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Floyd Elliot Wray (born August 22, 1960), known professionally as Collin Raye and previously as Bubba Wray, is an American
country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
singer. He initially recorded as a member of the band The Wrays between 1983 and 1987. He made his solo debut in 1991 as Collin Raye with the album '' All I Can Be'', which produced his first Number One hit in " Love, Me". ''All I Can Be'' was the first of four consecutive albums released by Raye to achieve platinum
certification Certification is part of testing, inspection and certification and the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestatio ...
in the United States for sales of one million copies each. Raye maintained several Top Ten hits throughout the rest of the decade and into 2000. 2001's ''Can't Back Down'' was his first album that did not produce a Top 40 country hit, and he was dropped by his record label soon afterward. He did not record another studio album until 2005's ''Twenty Years and Change'', released on an independent label. Between 1991 and 2007, Raye charted 30 singles on the U.S. country charts; he has also charted twice on the Adult Contemporary format as a duet partner on two Jim Brickman songs. Four of Raye's singles have reached Number One on the ''Billboard'' country music charts: 1992's "Love, Me" and "In This Life", 1995's "My Kind of Girl", and 1998's "I Can Still Feel You". He has also recorded a total of 11 studio albums, counting a Christmas album and a compilation of lullabies, in addition to releasing a Greatest Hits compilation, a live album, and a live CD/DVD package.


Early years

Floyd Elliot Wray was born in De Queen, Arkansas. His mother, Lois Wray, was a local musician; in the 1950s, she served as an opening act for several Sun Records artists, including
Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...
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Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
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Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
and
Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...
. Later, she became a solo musician in her own right; she would occasionally bring both Collin and his brother Scott (known professionally as Scotty Wray, died February 2022) onstage to sing harmony vocals. By the 1980s, the two brothers began a country-rock band called the Wray Brothers Band, in which Collin assumed the stage name Bubba Wray. The Wray Brothers Band performed primarily in the state of
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
; Corvallis, Oregon; and later in
Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...
; eventually releasing singles on independent labels. By 1986, the band (which had shortened its name to The Wrays) signed to
Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. Mercury Records released ...
, releasing four singles. After the singles performed poorly on the charts, The Wrays disbanded.


Solo career


''All I Can Be''

After altering the spelling of his last name to Raye, he was signed to a record deal with
Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), cong ...
in 1990. His debut single, "All I Can Be (Is a Sweet Memory)", entered the charts in 1991, reaching a peak of No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Raye's first album, also titled '' All I Can Be'', was released soon afterward. The follow-up single, a ballad co-written by Skip Ewing and titled " Love, Me," reached number 1 on the country music charts in early 1992, holding the peak position for three weeks. ''All I Can Be'' was then certified platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA). The album's final single was " Every Second," which peaked at No. 2 on ''Billboard''.


''In This Life'' and ''Extremes''

Raye's second album, titled '' In This Life'', was released in 1992. The album's title track, which served as its lead-off single, spent two weeks at number 1 and crossed over to the
Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
charts with a peak of number 21. In late 1992, Raye made an appearance on the Carl Weathers television drama series " Street Justice", where he gave a live performance of "In This Life". The second-season episode, entitled "Country Justice", was directed by
David Winning David Winning is a Canadian- American film and television director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and occasional actor. Although Winning has worked in numerous film and TV genres, his name is most commonly associated with science fiction, th ...
. The album produced three additional Top Ten country hits in " I Want You Bad (And That Ain't Good)", " Somebody Else's Moon", and " That Was a River", in addition to achieving his second platinum certification. '' Extremes'', Raye's third album, was released in 1993. It was his first to be produced by Paul Worley and Ed Seay, the latter of whom would serve as Raye's co-producer until 2000. The lead single, " That's My Story", was co-written by Lee Roy Parnell, who recorded for Arista Nashville at the time. Following it was "
Little Rock Little Rock is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Arkansas, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city's population was 202,591 as of the 2020 census. The six-county Central Arkan ...
", a song about a recovering alcoholic. From Larkin, Colin, ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. The song's accompanying music video also promoted Al-Anon, an international support group for friends and family of alcoholics. Also released from the album were the Top 10 hits " Man of My Word", " My Kind of Girl", and " If I Were You". "My Kind of Girl" became Raye's third number 1 hit, while the other two singles reached Top 10 as well. Also in 1993, he was nominated by the Academy of Country Music for Top New Male Vocalist, along with Billy Ray Cyrus and
Tracy Lawrence Tracy Lee Lawrence (born January 27, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in Atlanta, Texas, and raised in Foreman, Arkansas, Lawrence began performing at age 15 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 19 ...
, but lost to Tracy.


''I Think About You'' and ''The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits''

'' I Think About You'' was the title of Raye's fourth album. Released in 1995, it produced six singles overall and became Raye's fourth consecutive platinum-certified album. Of the singles, the first three all reached Top 5: " One Boy, One Girl", " Not That Different", and the title track, whose music video won a Video of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music. While "Not That Different" was climbing the charts, the album track " What If Jesus Comes Back Like That" received unsolicited airplay which brought it as high as number 57. After "I Think About You", " Love Remains" peaked at number 12, followed by an official release of "What If Jesus Comes Back Like That" which achieved a peak of number 21. The album's sixth and final single was " On the Verge", at number 2. In 1996, Raye also released a Christmas album titled '' Christmas: The Gift''. He also appeared on Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, a
Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by thei ...
album featuring lead vocals by country musicians. A year later, his first Greatest Hits package was issued; titled '' The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits'', it comprised several of his hit singles from the past five years, as well as four new songs, of which three released as singles. " What the Heart Wants" and " Little Red Rodeo" both reached Top Five on the country music charts, while "The Gift", a collaboration with Jim Brickman and Susan Ashton, was a top 5 hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. The album also included a cover of Journey's " Open Arms", with Raye's version reaching a peak of number 70 from unsolicited airplay. ''Direct Hits'' received a gold certification from the RIAA for selling 500,000 copies in the United States.


''The Walls Came Down''

'' The Walls Came Down'' was the title of Raye's fifth studio album. Released in 1998, it produced his fourth and final ''Billboard'' number 1 single in " I Can Still Feel You". " Someone You Used to Know" and the Radney Foster-penned " Anyone Else" were both Top Five hits as well. "Start Over Georgia", the fourth single (co-written by Raye's brother), peaked at No. 39. Also included on ''The Walls Came Down'' was a ballad entitled "The Eleventh Commandment", in which Raye addressed the issue of
child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical abuse, physical, child sexual abuse, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse, psychological maltreatment or Child neglect, neglect of a child, especially by a p ...
. Although not released as a single, "The Eleventh Commandment" was made into a music video, which featured a number for a child abuse hotline at the end. The same year, he appeared on compilation CD ''Tribute To Tradition'' (released on Columbia label) with cover versions of "Cold Cold Heart" (country classic recorded by
Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...
in 1957) and "Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me)" (a major hit for
Waylon Jennings Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Outlaw country, outlaw movement in country music. Jennings started playing ...
in 1973, written by Billy Joe Shaver). Raye duets with Joe Diffie on the latter song. In late 1999, Raye sang backing vocals on Phil Vassar's debut single " Carlene".


2000–2005

Raye released two albums in 2000: '' Counting Sheep'', an album consisting of lullabies for his children, and '' Tracks''. The first single release from ''Tracks'', " Couldn't Last a Moment", was a top 5 hit on the country charts. "Tired of Loving This Way", which followed, was a duet with singer and actress Bobbie Eakes. Although it was Raye's first single to miss the Top 40 entirely, it provided Eakes with her only appearance on the country music charts. "She's All That" and "You Still Take Me There" were also released, but they failed to make top 40 as well. ''
Can't Back Down ''Can't Back Down'' is the seventh studio album released by country music artist Collin Raye. It was also his last album for Epic Records, and the first album of his career not to produce any Top 40 country hits. "Ain't Nobody Gonna Take That f ...
'', Raye's last album for Epic, was released in 2001. Neither of the album's two singles entered Top 40 on the country music charts. Because of a conflict with his label, Raye asked out of his contract that year. Although he did not have a record label at the time, he entered the Adult Contemporary charts for the third time in 2003, as a duet partner on Jim Brickman's single "Peace (Where the Heart Is)". Raye released a live album, ''Live at Billy Bob's Texas'', in 2004, and a promotional single titled "World History 101" in 2005.


2005–present

In 2005, Raye signed to the independent Aspirion label, releasing his '' Twenty Years and Change'' album. Two singles were released from the album, although neither single charted. The same year, Raye appeared in television commercials for Fruit of the Loom underwear, in which he sang the jingle "You Can't Over-Love Your Underwear". Another studio album, ''Fearless'', was released in 2006 on Country Roads Records, although it did not produce any singles. In 2007, a CD/DVD combination titled ''The Power in You'' was released, followed by an EP titled ''Selected Hits''. The latter includes "That's My Story", "Little Rock", "I Think About You", and "Love, Me", as well as two new tracks: "A Soldier's Prayer" and "Quitters", the latter of which was co-written by Canadian country singer George Canyon. Both of the new tracks were released as singles in 2007, and the former peaked at No. 59 on Hot Country Songs. Raye's next album, '' Never Going Back'', was released on April 28, 2009, on the Saguaro Road label. Its first single is "Mid-Life Chrysler". It also includes the track "She's With Me," which is a tribute to Raye's granddaughter, Haley, who died from a severe but undiagnosed brain disorder. Raye released his autobiography ''A Voice Undefeated'' in 2014.


Musical stylings

Raye is known primarily for his country pop ballads, such as "Love, Me" (a popular choice at funerals) and "In This Life" (one of the most popular wedding songs of the 1990s). Raye is also known for dealing with social issues in his material. "Little Rock", for example, tells of a recovering alcoholic; its music video included the number for Al-Anon, as a means of public service announcement. "What If Jesus Comes Back Like That", from his ''I Think About You'' album, is a
power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner. Balla ...
that poses questions about the return of
Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
in the modern world. In "The Eleventh Commandment", a track from ''The Walls Came Down'', Raye addresses child abuse, suggesting "honor thy children" as an eleventh commandment to accompany the
Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (), or the Decalogue (from Latin , from Ancient Greek , ), are religious and ethical directives, structured as a covenant document, that, according to the Hebrew Bible, were given by YHWH to Moses. The text of the Ten ...
. In the song's music video, a telephone number for the child abuse hotline ChildHelp USA was included.


Religious conversion

Raye was raised as a
Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), alternatively the Great Commission Baptists (GCB), is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist organization, the largest Protestantism in the United States, Pr ...
but became a
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
when he was 23 years old. On February 17, 2016, Raye performed at the "Two Nations, One Faith" celebration at Sun Bowl Stadium in
El Paso, Texas El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
, prior to the stadium's simulcast of the Mass celebrated by
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
just across the Mexican border in Ciudad Juarez.


Personal life

Raye married Connie Parker in 1980; they divorced in 1987. They have a daughter, Brittany (born February 10, 1983), and a son, Jacob (born March 31, 1985). Raye lives in Nashville with his daughter and granddaughter.


Social activism

In 2011, Raye became the national spokesperson for the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network.


Discography

*'' All I Can Be'' (1991) *'' In This Life'' (1992) *'' Extremes'' (1994) *'' I Think About You'' (1995) *'' Christmas: The Gift'' (1996) *'' The Walls Came Down'' (1998) *'' Tracks'' (2000) *''
Can't Back Down ''Can't Back Down'' is the seventh studio album released by country music artist Collin Raye. It was also his last album for Epic Records, and the first album of his career not to produce any Top 40 country hits. "Ain't Nobody Gonna Take That f ...
'' (2001) *'' Twenty Years and Change'' (2005) *''Fearless'' (2006) *'' Never Going Back'' (2009) *''His Love Remains'' (2011) *''Still on the Line...The Songs of Glen Campbell'' (2013) *''Everlasting'' (2014) *''Scars'' (2020)


''Billboard'' number-one hits

*" Love, Me" (3 weeks, 1992) *" In This Life" (2 weeks, 1992) *" My Kind of Girl" (1 week, 1995) *" I Can Still Feel You" (2 weeks, 1998)


Awards and nominations


Academy of Country Music Awards

, - , rowspan=3,
1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...
, Collin Raye , Top New Male Vocalist , , - , " Love, Me" , Single Record of the Year , , - , " In This Life" , Song of the Year , , - , 1996 , " Not That Different" , rowspan=2, Video of the Year , , - , rowspan=2,
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
, " I Think About You" , , - , rowspan=4, Collin Raye , rowspan=4, Top Male Vocalist of the Year , , - ,
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
, , - ,
1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, , - ,
2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
,


Country Music Association Awards

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1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...
, " Love, Me" , Single of the Year , , - , 1996 , rowspan=3, Collin Raye , rowspan=3, Male Vocalist of the Year , , - ,
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
, , - ,
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
,


References


Footnotes


External links


Official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Raye, Collin 1960 births American country bass guitarists American country singer-songwriters American male bass guitarists Converts to Roman Catholicism Epic Records artists Guitarists from Arkansas Living people People from De Queen, Arkansas Singer-songwriters from Arkansas 20th-century American bass guitarists Catholics from Arkansas Country musicians from Arkansas 20th-century American male musicians American male singer-songwriters