Second Cup Cafe: Collin Raye

As a child, Collin Raye witnessed some of the greatest acts in country music history.

He may not have realized it at the time, but those performances - along with his mother's - would later shape his own career.

"I grew up steeped in traditional country music," Collin says on his official Web site. "I knew every song on Johnny Horton's 'Greatest Hits' by heart. To this day, I can sing them to you. I think that's where I got my love of story songs.

"We never missed a country package show when one came through Little Rock. I remember seeing Porter Wagoner & The Wagonmasters with Dolly Parton, George Jones & The Jones Boys, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride and Conway Twitty, all on the same bill! Ray Price, Buck Owens, I loved them all."

Raye stopped by The Early Show Saturday Edition's "Second Cup Cafe" to sing songs from his latest album, "Never Going Back."

Born Floyd Collin Wray to musical parents in DeQueen, Ark., Raye's family later moved to Texas, where he found his niche in Nashville.

Raye was inspired by his mother, Lois Wray, who was a popular regional performer in East Texas during the 1950s. She opened shows for an impressive lineup of music greats, such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

His mother's love of country music was so contagious that, at age 7, Raye was brave enough to take the stage and perform alongside her. At age 13, Raye started a band with his brother Scott, called The Wray Brothers band.

Drawn to casino life in Reno, Nev., Raye and his brother landed many gigs, and drew attention from Nashville.

Although The Wray Brothers band eventually split up and Raye got married and had two children, he dind't give up on his dream.

Raye launched a solo career in 1991 with his hit song, "Love, Me," a song so touching that his lyrics were used for funerals and memorial services. His song, "In This Lifetime," was also considered a wedding favorite.

Since then, Raye has been a steady presence in the country music scene for the last 18 years. Four of his singles have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Music charts.