

Nominated five times as country music’s top male vocalist and author of more than a dozen chart-topping songs, Collin Raye has been a popular country performer for 20 years. Now he is putting his talents toward the cause of life, recently signing on as national spokesman for the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, which seeks to raise awareness about euthanasia and the care of persons with disabilities. The network is run by Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri; her feeding tube was removed by court order in 2005.
Raye, 51, was born in Arkansas and grew up in Texas, first performing on stage with his mother at age 7. After performing for years with his brother, he began his solo recording career. He became a Catholic at age 23 and has recorded songs with strong faith themes. In April 2010 his granddaughter Haley, died at the age of 9 of a neurological disorder she was born with. On his most recent album, Raye performs a tribute to her, She’s With Me, in which he celebrates her life as filled with love and meaning though she needed constant care.
Register correspondent Maria Caulfield spoke with Raye.
Do you come from a musical family? When did you start playing music and singing?
Yes, I come from a musical family, but I’ve never had any formal musical training. In the 1950s, my mom, Lois Wray, opened the shows of artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. After that, she did solo acts and would sometimes bring my brother, Scott, and me up to sing with her. Later on, in the early 1970s, Scott and I started a country-rock band. I launched my solo career in the late 1980s and released my first hit record in 1991.
Did you always know you wanted to be a country singer?
Country was what I knew growing up, so I think it came naturally. I first performed with my mom on stage when I was only 7 years old.
Tell us about your religious upbringing in the Bible Belt and what brought you to the Catholic Church.
As I was growing up, I felt that there was much more than what I experienced in the many different Protestant churches that I visited. I was 18, when, one day, in a club in Portland, Ore., where I used to play, I noticed a couple that went to my shows regularly. The woman wore a small cross around her neck, and I figured out that they were Catholics; and I asked, out of curiosity, if I could go to Mass with them one day. That became the beginning of an exciting journey, and I found convincing answers to all my questions. Discovering the Catholic faith, for me, was like stumbling across a treasure.
Tell us about your granddaughter’s life and the song that you wrote for her.
I lost my little baby granddaughter April 3, 2010. She had an undiagnosed neurological brain disorder. She couldn’t do anything and was totally helpless in every way by the time she died, but I always felt honored to take her places and say, “She’s with me.” She was on a ventilator and extraordinary means to keep her alive, and the Lord decided to take her.
As for the song, She’s With Me, I wrote it in a matter of 20 minutes while on a plane. At the time, I wasn’t writing every week, but I had been thinking about the song for a while; and I was so overwhelmed when I wrote it, but it just came out so easy. It was on my album Never Going Back.
Haley was the most perfect human being I ever encountered, and I have no doubt she went straight to heaven. Like I say in the song, I hope she’ll be standing there at the gates of heaven with me, and when God looks at me and says, “Hey, I’m not sure yet about you …” I hope that because she’s with me and because I was her representative in this world, that she’ll say to God to let me in because “Hey, he’s with me.”
In so many ways, Haley’s death validated my faith. To this day, I love that child so much, and I can’t wait to be with her again. Because of Haley and others close to me, I know all about life and death and that it is up to God to create life and end life.
What motivated you to become a spokesman for the Schiavo Life & Hope Network?
Terri’s story was captivating, and what happened to her and her family was brutal and inhumane. She was cognitively impaired, but no extreme measures were being taken to keep her alive. She only had a tube for food and water, and, other than that, she was fine; yet her husband wanted to kill her out of “compassion.” It was because of Terri’s story, my own experience with my granddaughter, and my faith that I was motivated to join the Life & Hope Network. And how it all came together in the end was divinely inspired, and I’m so happy to represent them to the public.
Did you follow the story of Terri when she was alive and the battle over her treatment?
Yes, I did, but I got the side of the story that the media wanted to tell us, and that was not the whole truth. After I met the Schindlers and read the entire story, I understood the heinous crime of brutal, state-sanctioned starvation that was imposed upon her.
What is the main message you want to send regarding end-of-life issues?
God alone has the right to decide when we are born and when we die naturally.
You have combined a strong social message with your country music. Do you think music should be more than just entertainment, that it should express a viewpoint?
Absolutely. I think it’s important to touch on issues. Particularly, my songs Little Rock [alcoholism and recovery], What If Jesus Comes Back Like That [seeing God in the outcast] and I Think About You [the problem with exploitation of women] were songs that allowed me to become accepted as making statements. And I’m driven now, more than ever before, by what my music means to people.
There is so much more to making music and entertaining than I thought. I’ve come to realize that it’s about entertaining people one minute and healing them the next. It’s kind of like a ministry. That’s actually what inspired me to record a new Catholic inspirational CD that will be released Oct. 15 and will include classic and original hymns.
Register correspondent Maria Caulfield writes from Wallingford, Connecticut.
I met Colin Raye a few days ago at the airport in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Joe Dieffie, Mark Chestnut and Colin did a concert in St. John’s. I was totally disappointed that they didn’t have a full house….must be the time of the year. My granddaughter’s birthday had been on Friday, and her party on Sunday. Colin’s conert was on Sat and I already had tickets…..at 7 years old, it was more impt for Nanny to be at her party:):) She lives some 600 kms from St. John’s, so I was flying out on Sunday…..low and behold, I was fortunate enough to meet Joe and Colin at the airport on Sunday. I have their autographs (on the back of the regulations for flying) and will have it framed with the concert ticket in the near future. The concert was absolutely awesome and it was such a bonus to actually meet Colin. I told him he was our highway man in the 80’s when my son’s and I would drive to where I was now flying…...he will always be my music man!!!!
way to go Collin I just lost my big brother@ the age of 59 He was born with Down’s we spent our last days listening to great Music & stories I know he is in Heaven waiting for our big Family reunion.He was the oldest & the wisest of us kids.
I had the priviledge of visiting with Collin Raye via e-mail while my Great grandson was ill with an undiagnosed neuroligical disease with results similiar to Haleys. He was not able to hold his head up, talk, walk or even eat by mouth. Collin helped me so much during my babys illness and death. I do not know if I would have made it through that, the orse time of my life without his friendship. We continue to stay in touch and he continues to help me with all of his support. He is the most kind and compassionate man that I have ever had the pleasure to know.
I’m a Trinidadian that loves country music. Especially when Raye sings. Man, I Love you! Since 1991 when I first heard “Love, me” on the radio in the company of some good friends who loved the song also, to the night of my wedding when I sang to my wife our wedding song “In this life”. And still to this day I listen to your music so devotedly to bring calmness to me or to lift my spirits. Hard to get you CD’s down here, but I have all your albums on mp3’s. Wanna hear something weird? A few years ago I dreamt that I won US 175 million dollars. In the dream I brought you & Faith Hill down to good old Trinidad for a private concert among close friends. If only! Love you man & keep on inspiring others & spreading the “good word”. Amen brother!
I have always loved Collan Rays music. I am a Baptist , I have always been touched and inspired by his music.. I know God sent us a gift in his music.. I miss him on the radio. Glad to hear he is happy, and still doing music.
Awesome.
I met Collin when he came to Old Threshers.. It was my first time out in public since my son had pasted away… I had 2 wrist bands on 1 for my nephew that had past just 3 months before my son.. Collin asked about them and I was proud to share my story with him… He gave me hope that others could have the same compassion he shared with me. He also gave me permission to add the picture of him and I on to my sons memorial video as well as a few others. Plus a few songs. He wanted to know how I was able to cope and I was happy and honored to tell him… He is a very special,caring,loving and compassionate man… God Bless You Collin Raye!!!!
Collin Raye was always my favorite country music artist long before I knew he was Catholic. It is so great to see someone I love artistically also standing up for the causes I love—especially when they are controversial and require some personal backbone to defend against the alleged “mainstream.” Many artists support causes that are popular and/or benign, or which require no personal sacrifice to defend. I am so grateful that Collin Raye is man enough to stand up for people like Terri and those whose lives are marginalized or worse by our culture.
I love Collin Raye - I never knew that he was 1) catholic and 2) pro-life! I am looking forward to his new album!
I have seen Collin Raye twice in the last 3 years and he’s a wonderful kind person that puts on a terrific show.
Amen. AMEN!!
God bless you.