Ray and Wanelle, each talented in their own rite, perform solo and, also, as a duet. In their duets, they bring a harmonious blend of voices that makes one think they have performed together for years rather than just a short while.
Wanelle, an only child, and Ray, the seventh child in a family of 12 children, first performed together in a grammar school talent contest at Salem, a little country school near Cochran, GA, when Wanelle accompanied Ray on the piano as he sung Elvis' hit, "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again". As fate would have it, they won First Place!
During their high school days, they drifted apart and the two didn't perform together again until 14 Sep 02 when they unexpectedly met on stage at the Powersville Opry in Powersville, GA, after Doug Welch, the leader of the Klassic Kountry band, which Ray performed in, invited Wanelle up from the audience to sing a few impromptu songs with them. Since that night, Ray and Wanelle have been a team and they are now in demand as a twosome, entertaining audiences worldwide. They continue to perform with the Klassic Kountry band and, also, with their dynamic new group known as "Phoenix".
The Phoenix Band is composed of Georgia boys Harvey Wynne of Cochran, Chuck Spivey of Lake Sinclar, Tommy Lawson of Perry, and Jack Cranford of Hawkinsville. This great band has been playing with Ray and Wanelle since 2002 and continues to awe the crowds with their personal magnetism and their talent.
Ray's and Wanelle's winning personalities and talent draw people to them wherever they go. They are always ready to sing a request from their audiences. They have now achieved internationl fame as their music has been charted in the ARTISTS CAROUSEL for the UK and the USA http://www.artistscarousel.com/charts/chartsmain.htm and, also, on the INTERNET RADIO COUNTRY MUSIC CHARTS in New Zealand http://nashvillecdstore.hypermart.net/Charts.html .
Their music is played in the USA, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, and Ireland. Sweden's record company, MR. MUSIC, recently released Ray's and Wanelle's recording of "Fraulein Medley" as a single on their label and, also, as the "Song of the Month" in their promotion campaign.
Ray ~ Wanelle and The Phoenix Band opened a show for Gene Watson at the beautiful Hawkinsville Opera House on 9 Sep 06 to a capacity crowd roaring with enthusiasm and excitement. This talented group entertained the crowd for 45 minutes prior to Gene Watson's portion of the show. Ray & Wanelle were interviewed and performed on Channel 55 out of Cordele, GA, the previous week to advertise their performance along with Gene Watson's show at the Hawkinsville Opera House.
Ray ~ Wanelle & The Phoenix Band appear regularly on Channel 13, WMAZ TV in Macon, GA, and Ray & Wanelle have, also, appeared on various televised programs in Nashville. They recently were invited to perform at the Elders Ball http://www.eldersball.com/ in Nashville TN at the Nashville Nightlife Theater for the third time. Performing to a packed house, they had the fans applauding and calling "more"......"more".........
Ray & Wanelle, also, perform at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater as guests of Diana Murrell and Kenny Janson whenever they are in Nashville, TN.
Wanelle & Ray performed on television shows in Nashville and Madison TN in Feb and Apr 06 (Nashville OnStage and Music City Explosion) http://www.nashvilleonstage.com/ http://musiccityexplosion.com/main.htm with producers Ernie & Debbie Simms and Keith Bradford. The shows aired on PAX TV.
Ray ~ Wanelle and The Phoenix Band were inducted into the Powersville Opry Country Music Hall of Fame on 30 Dec 06.
We are deeply honored and happy to have this destinction bestowed on us. We love our friends at the Powersville Opry and our fans around the world. We appreciate their devotion and support for our music.
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