie’s songs, such as “Cloudy Weather” and “Slip Away” are accessible via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. They can be played on Spotify and Pandora.
Maggie Schauer is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.