Husband and wife Greg Harrison and Jaynie Matthews form the Souls & Stone duo. Greg comes from Belper in Derbyshire and his parents ensured he grew up with a love of Country music. He was given his first guitar when he was 10 years old and two years later went to see his hero Johnny Cash, live. After leaving the army in 1986, Greg formed his first country band, ‘Back Porch’, with some work mates. As a self-taught musician, he learnt to play lap steel, mandolin and Northumbrian pipes which led him to briefly drift into the folk scene. Having gone to see Billy Jo Spears at Butlins, he was gobsmacked at his first glimpse of linedancing. Following a showcase event in early 1999 at Brean Sands, Greg was spotted by a member of The Heroes country trio and was asked to dep with them for a while; this led to a permanent position.
Jaynie comes from Bradford, West Yorkshire and at an early age, her interests were dance and the theatre. She trained in ballet, tap and modern. In 1986 at the age of 16, Jaynie became an international ballet champion. She obtained an equity card and worked around the country including summer season shows and pantomime. For several years, she toured as a 1940s music hall artist and developed a Vera Lynn tribute act which she still performs as GI Jane. At the age of 21, Jaynie began a 12 year stint as a Michael Jackson tribute act. Having trained as a dance instructor, in 1991 she began teaching line dancing which she did once a week at her club in West Yorkshire. She stopped teaching when Covid hit
In February 1999 Jaynie was working aboard one of the P&O North Sea Ferries. By chance The Heroes were also on the ferry due to a mix up with bands. When Jaynie and Greg met, it was love at first sight. Four weeks later they were engaged and three months later they did their first gig as Souls & Stone duo. After nearly 26 years, the duo is still as popular as ever, projecting their great on-stage personalities with a diverse country music repertoire including traditional, new country, and line dance songs.
Research by Nick Catford.