 |
A native of Lenoir County and a graduate of Lenoir Community College, Chris Raines began performing on stage at the age 8 years old. For the past 27 years he has been starring in, producing, and directing shows in and around the community.
He will be performing “Old Man River” from the musical “Showboat” in LCC’s 12th annual Broadway and Beyond performance.
Raines will be the featured soloist singing “Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls” with the LCC Chorus and Cast Ensemble. He will also join Clay Raines, Jordan Barwick and Clay Whittington in a medley from “Jersey Boys.”
“I always wanted to be on a stage somewhere, doing something. It didn’t matter if it was the lead role, or character parts, as long as I was in front of a crowd, doing what I love,” Raines said. |
|
He started performing on the stages of the Airport Theatre and the Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center. His most memorable stage credits include: Rooster in “Annie”, Melvin P. Thorpe in “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas,” Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls,” and the Beast in “Beauty and The Beast.”
A graduate of South Lenoir High School, he was a featured performer in the South Lenoir Singers, under the direction of Karen Dale. In 1991 he joined the Lenoir Community College Troubadours, directed by Kenneth Ginn, and was the featured soloist for five years until they disbanded in 1996. In 1997 he joined forces with Max Blizzard and Sheri Brinson to create the Max Blizzard Singers. The group performed all over the state in hundreds of productions and benefit concerts. In 1999 Raines and Blizzard co-wrote “Dreamsong” which became the un-official theme song for “Relay for Life”. The trio recorded it and traveled the state singing it at numerous opening ceremonies for the Relay for Life cancer benefits. That same year he starred in “Country Memories”, a show that raised more than $3,500 for the hurricane relief fund in the county. In 2003 the trio opened for Alan Jackson at the WRNS Music Festival. The trio performed for 10 years together until the untimely passing of Max Blizzard. Since then Raines and Brinson have continued to carry the torch producing, directing and starring in shows to help raise money for various charities in and around North Carolina. While serving on several performing arts committees and boards of directors, he continues to perform, produce, and direct shows in the area including the “Christmas Extravaganza” a fund raiser for the Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center every Christmas. “ As long as there is music, that is where you will find me,” he said. |
| |
|
