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Randy Travis

Biography

Like the Beatles in rock, Randy Travis marks a generational shift in country music. When his Storms of Life came out in 1986, country music was still wallowing in the post-urban cowboy recession, chasing elusive crossover dreams. Travis brought the music back to its basics, sounding like nothing so much as a perfect blend of George Jones and Merle Haggard. He became the dominant male voice in country until the rise of "hat acts" like Garth Brooks and Clint Black, releasing seven consecutive number one singles during one stretch. He won the CMA's Horizon Award in 1986 and was the association's Male Vocalist of the Year in 1987 and 1988.

Travis (born Randy Bruce Traywick, May 4, 1959, Marshville, NC) was born and raised in North Carolina, in a small town outside of Charlotte. His father encouraged his children to pursue their musical inclinations, as he was a fan of honky tonkers like Hank Williams, Jones, and Lefty Frizzell. Randy began playing guitar at the age of eight, and within two years, he and his brother Ricky formed a duo called the Traywick Brothers. The duo played in local clubs and talent contests.

Both of the brothers had a wild streak, which resulted in Ricky going to jail after a car chase and Randy running away to Charlotte at the age of 16. While he was in Charlotte, he won a talent contest at Country City U.S.A., a bar owned by Lib Hatcher. Hatcher was impressed by Travis and offered him a regular gig at her bar, as well as a job as a cook.

For several years, he sang and worked at Country City. He still had trouble with the law in his late teens. At his last run-in with the police, the judge told him if he saw Travis again he should be prepared to go to jail for a long time. Travis was released into the care of Hatcher. In a short time, Hatcher became Travis' manager, and the pair began to concentrate on his career. Joe Stampley helped Travis land a contract with Paula Records in 1978. The following year, Travis released two singles under his given name; one of them, "She's My Woman," scraped the bottom of the country charts.

In 1982, Travis and Hatcher moved to Nashville, where she managed the Nashville Palace nightclub while he sang and cooked. Within a couple of years, the pair independently released his debut album under the name Randy Ray; the record was called Randy Ray Live and sold primarily in the Nashville Palace.

Thanks to Hatcher's persistent efforts and the Randy Ray Live album, Warner Brothers signed Travis in 1985 and suggested that he change his performing name to Randy Travis. "On the Other Hand," his first single for the label, was released in the summer of that year and climbed to number 67. Despite its lackluster performance, radio programmers were enthusiastic for Travis, as evidenced by the number six placing of "1982," which was released late in the year. "1982" was followed by a re-release of "On the Other Hand" in the spring of 1986. This time, the song hit number one.

Storms of Life, Travis' full-fledged debut album, was released in the summer of 1986 and became a huge success, eventually selling over three million copies. Travis was the first country artist to go multi-platinum; before his success, most country artists had difficulty achieving gold status. With his mass appeal, he set the stage for country music's crossover success in the early '90s. However, Travis dominated the late '80s. The last two singles from Storms of Life, "Diggin' Up Bones" and "No Place Like Home," hit number one and two, respectively. "Forever and Ever, Amen" -- the first single from his second album, 1987's Always & Forever -- began a streak of seven straight number one singles that ran through 1989. Always & Forever was more successful than his debut, reaching number 19 on the pop charts and going quadruple platinum; it also earned him the CMA's award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Old 8x10 (1988) and No Holdin' Back (1989) weren't quite as successful as their predecessors, but they still spawned number one singles and both went platinum.

Travis was still at the top of his form in the beginning of the '90s, starting the decade with his biggest hit, "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart." However, his hold at the top of the charts began to slip after Clint Black and, in particular, Garth Brooks. Nevertheless, Travis never fell away completely -- his albums continued to gold and he usually could crack the Top Ten. Wind in the Wire, a soundtrack to his television special released in 1992, marked his first unsuccessful album -- none of the singles broke the Top 40. This Is Me, released in 1994, was a successful comeback to the top of the charts, featuring "Whisper My Name," his first number one hit in two years. In August 1996, Travis released Full Circle, his last album for Warner Brothers. He left the label in 1997, signing with the fledgling "super" label DreamWorks. His first album for the label, You and You Alone, was released in the spring of 1998; Man Ain't Made of Stone followed a year later. Traveling the familiar country route, he released an album of traditional and contemporary religious songs, Inspirational Journey, which hit the stores in late 2000. The album went on to win two awards at The Gospel Music Association's 32nd Annual Dove Awards in 2001; Inspirational Journey took home honors for Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year and Country Recorded Song of the Year for "Baptism." Select songs from the album also made their way in the two-part finale for Touched by an Angel, which featured Travis in character. Two years later, Travis continued with his gospel fare with the release of Rise and Shine, followed by the similarly reverent Worship & Faith, Passing Through and Glory Train. ~ Brian Mansfield & Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Songs Of The Season
2007

Glory Train
2005

The Very Best Of Randy Travis
2004

Passing Through
2004

Worship & Faith
2003

Rise And Shine
2002

Inspirational Journey
2000

You And You Alone
1998

Greatest Hits Volume 2
1992

Greatest Hits Vol 1
1992

Heroes & Friends
1990

Always & Forever
1987

Storms Of Life
1986

mcdrj83 says:

07-03-2008

I LIKE HIM.

mawood01 says:

07-03-2008

Thank you Randy -- my heart and spirit always feel better after one of your songs.

january1671 says:

06-26-2008

THE ALL TIME GREATEST COUNTRY ARTIST

jimtallon2 says:

06-26-2008

One of the all time GREATS.

csurvey3 says:

06-22-2008

randy travis songs touches the heart and soul of the every day people, I stop what ever i am doing when ever i hear his songs .

Dorothy Anne => D. Anne, Porphura,dee 9 9 7 0 9 , A u r o r a D e e says:

06-03-2008

My church plays one of his cd's before services. Last Sunday I wanted to get up and line dance to one of the songs!!!

m.carver says:

05-24-2008

Randy , Rich voice Quality sound.Needs to keep playing country,Man cannot stock two shelves.

robert0238 says:

edited on 05-21-2008

the best down home music i have ever heard

pjsanfo says:

05-08-2008

great music

MIKE says:

05-06-2008

randy travis is better than alvin and the chipmunks

Antbuttercup says:

05-06-2008

When I need to think or I'm feeling lonely Randy Travis is the best. His singing brings home a little closer.

drekdoe says:

04-29-2008

i love this artist he a bad a**

lyonjms167 says:

04-21-2008

I think Randy is one of the very best artists out there today.

MIKE says:

04-09-2008

HE WAS IN A TRUCKER MOVIE WITH PATRICK SWAYZE AND MEATLOAF...T H I N K IT WAS CALLED MAD DOG

MIKE says:

04-09-2008

HE'S GOOD TO LISTEN TO...BUT I HATE WATCHING HIM SING

christopherl u s k says:

03-28-2008

What about The Box?

at_swac says:

03-25-2008

I just love Randy'a song, "Here I am to worship". His sound is so genuine and heartfelt. I was so glad to hear that he is a Christian now. God Bless him.

tdusedcars says:

02-29-2008

RANDY THANK YOU FOR MANY HOURS OF GREAT MUSIC

pastorjacob2 4 says:

edited on 02-29-2008

Randy Traivs is a christian sinnger

aclark050 says:

edited on 02-13-2008

I like his style of music and his voice, Randy Travis is good singer. He sings great songs.... craftlady says

sikesrus says:

01-27-2008

I'll listen to other country singers off and on, but I always come back to Randy Travis. His voice, style, and song choices are always spot-on. The BEST!

jasper.t says:

12-08-2007

The very first time I heard Randy, I didn't know who he was, but I told my husband "This voice is going to the top." ; and was I right ,Randy is still my fovorite country singer there is nobody that can equal country and his voice.

christ_minde d says:

12-03-2007

Great Voice, I love Randy Travis

gjgann says:

12-01-2007

love his style of music.he is one of the great artista that still know how to sing. wish there were more like him

christ_minde d says:

11-30-2007

Rany Travis has been my favorite Country singer for about 2o years. I love his style of singing. I also love seeing him appear on Tv shows. I once saw him in a Christmas Movie. I Don't remember the movie, but he has wonderful performance. I listen to other country music singers, but Randy is the best in my world.

dangerck42 says:

11-19-2007

i want to here some randy travis please