Collin's autobiography is well named after his hit 'Undefeated', and I imagine that his many devoted fans will find it to be a treasury of information about a fascinating man who has already captured their hearts with his music and charisma. I am also sure that his story will be a burst of inspiration to many thousands more who will read it looking for some measure of encouragement from a public figure who has never let them down - and who, by God's Grace, never will
Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of the State of Arkansas - April 3, 2013
Former Governor of the State of Arkansas - April 3, 2013
In het boek beschrijft Raye zijn eigen ervaringen vanaf zijn begin met de Wray Brothers in Oregon tot en met zijn muzikale omzwervingen in Reno en Texas.
Maar het meest traumatische feit dat Collin nog steeds tergt is het overlijden van zijn 9-jarige kleindochter die in 2010 overleed aan een neurologische ziekte. Sindsdien is Collin een grote voorvechter geworden en heeft daarom de Haley Bell stichting opgestart. Deze stichting levert rolstoelen aan gezinnen met kinderen met speciale behoeftes. Collin Raye schreef het boek alsof hij iedere minuut van zijn leven minutieus op papier heeft vastgelegd. Hij gaat ook vrij uit over zijn geloof, waarop sommige van zijn songs geïnspireerd zijn maar vooral over zijn triomfen in het midden van bepaalde tragedies. Het boek bevat ook een sectie met foto’s vanaf zijn jeugdjaren tot op de dag van heden. Dit boek leest vlot en vanaf de eerste pagina wordt het een échte ‘pageturner’. |
De meeste country liefhebbers hier in de lage landen zullen wellicht nog niets of misschien sporadisch iets van hem hebben opgevangen.
Collin Raye is echter een gevierde countryster in de USA want met zijn single ‘Love Me’ uit 1991 verraste hij niet alleen de countrywereld maar ook het ganse muzieklandschap. Hij kwam met dit nummer op nummer 1 te staan en voor een toen toch onbekende ster was dat een unicum. Wat volgde voor deze katholieke countryster waren 24 nummers die in de top tien terechtkwamen waarvan 16 nummers op nummer één kwamen in de hitparades. Vijf platina en twee gouden langspelers mag hij al enige tijd op zijn palmares schrijven en toch kent haast niemand deze man hier in de lange landen. Tijdens de jaren negentig verkocht hij maar liefst méér dan acht miljoen platen, dat is niet niks. Dit is een record voor het platenlabel Epic tot dusver. Vorig jaar verscheen via uitgeverij Ignatius Press te San Francisco zijn biografie en als je dan ook nog de gewezen gouverneur Mike Kuckabee (en ex-kandidaat voor het Presidentschap van de US) van Arkansas een voorwoord laat schrijven, dan moet je toch al iemand bijzonder zijn. |
Raye is op dit moment in zijn thuisland nog steeds een van de meest gevierde muzikanten.
Het boek bevat ook een dvd waarin we getuige zijn van nooit eerdere gesprekken met hem. Hij spreekt voornamelijk over de vele periodes die hij in een hospitaal doorbracht niet omdat hij zelf ziek was, neen maar wel omdat het leden van zijn familie betrof. Raye mag zich dan ook een gelukkig man noemen gezien hij zelf nog nooit geconfronteerd werd met een ernstige ziekte of aandoening.
Hij schreef voor deze dvd-release, uitsluitend te verkrijgen bij het boek, drie nummers, nl. ‘Undefeated’, ‘She’s With Me’ en ‘Give Me Jesus’.
Het boek bevat ook een dvd waarin we getuige zijn van nooit eerdere gesprekken met hem. Hij spreekt voornamelijk over de vele periodes die hij in een hospitaal doorbracht niet omdat hij zelf ziek was, neen maar wel omdat het leden van zijn familie betrof. Raye mag zich dan ook een gelukkig man noemen gezien hij zelf nog nooit geconfronteerd werd met een ernstige ziekte of aandoening.
Hij schreef voor deze dvd-release, uitsluitend te verkrijgen bij het boek, drie nummers, nl. ‘Undefeated’, ‘She’s With Me’ en ‘Give Me Jesus’.
Collin Raye wrote the book as if he has recorded on paper meticulously every minute of his life. He also goes deep and freely about his faith, which inspired some of his beautiful songs.
This book reads smoothly and from the first page, it becomes already a true page turner. Raye is in his home country one of the most celebrated musicians .
The book also includes a DVD which we witness never earlier conversations with him. He also wrote three songs for this dvd recording, 'Undefeated', 'She's With Me "and" Give Me Jesus ". A masterful musician but also a wonderful man…
Discografie:
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Born Floyd Elliot Wray on August 22, 1960 in De Queen, Arkansas, country artist Collin Raye was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top ten records, 16 #1 hits, and having been a 10 time male vocalist of the year nominee (5 CMA and 5 ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.
Collin Raye is nothing if not passionate. His soulful delivery has set country standards in such searing ballads as “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “Not That Different” and “If I were you”. Always an energizing showman, he has also blazed through such vivid rockers as “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “I Can Still Feel You” and “I Want You Bad.”
Collin shot to fame with “Love, Me” in 1991. Listeners were so moved by this golden and pure voice that this song set the cornerstone for a career built on meaningful and emotional songs that have often been used for weddings, anniversaries, memorial services and funerals. When “Little Rock”, an anthem for those struggling with addition recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from folks seeking help in their addictions. “Not That Different” was a song that pleaded for tolerance. “In This Life” became a wedding favorite, and “I Think About You” won awards for its song and video which exposed the exploitation of women and children.
Collin Raye is nothing if not passionate. His soulful delivery has set country standards in such searing ballads as “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “Not That Different” and “If I were you”. Always an energizing showman, he has also blazed through such vivid rockers as “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “I Can Still Feel You” and “I Want You Bad.”
Collin shot to fame with “Love, Me” in 1991. Listeners were so moved by this golden and pure voice that this song set the cornerstone for a career built on meaningful and emotional songs that have often been used for weddings, anniversaries, memorial services and funerals. When “Little Rock”, an anthem for those struggling with addition recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from folks seeking help in their addictions. “Not That Different” was a song that pleaded for tolerance. “In This Life” became a wedding favorite, and “I Think About You” won awards for its song and video which exposed the exploitation of women and children.
SHE'S WITH ME |
END OF THE WORLD |
Collin Raye has consistently used his stardom to advance social causes. Among the organizations he has supported are Boys Town, First Steps, Al-Anon, Special Olympics, Country Cares About AIDS, Catholic Relief Services, Parade of Pennies, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, The Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence, The Emily Harrison Foundation, Childhelp USA, Silent Witness National Initiative, Easter Seals, The Life and Hope Network, and Make a Difference Day. It came as no surprise when in 2001 at the Country Radio Seminar, Clint Black presented Collin Raye with the organization’s Humanitarian of the Year award in recognition of Collin’s issue-oriented music and his tireless charity work.
The man who has topped the charts with such great songs as “On the Verge,” “One Boy, One Girl,” “What the Heart Wants,” “Every Second”, “That Was a River”, “Anyone Else”, and “If I were you” continues to touch hearts across the globe in both traditional and new ways . Collin Raye’s new outreach is very personal. In 2010, after the loss of his precious 10 year old grandchild, Haley, Collin and his daughter Britanny (Haley’s mother) established The Haley Bell Blessed Chair Foundation to honor her memory. The Foundation supports and assists families of the cognitively and physically disabled with a primary emphasis on supplying wheelchairs and other necessary medical equipment to elevate the quality of life for the disabled family member in need. Collin wrote a very special song for Haley called, “She’s with me”, which carries a powerful message for families of special needs children. Additionally, in 2011 Collin released his first inspirational album, His Love Remains, which quickly shot to #1 on Amazon for inspirational and religious music. In 2013, Collin released his latest album, “Still on the Line“, which is a tribute album to his longtime friend and country music legend, Glen Campbell, who continues to battle Alzheimer’s Disease. The album, featuring Ricky Skaggs and Billy Dean, includes classic Glen Campbell hits. Collin continues to perform his traditional country music across America and abroad and has added Christian and Catholic concerts to his tour schedule as well. His autobiography, A Voice Undefeated, was released April 2014. He currently resides in Nashville, TN with his daughter, Britanny and granddaughter, Mattie.
The man who has topped the charts with such great songs as “On the Verge,” “One Boy, One Girl,” “What the Heart Wants,” “Every Second”, “That Was a River”, “Anyone Else”, and “If I were you” continues to touch hearts across the globe in both traditional and new ways . Collin Raye’s new outreach is very personal. In 2010, after the loss of his precious 10 year old grandchild, Haley, Collin and his daughter Britanny (Haley’s mother) established The Haley Bell Blessed Chair Foundation to honor her memory. The Foundation supports and assists families of the cognitively and physically disabled with a primary emphasis on supplying wheelchairs and other necessary medical equipment to elevate the quality of life for the disabled family member in need. Collin wrote a very special song for Haley called, “She’s with me”, which carries a powerful message for families of special needs children. Additionally, in 2011 Collin released his first inspirational album, His Love Remains, which quickly shot to #1 on Amazon for inspirational and religious music. In 2013, Collin released his latest album, “Still on the Line“, which is a tribute album to his longtime friend and country music legend, Glen Campbell, who continues to battle Alzheimer’s Disease. The album, featuring Ricky Skaggs and Billy Dean, includes classic Glen Campbell hits. Collin continues to perform his traditional country music across America and abroad and has added Christian and Catholic concerts to his tour schedule as well. His autobiography, A Voice Undefeated, was released April 2014. He currently resides in Nashville, TN with his daughter, Britanny and granddaughter, Mattie.
IT COULD BE THAT EASY |
WICHITA LINEMAN |
Alfons Maes (5 out of 5)
Ignatius Press I San Francisco (USA) I 2014 I Hard Paperback I 229 pagina's I Collin Raye
Ignatius Press I San Francisco (USA) I 2014 I Hard Paperback I 229 pagina's I Collin Raye
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