Randy Travis: Biography and Much More from Answers.com
- ️Wed Jul 01 2015
- Born: 4 May 1959
- Birthplace: Marshville, North Carolina
- Best Known As: Country-Gospel singer of "Three Wooden Crosses"
Name at birth: Randy Bruce Traywick
Randy Travis is a country and gospel music singer whose distinctive baritone and traditional style have made him a star since the 1980s. As a child he performed around Charlotte, North Carolina with his brother as the singing Traywick Brothers, but then he dropped out of high school and spent his reckless youth getting into scrapes with the law. In the late 1970s he began making demo tapes and recorded a few singles, and in 1981 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. After a few years as a cook and singer at night spot, he released an independently produced live recording to capitalize on his increasing fan base. His first record on a major label, Storms of Life was released in 1986, and Travis toured the United States on the strength of the hits "On the Other Hand" and "1982." Since then he has sold millions of records and won numerous awards, including Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal Performance (1987 and 1988), Best Country Song (1988's "Forever and Ever, Amen") and Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album (2004's Rise and Shine). Travis is known as a country crooner in the style of Lefty Frizell and George Jones. In recent years he has recorded bluegrass and gospel albums that have had great success, including the hit and 2003 CMA Song of the Year, "Three Wooden Crosses."
Travis has a bit of experience as an actor whose films include The Rainmaker (1997, with Matt Damon) and Texas Rangers (2001, with Usher)... A record company executive is the one who changed Randy's surname from Traywick to Travis.
Born:
May 04, 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina
Representative Songs:
"Forever and Ever, Amen," "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart," "Diggin' up Bones"
Representative Albums:
Trail of Memories: The Randy Travis Anthology, Storms of Life, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Similar Artists:
David Kersh, Joe Nichols, Ricky Van Shelton, Keith Whitley, Gene Watson, George Strait, Collin Raye, Charley Pride, The Judds, Vern Gosdin, Skip Ewing, Brooks & Dunn, Larry Boone, Clint Black, John Anderson
Influences:
Followers:
Performed Songs By:
John Lindley, Trey Bruce, Nat Stuckey, Vip Vipperman, Hugh Prestwood, Gene Pistilli, Clyde Otis, Alan Jackson, Belford Hendricks, Al Gore, Roger Brown, Buddy Blackmon, Troy Seals, Don Schlitz, Brook Benton, Verlon Thompson, Paul Overstreet
Worked With:
Curtis Young, James Stroud, Lisa Silver, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Terry McMillan, Brent Mason, Paul Leim, Kyle Lehning, David Hungate, Doyle Grisham, Paul Franklin, Mark Casstevens, Larry Byrom, Dennis Burnside, Eddie Bayers, Steve Gibson, Jerry Douglas
- Birth Name: Randy Bruce Traywick
- Genre: Country
- Active: '80s, '90s, 2000s
- Instruments: Vocals, Guitar
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
| Randy Travis | |
|---|---|
Randy Travis sings his chart-topping song "Three Wooden Crosses," at the DoD-sponsored salute to Korean War veterans at the MCI Center in Washington, July 26, 2003. |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Randy Bruce Traywick |
| Born | May 4 1959 (age 48) |
| Origin |   Marshville, North Carolina, USA |
| Genre(s) | Neotraditionalist country Gospel Music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1985 – Present |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. Records DreamWorks Nashville Word/Curb |
| Website | www.randy-travis.com |
Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina), better known by his stage name, Randy Travis, is an American country singer and one of the most influential figures of Neotraditional Country.[citation needed]
While growing up, Travis was forced to take guitar lessons by his father, Harold Traywick and began performing at the age of eight with his brother, Ricky. Travis often fought with his father and soon dropped out of high school. He became a juvenile delinquent and was arrested for various offenses, including auto theft and burglary.
Harold Traywick entered Randy and Ricky in a talent contest at a nightclub called "Country City, USA" in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ricky, who also had brushes with the law, was sentenced to jail and Randy had to complete the contest alone, but he won anyway. The club's manager, Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher, took an interest in Travis and gave him a job singing at the club. Travis began focusing on music. He first recorded for Paula Records and released two unsuccessful singles, "She's My Woman" and "Dreamin'".
Travis' legal troubles continued and he was due in court for probation violations. Hatcher pleaded with the judge and Travis was released in her custody with the warning that if the judge ever saw him again "he'd better bring his toothbrush, because he would be going to jail for a very long time."
Travis moved in with Hatcher. This put further strain on her already fragile marriage. She eventually left her husband and, in 1982, she and Travis moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Travis was soon turned down by every record label in town. His early demo tapes were criticized by Nashville record executives as being "too country." Hatcher took a job as manager of a nightclub, "The Nashville Palace" and hired Travis as a cook and singer.
In 1982, Travis recorded an independent album Randy Ray Live and Lib Hatcher used it to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. In 1985, Warner Brothers released Travis' single, "On the Other Hand," which topped out at 67 on the country charts. His next single, "1982", became a Top 10 hit followed by the re-release of "On the Other Hand" in 1986. The re-release became Travis' first number one hit.
His debut album, Storms of Life, went on to sell more than 4 million copies. In the late 1980s, he had a string of hits, including "No Place Like Home" and "Diggin' Up Bones." Another song from that album, "Forever and Ever, Amen" arguably launched the neo-traditionalist country era, boosting the popularity of country music beyond its traditional fan base. For two years in a row, Travis won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, for the albums Always & Forever in 1988, and for Old 8x10 in 1989. Always and Forever was No. 1 for 43 weeks.
Travis and Hatcher married in 1991. That year Travis took part in Voices That Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project included fellow singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Kathy Mattea. By 1992, Travis was no longer charting high, as Brooks, Clint Black and others had taken over Nashville. He took a break from music to concentrate on acting and landed roles in several Western genre films. He returned to recording with the1994 album This Is Me and the hit single "Whisper My Name."
In 1997, Travis parted ways with Warner Brothers. He moved to DreamWorks Nashville and recorded You and You Alone, which produced the top 10 hits "Out of My Bones" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man." His latest albums are 2000's Inspirational Journey, 2002's Rise and Shine and 2003's Worship and Faith. The single "Three Wooden Crosses" from the Rise and Shine album reached No. 1 and won the CMA song of the year in 2003. That same year, Travis ranked #13 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Travis continues to act in film and television. His second most recent album, Passing Through, was released in November of 2004. It combines the country music of his earlier years, with a little gospel mixed in from more recent albums.
Discography
Randy Travis in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, in November, 2004.
- Storms of Life (Released on June 6, 1986)
- Always & Forever (Released on April 4, 1987)
- Old 8x10 (Released on July 12, 1988)
- An Old Time Christmas (Released on August 29, 1989)
- No Holdin' Back (Released on September 26, 1989)
- Heroes and Friends (Released on September 11, 1990)
- High Lonesome (Released on August 23, 1991)
- Greatest Hits Album Volumes 1 & 2 (Released on September 15, 1992)
- Wind in the Wire (Released on August 17, 1993)
- This Is Me (Released on April 26, 1994)
- Full Circle (Released on August 13, 1996)
- You and You Alone (Released on April 21, 1998)
- A Man Ain't Made of Stone (Released on September 21, 1999)
- Inspirational Journey (Released in October 2000)
- Randy Travis Live (Released in August 2001)
- Anthology (Released on July 16, 2002)
- Rise and Shine (Released on October 15, 2002)
- Worship & Faith (Released on November 11, 2003)
- Passing Through (Released on November 9, 2004)
- Glory Train (Released on October 25, 2005)
- Songs of the Season (Released on September 25, 2007)
Singles
| Year | Title | US Country | US Hot 100 | Album |
| 1985 | "On the Other Hand" | 67 | Storms of Life | |
| 1985 | "1982" | 6 | Storms of Life | |
| 1986 | "On the Other Hand" (re-release) | 1 | Storms of Life | |
| 1986 | "Diggin' Up Bones" | 1 | Storms of Life | |
| 1987 | "No Place Like Home" | 2 | Storms of Life | |
| 1987 | "Forever and Ever, Amen" | 1 | Always & Forever | |
| 1987 | "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" | 1 | Always & Forever | |
| 1987 | "Too Gone Too Long" | 1 | Always & Forever | |
| 1988 | "I Told You So" | 1 | Always & Forever | |
| 1988 | "Honky Tonk Moon" | 1 | Old 8x10 | |
| 1988 | "Deeper Than the Holler" | 1 | Old 8x10 | |
| 1989 | "Is It Still Over?" | 1 | Old 8x10 | |
| 1989 | "Promises" | 17 | Old 8x10 | |
| 1989 | "It's Just a Matter of Time" | 1 | No Holdin' Back | |
| 1990 | "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" | 1 | No Holdin' Back | |
| 1990 | "He Walked on Water" | 2 | No Holdin' Back | |
| 1990 | "A Few Ole Country Boys" (w/ George Jones) | 8 | Heroes and Friends | |
| 1991 | "Heroes and Friends"A | 3 | Heroes and Friends | |
| 1991 | "Point of Light" | 3 | High Lonesome | |
| 1991 | "Forever Together" | 1 | High Lonesome | |
| 1992 | "Better Class of Losers"A | 2 | High Lonesome | |
| 1992 | "I'd Surrender All" | 20 | High Lonesome | |
| 1992 | "If I Didn't Have You" | 1 | Greatest Hits | |
| 1992 | "Look Heart, No Hands" | 1 | Greatest Hits | |
| 1993 | "An Old Pair of Shoes" | 21 | Greatest Hits | |
| 1993 | "Cowboy Boogie" | 46 | Wind in the Wire | |
| 1994 | "Wind in the Wire" | 65 | Wind in the Wire | |
| 1994 | "Before You Kill Us All"A | 2 | This Is Me | |
| 1994 | "Whisper My Name" | 1 | This Is Me | |
| 1995 | "This Is Me" | 5 | This Is Me | |
| 1995 | "The Box" | 7 | This Is Me | |
| 1996 | "Are We In Trouble Now" | 24 | Full Circle | |
| 1996 | "Would I" | 25 | Full Circle | |
| 1997 | "Price to Pay" | 60 | Full Circle | |
| 1997 | "King of the Road" | 51 | Full Circle / Traveller soundtrack | |
| 1998 | "Out Of My Bones"A | 2 | 101 | You and You Alone |
| 1998 | "The Hole" | 9 | 105 | You and You Alone |
| 1999 | "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man"A | 2 | 42 | You and You Alone |
| 1999 | "Stranger In My Mirror" | 16 | 81 | You and You Alone |
| 1999 | "A Man Ain't Made of Stone" | 16 | 82 | A Man Ain't Made Of Stone |
| 2000 | "Where Can I Surrender" | 48 | A Man Ain't Made Of Stone | |
| 2000 | "A Little Left of Center" | 54 | A Man Ain't Made Of Stone | |
| 2000 | "I'll Be Right Here Loving You" | 68 | A Man Ain't Made Of Stone | |
| 2001 | "America Will Always Stand" | 59 | America WIll Always Stand | |
| 2001 | "Baptism" (Kenny Chesney w/ Randy Travis)B | 75 | Greatest Hits (Kenny Chesney album) | |
| 2002 | "Three Wooden Crosses" | 1 | 31 | Rise and Shine |
| 2003 | "Pray For the Fish" | 48 | Rise and Shine | |
| 2004 | "Four Walls" | 46 | Passing Through | |
| 2005 | "Angels" | 48 | Passing Through |
- AReached #1 on Radio & Records country singles charts.
- BAlbum cut.
References
- Goldsmith, Thomas. (1998). "Randy Travis". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 544-5.
External links
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