Being a baller was his ultimate dream, but sometimes what you want isn't always what you get.

That's the case for former Dallas Mavericks player turned Texas musician Ray Johnston. His current album is called No Bad Days, and that's also his life's anthem.

"Thinking about the theme of the album No Bad Days, to me is the strongest song I've ever been a part of writing and I think it summed up my last ten years as far as getting a shitty diagnosis -- sorry, crappy diagnosis -- and doing my best to turn a lot of frowns upside down," says Johnston. "It was really dark for a while, man. Having leukemia five times in 12 years, there's a lot of pissed-off moments, but my parents wouldn't let me sulk."

When it comes to talking about his illness or his B-ball days in Dallas, Johnston will do it, but he doesn't stay on point long. He's now more into talking about his future, his tunes and the goals for his music.

Johnston will perform 7:30 p.m. Saturday during the annual ZiegenBock Music Festival at Sam Houston Race Park. Other acts include Josh Turner, Roger Creager, Josh Grider, Bart Crow, Roger Creager, Rosehill, Casey Donahew and many more.

Johnston, who graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in marketing, always wanted to play professional basketball. His dream started off without a hitch, got off to a pretty good start when he became a walk-on player in college.

He didn't make the NBA right off, and that was fine, says the positive thinker. It wasn't his time. When his NBA dream didn't pan out, Johnston moved from Alabama to Dallas to become a 24-year-old loan officer, his Plan B.

When the timing was right, Johnston got his shot with the Mavs. The dream was cut short, however, after his diagnosis.

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