Former LCPD officer turned country singer to perform during 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl

A former Las Cruces Police officer turned country singer will perform at this year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl.

Frank Ray, who is from Las Cruces, was recently named one of Rolling Stone magazines top 10 country artists to know in December. He released his first solo EP “Different Kind of Country” earlier this year.

“It’s certainly the biggest crowd I’ve ever had the pleasure to play in front of, and the band is amazing so I know they’re excited,” Ray said, “We’re definitely going to showcase some original music and we got a cover that everybody knows, and hopefully, we have 50,000 people singing along.”

The country singer will perform during the match-up between Arizona State University and North Carolina State University on December 29th.

“We’re thrilled to have somebody local, who I believe is on the cusp of going really big-time,” said Bernie Olivas, executive director of the Sun Bowl Association.

This is the second year in a row the Sun Bowl has selected a local artist to perform during halftime.

“It’s difficult to get the big names, not only difficult, but also expensive,” Olivas said, “I think to get someone with local flavor is good for the Hyundai Sun Bowl and for the City of El paso.”

Olivas said the Sun Bowl reached out to Khalid via Twitter just a few weeks ago. “We got a lot of requests for (Khalid) but it’s very difficult to get somebody, especially, where he is now,” Olivas said.

Olivas would not reveal how much the Sun Bowl Association budgets for a half time performer, but says the brainstorming process begins in the Summer. They then select artists whose genre will fit the Borderland’s demographic. “We look for somebody the crowd will enjoy,” Olivas said, “I think country western fits the demographic of our ticket buyers.”

For ticket information you can call the Hyundai Sun Bowl Association at (915 533-4416.