It was in the third grade that Ray Knighton and Wanelle Collins first met. Collins' mom was their teacher.
Both Knighton and Collins are in their mid-60s, were raised in Cochran and Bleckley County, are happily married (not to each other), both have worked long careers at Robins Air Force Base, both have two children and grandchildren – Collins has three and Knighton has four.
That's not all the two friends share – music, in particular, traditional country, Southern Gospel and old time rock-n-roll, is bond that started the friendship and brought them back together after twenty or more years of going their separate ways.
Knighton and Collins have become a successful singing duo, along with their band, Phoenix, in performance halls around the state of Georgia and in Nashville. They have appeared on national radio and television programs. Together, they have recorded 7 CDs. They have their own website at www.rkwe.com. There is talk of a video to be made to promote their CDs. They have a fan following from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and beyond. They are regulars at the Nashville Nightlife Theater.
County music legend Marty Stuart told the duo he really liked their music. The Tall Texan, the late Billy Walker, gave Knighton and Collins a piece of advice that they carry with them today, and even got Knighton into changing his concert wear - “You wouldn't believe what a little sparkle would do for that shirt”
Ironically, other than a regular appearance at the local nursing home – something Knighton has done for a long time – and a few performances at churches in Bleckley County, the duo has not given or been a part of any concerts in their own hometown.
Neither would mind doing it. Knighton said, “You know it was years before Elvis actually performed in his hometown of Memphis.” He was smiling and so was Collins.
He explained, “I think, when you are from an area, there are a lot of things that are taken for granted.”
But both Collins and Knighton are so very appreciative of the support of the hometown crowd , and their families, “We couldn't have done all of this without them.” Collins said. She said that for a while their families went with them to all their performances, but “life continues on. But they are right there, supporting us all the way.”
Knighton said, “It all started for us on a small stage at the Salem school house. Her mom had convinced me to sing for this talent show, and Wanelle was going to play the piano for me.”
Collins smiled, “My Blue Moon Turns to Gold – an Elvis classic.”
“Her mom went and bought us the sheet music at Bibb Music Company for fifty cents,” Knighton said, and he pointed to a framed copy of the original sheet music on the wall of the Ray & Wanelle and The Phoenix Band Music Room – a rehearsal type hall that Knighton built on some farmland he owned in Bleckley County. “We won first place.” When the friends reached high school, Collins said, “We sort of drifted apart.”
It wasn't until Collins and her husband, Jerry, were in the audience at the Powersville Opry while Knighton performed with Doug Welch and the Klassic Kountry Band. “I recognized her immediately in the audience and thought, what is she doing here.”
Collins was nervous when Doug Welch, the leader of the band, invited her up to sing with the band. “I was thinking, I can't sing with Ray Knighton.”
Knighton laughed, “I asked her if she could sing … I only remember her playing the piano.”
Collins not only proved she could sing, but Knighton and Collins immediately became a musical duo and have “been singing together ever since,” said Collins.
She said that growing up she always wanted to be “either an actress or singer.” Her influences even to this day are Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. It wasn't until her children were grown and on their own that Collins decided to pursue her dream of singing. She performed in 1999 on stage in Bonaire for one of the first times.
Knighton had “always loved singing.” He remembers his first time on stage. “I was six years old and performed with the Salem School Rhythm Band.” His biggest musical influence. Knighton smiled shyly, “Elvis Presley.”
Advertisement
Both have written some of the songs that they perform, and Collins is the 'costume designer.' She keeps Billy Walker's advice close to her heart, “The more sparkle the better.”
Collins and Knighton both play the guitar, though she said, “When I am singing, I don't play.” She laughed an infectious laugh, “I guess I am just not a multi-tasker.”
Knighton gave his singing partner and friend a knowing look – and it was a look that seemed to say, 'Yeah, right.' to the energetic Collins.
Collins said, “I loved the opportunity to be able to perform and sing ... he is my best friend and my favorite singing partner, and he is such a good man.”
Knighton said of Collins, “We have known each other since childhood, and she is my very best friend, and she has a fabulous voice.”
They both are equally complimentary of their band, The Phoenix Band. Harvey Wynne of Cochran, Chuck Spivey of Lake Sinclair and Tommy Lawson of Perry are, what both Collins and Knighton call, extraordinary.
“We can come in and give them some sheet music, tell them what we want, and they give it to us,” Collins said.
When they hear compliments of their music, in particular from those who have been in the business for years in Nashville, Collins said, “It is amazing … it just surprises me, I guess, because we are just two kids from a little town called Cochran, Georgia.”
Collins said, “I remember the first time I heard myself on the radio … the station in Eastman played us, and I said, 'That's me!' It is just such a blessing to be able to do this.”
Knighton normally doesn't get nervous when the duo performs. They have been regulars at the Elders Ball in Nashville and at the Nashville Nightlife Theater, at the Wagon House in Haddock and at the Powersville Opry House, and have performed in front of a number of country music greats – musicians and singers. It never bothered him until once. “We were getting ready to go on at Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadour Theater on the Midnight Jamboree and we had to go down this long hall, and all of sudden, I felt the butterflies kick in.” But, he said as soon as they got on stage, everything faded away.
Collins and Knighton performed on the country television show, “The Shotgun Red Variety Show,” and were overwhelmed with the positive responses from those that saw the show and the production crew. “We have had people from all over the world tell us they saw us on the show,” Collins said.
Of their seven CDs, their own solo projects, both Knighton and Collins couldn't agree more that one of their favorite recordings is “Together Again.” Their latest album, released in 2010, is called, “We Believe in Happy Endings,” and in a way, it is how they feel about their coming together again as friends to sing.
Though both would love the chance to sing at the Grand Ole' Opry in Nashville, Knighton put it best when he said, “We give all of this to God's glory, and wherever He takes us, we'll go.”
Collins nodded, and smiled, “I couldn't imagine doing this without Ray.”
For more information about Ray and Wanelle, visit their website at www.rkwe.com
Writer's Note: In writing and finding everyday ordinary people stories about Macon and the surrounding areas, my research has started in the heart of the area, Bleckley County and will move its' way up as stories present themselves - everyone in Middle Georgia - if you are from Cochran or Hawkinsville or Eastman or Macon or Bonaire - has a connection somehow - maybe because we're from the area where the gnats swarm like a hundred teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert or it could be because we are in the heart of Georgia. My hope is that, though this says Macon-Everyday Ordinary People, it will be accepted that these stories will be about everyday ordinary people in middle Georgia.
Comments