Country music artist Collin Raye will be appearing at the 2018 Harney County Fair, Rodeo, and Race Meet. The concert will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Harney County Fairgrounds.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9. They will be available online only via Etix.com. Tickets will also be available at the fairgrounds box office in August.

Tickets are $25 for the floor in front of the stage, $10 for reserved seating in the middle of the grandstands, and, if available, free tickets will be dispersed for the ends of the grandstands. If available, the free tickets will be given out only on the day of the show.

Born Floyd Elliot Wray on Aug. 22, 1960, in De Queens, Ark., country artist Raye was one of the true hit-makers of the 1990s. Raye still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top 10 records, 16 No. 1 hits, and having been a 10-time male vocalist of the year nominee (five CMA and five ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.

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 also blazed through such vivid rockers as My Kind of Girl, That’s My Story, 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 addiction recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to more than 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.

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 Raye with the organization’s Humanitarian of the Year award in recognition of Raye’s issue-oriented music and tireless charity work.

The man who 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. Raye’s new outreach is very personal. In 2010, after the loss of his precious 10-year-old grandchild, Haley, Raye 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. Raye 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, Raye released his first inspirational album, His Love Remains, which quickly shot to No. 1 on Amazon for inspirational and religious music. Raye continues to perform his traditional country music across America and abroad and has added Christian and Catholic concerts to his tour schedule as well.