Contact: Paul Colson

Compendia Music Group                                                                                        

615-277-1833

pcolson@compendiamusic.com

ARTIST RAY HERNDON GOES TO THE DOGS

Honky-tonks, hound dogs and high-octane music featured in Compendia artist’s new video, “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis,” shot in/around his Scottsdale, AZ hometown Nashville, TN -- Compendia Records artist Ray Herndon’s new video “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis” is rich with the gorgeous Old West desert scenery of the singer-songwriter’s Scottsdale, AZ hometown, powered by the experienced guitar player’s live performance segment, filmed at his family’s well-known local honky-tonk – and chock full of dogs.

Directed by Tom Bevins, “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis” - also the first single from Herndon’s new solo project LIVIN’ THE DREAM – was shot in and around Scottsdale, Arizona; primary shooting took place in the historic town of Cave Creek (about 15 miles north of Scottsdale) and at Scottsdale landmark Handlebar J, a renowned restaurant/bar that is owned and run by the Herndon family.

Herndon worked directly with director Tom Bevins on the concept for the “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis” video: “The idea for the video came to me as quickly as the song itself. I just love dogs, and have always thought it was funny how people tend to resemble their dogs and vice versa. So when we started talking about doing a video, I wanted to shy away from the obvious references to Elvis, and go for more of the ‘people and their dogs’ side of things. I felt like the song speaks for itself,” grinned Herndon. Additionally, footage featuring Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw singing “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis” from the RadioShack/Sirius Satellite Radio promos were incorporated into the production.

As a co-founder of the popular band McBride and the Ride, as well as through his work with Lyle Lovett’s Large Band and his own successful solo career, Herndon has earned a strong reputation as a live performer. Both the artist and director Bevins felt that a performance aspect in the video was crucial, so setting up cameras in the venue where Herndon cut his musical teeth was an easy decision. “The live performance stuff was shot at my family’s restaurant/bar, Handlebar J,” Herndon notes. “We’ve owned that club for 29 years now, and it’s been my musical training ground. The house band, The Herndon Brothers – which my brother Ron and I formed years ago – is in the video playing along with me. To stand on that stage and shoot my very first solo video was a dream come true.”

“Since a line in the song says ‘he ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog’, I was rather limited in my options regarding the casting of Ray’s dog,” laughed renowned animal trainer Leighton Oosthuisen. The owner/training director of Scottsdale-based Partners Dog Training, Oosthuisen chose Georgia, a year-old bloodhound mix, as Ray’s video companion. “Georgia has a very outgoing personality – a lot like Ray’s, actually – so they got along very well. The morning of the shoot we put the two together, and got Georgia accustomed to receiving treats from Ray, which is the best way to motivate a bloodhound – I must say, he was awesome with her.”

The “hound dog” reference in “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis” is one of several hat tips that songwriters Herndon and Jimbeau Hinson give to Elvis Presley. Herndon pointed to one of this favorite lines in the song/video which contains a sly reference to one of The King’s favorite expressions: “The ‘TCB’ line in the song – which a true Elvis fan knows means ‘Takin' Care of Business’ – just had to be worked into the song. So almost as quick as I said it, Jimbeau came up with the line - ’so he can, TCB’ - obviously with the doggie meaning in mind. I think our faces got as much of a workout that day from laughing as anything.”

LIVIN’ THE DREAM is a showcase for Herndon’s traditionally crafted, hauntingly compelling songs, weaving his own mellow-smooth vocals together with a great cast of guest artists and musicians. Highlights from the album include “Grain of Salt,” a classic drinkin’ duet with Clint Black, a jazzy Texas swing cover of “Bloodshot Eyes” with Lyle Lovett, delightful backing vocals from Jon Randall Stewart, Sonya Issacs and the Fairfield Four’s Issac (Dickey) Freeman, a tender, graceful version of Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier” with the great Jessi Colter and Herndon’s own “Me and You,” a song that because a huge hit for Kenny Chesney.