Message Important For Collin Raye

Collin Raye has come to be known as country music’s No. 1 balladeer.

With such hits as “Love, Me,” “In This Life” and “That Was A River,” Raye proved himself country’s pre-eminent tugger of heart strings. But Raye hasn’t been satisfied with merely re-creating his love-song hits, he’s gone after bigger targets, too.

His hit “Little Rock” is credited with prompting some 50,000 fans to contract Al-Anon or Ala-teen for help coping with a friend or relative’s drinking problem.

And his latest, “What If Jesus Came Back Like That,” asks listeners to think before they judge.

“The message is not necessarily helping someone because they’re Jesus,” he told an interviewer, “but not being so quick to judge another human being. We can’t know why someone else is in pain or how he or she got there, but we can feel for them as people.”

But anyone who’s been to a Collin Raye show knows that’s just one side of his persona - the guy loves to rock, too.

“I love the ballads,” he said, “but it’s these songs that tear it up that tear me up because they’re so much fun to perform live. And the fans love ‘em, too, because it gives them somewhere to put all those emotions the ballads stir up. Absolutely fun!”

Raye will appear in the Opera House with newcomer Daryle Singletary in the opening slot. His solo tours are an anomaly in today’s country music scene, which is dominated by packaged tours with three or four acts on a bill.

But a big tour wouldn’t work for Raye, who schedules his appearances around important events in his children’s lives. “My priority is my children,” he has said.

“They’re the most valuable thing - and I do what I do because of them.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Collin Raye will perform at 8 tonight at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets are $22.50, available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.