‘Catch of the Day’ – Michael Ray – “Think A Little Less” [AUDIO]

Today's focus is on a singer and songwriter who was mentored by John Rich on the singing competition program The Next: Fame Is On Your Doorstep, which he won. An "unofficial" member of the Muzik Maffia, he co-wrote Big & Rich's hit "Run Away With You", which peaked at #24 on the country charts.

Born Michael Ray Roach, the Florida native dropped his last name when he moved to Nashville to pursue country music stardom. With his victory on The Next, he received a recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville/Atlantic Records, and immediately went to work on his self-titled debut album. Along with producer Scott Hendricks, the pair gathered a "who's who" of Nashville songwriters, including Rhett Akins, the Warren Brothers, Shane McAnally and Casey Beathard to put ink to pen and set the new comer up for success on his major-label debut.

And success found Michael Ray on the first single from that album. "Kiss You In The Morning" hit the #1 slot on the country charts on August 22, 2015, two weeks after the album was released. The single spent just one week at the top of the chart, sandwiched between Luke Bryan's "Kick the Dust Up" and the Zac Brown Band's "Loving You Easy" The follow up single, "Real Men Love Jesus" debuted September 24th 2015. The song debuted at #68 and took a slow, leisurely trip up the chart, peaking at #17.

Today we turn our spotlight on the third single from Ray's self-titled debut album. Michael Ray and "Think A Little Less" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you're gonna want to hear it again.