Country music artist Collin Raye is scheduled to perform at this year’s Golden Onion Days free concert event on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Peteetneet Amphitheater.

“This is the eighth year for Mountain View Hospital to sponsor this free concert event. We started in 2009 with Nathan Osmond, and he was our entertainer the first two years,” said Nathan Black, director of communications for Mountain View Hospital in Payson.

Past performances for this annual event included musical guests Billy Dean, Mark Wills, Deana Carter, Restless Heart and Shenandoah. Black recalls the first concert hosted just 400 people. “We are now averaging around 5,000,” he said.

“We really look forward with anticipation to Onion Days every year. With the hospital’s 100-plus [year] history, we are tightly knit to this community, and we care a great deal about it,” Black said.

The concert will kick off the annual Golden Onion Days celebration that promotes unity and industry within the city of Payson and the surrounding area. Beginning in 1929, this year marks the 87th Golden Onion Days’ celebrations, which run through Sept. 5.

“Onion Days is a time when we come together to celebrate our community in a fun, family-centered environment to remember what a remarkable body of people we live and work with. I hope people come to the concert not just to hear artists like Collin Raye, but to enjoy a night out with thousands of friends. I think they do,” Black said.

With a career that spans more than 30 years, artist Collin Raye is a fitting choice for this year’s city celebration. His soulful, signature voice has produced 24 Top 10 records and 16 No. 1 hits, including “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “On the Verge,” “One Boy, One Girl” and “Little Rock.” Raye is a 10-time male vocalist of the year nominee, with five nominations from the Country Music Association and five from the Academy of Country Music organizations.

Raye’s involvement in a variety of social causes and charitable organizations include Special Olympics, Parade of Pennies, The Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Childhelp USA and Make a Difference Day, among many others. In 2001, Raye was presented the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Country Radio Seminar.

For more information on this and other activities scheduled during the Payson Golden Onion Days 2016, please visit www.paysonutah.org/news_events.oniondays.html.