Randy Travis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Travis
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Travis performing in Bolingbrook, Illinois, in 2007
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| Born |
Randy Bruce Traywick
May 4, 1959 |
| Other names | Randy Ray |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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Works
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| Spouse(s) |
Lib Hatcher
(m. 1991; div. 2010)Mary Davis
(m. 2015) |
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Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known as Randy Travis, is an American country and gospel music singer, songwriter, and actor. He started his career in 1979. He has released over 20 studio albums. More than 50 of his songs have appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Sixteen of these songs reached the number-one spot.
Randy Travis became very popular in the mid-1980s. His album Storms of Life sold millions of copies. He continued to release successful albums. In the 1990s, his music style changed. He then focused on gospel music albums in the 2000s. Randy Travis has won many awards. These include seven Grammy Awards and eleven ACM Awards. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2016, he joined the Country Music Hall of Fame. Some of his most famous songs are "On the Other Hand", "Forever and Ever, Amen", and "Three Wooden Crosses".
He is known for bringing back traditional country sounds. This style is called neotraditional country. It was a change from the pop-influenced country music of the early 1980s. Most of his albums were produced by Kyle Lehning. Many songs were co-written with Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz, and Skip Ewing. Critics often compare his deep singing voice to artists like Lefty Frizzell and George Jones. In 2013, Randy Travis had a serious stroke. This made it very hard for him to sing and speak. Since then, he has released older recordings. He also makes special public appearances. In 2024, he released a new song, "Where That Came From". His voice for this song was created using artificial intelligence.
Randy Travis has also acted in movies and TV shows. These include Wind in the Wire and Black Dog.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Randy Bruce Traywick was born on May 4, 1959. He grew up in Marshville, North Carolina. He was the second of six children. His parents were Bobbie and Harold Traywick. His father was a horse breeder and farmer.
Randy and his brother, Ricky, were encouraged to play music. Their father loved country singers like Hank Williams. Randy started playing guitar and singing in his church choir at age eight. A few years later, he and his brother performed at local clubs. They called themselves the Traywick Brothers. Randy left high school to focus on music.
In 1975, Randy won a talent contest. It was at a club called Country City USA in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club owner, Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher, was impressed. She hired him as a cook and gave him regular singing jobs. In the late 1970s, Randy worked and sang there. Lib Hatcher also became his manager. They began to focus on his music career full-time.
In 1978, he started recording for Paula Records. His first song, "Dreamin'", did not become a hit. His second song, "She's My Woman", reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. A full album was never released with Paula Records. In 1982, Randy and Lib Hatcher moved to Nashville, Tennessee. They later married in 1991.
Music Career Highlights
Lib Hatcher helped Randy meet important people in the country music world. She paid for his first recording sessions in Nashville. These recordings led to his early singles. After these songs didn't become big hits, they kept trying. In 1981, they moved to Nashville to be closer to the music industry.
In 1982, Lib Hatcher managed a club called the Nashville Palace. She hired Randy to wash dishes. Soon, he started performing there too. He began using the name Randy Ray. He also recorded an independent album called Randy Ray Live at the Nashville Palace. He even appeared on a TV talent show called You Can Be a Star.
Still, he struggled to get a record deal. Then, Martha Sharp from Warner Bros. Records heard about him. She suggested a new name, "Randy Travis." He signed with Warner Nashville in 1985.
Early Success: Storms of Life
Randy Travis's first songs with Warner Nashville included "On the Other Hand" and "1982". "1982" became his first top-ten hit in early 1986. After this success, Warner re-released "On the Other Hand." It became his first number-one song in July 1986.
These songs were on his first album, Storms of Life, released in June 1986. The album sold over 100,000 copies in its first week. It reached number one on the country album charts. Later, it sold three million copies. The album also had another number-one hit, "Diggin' Up Bones". It also had "No Place Like Home", which reached number two.
In late 1986, Randy Travis hosted the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. He won the Horizon Award for new artists. He was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Storms of Life was praised by critics. They liked his voice and the traditional country sound.
More Hits: Always & Forever
In early 1987, Travis released "Forever and Ever, Amen". This song stayed at number one on the Billboard country charts for three weeks. It was the lead single from his second album, Always & Forever. This song became one of his most famous. It has sold millions of copies.
Always & Forever also had many other number-one hits. These included "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)", "Too Gone Too Long", and "I Told You So". Randy Travis wrote "I Told You So" himself. By 1996, Always & Forever had sold five million copies.
This album and its songs won many awards. Randy Travis won Male Vocalist of the Year. Always & Forever won Album of the Year. He also won his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Critics loved the album, saying it was as good as his first.
Continuing Success: Old 8×10 and No Holdin' Back
In 1988, Randy Travis released his third album, Old 8×10. The first three songs from this album reached number one. These were "Honky Tonk Moon", "Deeper Than the Holler", and "Is It Still Over?" Old 8×10 was his third album in a row to reach number one. It also won him another Grammy Award.
In 1989, he released a Christmas album, An Old Time Christmas. He also released No Holdin' Back. This album included his cover of Brook Benton's "It's Just a Matter of Time". This song became a number-one hit. Another song from the album, "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart", stayed at number one for four weeks. This was his longest time at the top spot. The album also featured "He Walked on Water", which reached number two.
Collaborations and New Sounds
In the 1990s, Randy Travis released Heroes & Friends. This album featured duets with many famous artists. Some of these included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, and George Jones. Two songs from the album, "A Few Ole Country Boys" (with George Jones) and "Heroes and Friends", reached the top 10.
His next album was High Lonesome in 1991. It included "Point of Light", a song inspired by President George H. W. Bush's volunteerism campaign. The album also had "Forever Together", which was his twelfth number-one hit. Randy Travis co-wrote several songs on this album with Alan Jackson.
In 1991, Warner released two greatest hits albums. These albums included most of his hit songs and four new tracks. Two of the new songs, "If I Didn't Have You" and "Look Heart, No Hands", became number-one hits.
Exploring Western Music and This Is Me
Randy Travis took a break from touring in 1992 and 1993. During this time, he released Wind in the Wire. This album featured Western music and was connected to a TV movie he starred in. The album was not as successful on the charts.
In late 1993, he started working on a new album, This Is Me. He also began touring again. The first song from the album, "Before You Kill Us All", reached number two in 1994. "Whisper My Name" became his fifteenth number-one hit. The album's title track and "The Box" were also top-ten hits. Critics praised the album for its strong songs and Travis's voice.
Changing Labels and Gospel Music
In 1996, Randy Travis released Full Circle. This was his last album with Warner Bros. Records. He left the label in 1997 due to disagreements. He then signed with DreamWorks Records.
His first song with DreamWorks was "Out of My Bones" in late 1997. It reached number two. His album You and You Alone followed in 1998. It included top-ten hits like "The Hole" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man". In 1999, he was part of the Grammy-winning song "Same Old Train". His second DreamWorks album, A Man Ain't Made of Stone, was released in 1999. After this, he left DreamWorks Records.
In the early 2000s, Randy Travis began recording gospel music albums. He signed with Word Records. His first gospel album, Inspirational Journey, was released in 2000. It included "Baptism", a duet with Kenny Chesney. This album won two Dove Awards.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, he released a patriotic song, "America Will Always Stand". In 2002, he released the gospel album Rise and Shine. The lead song was "Three Wooden Crosses". This song became his sixteenth and final number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2003. It also reached number 31 on the overall Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rise and Shine won a Grammy Award.
He continued to release successful gospel albums. These included Worship & Faith (2003) and Passing Through (2004). These albums won more Grammy Awards for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album. In 2004, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His 2005 album, Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise, also won a Grammy.
Return to Country and Recent Years
In 2008, Randy Travis released Around the Bend. This was his first country music album in several years. It was released through Warner. The album included songs like "Faith in You" and "Dig Two Graves".
In 2009, Carrie Underwood recorded a version of his song "I Told You So". She later released a duet version with Randy Travis. This duet reached number two on the country charts. It also reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. The duet won a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
In 2011, he released Anniversary Celebration. This album celebrated 25 years since Storms of Life. It featured collaborations with many artists. They re-recorded his old hits and sang new songs.
Career After Stroke
In July 2013, Randy Travis suffered a serious stroke. This greatly affected his ability to speak and sing. He had to undergo many treatments and therapies. Even though it was a difficult time, he slowly began to recover. He worked hard to regain his ability to walk and play guitar.
Despite his health challenges, Randy Travis released two albums of cover songs: Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am (2013) and Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am (2014). These albums featured songs by artists who influenced him.
In 2016, Randy Travis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He even sang "Amazing Grace" at the ceremony. He also appeared in the music video for "Forever Country". This video celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Country Music Association. He continues to make public appearances.
In September 2019, Randy Travis announced a new tour. Singer James Dupré performs as the lead vocalist with Randy's band. Randy Travis makes special appearances during these shows. He often sings the final "Amen" in "Forever and Ever, Amen".
In 2020, he released Precious Memories (Worship & Faith). This album featured recordings from 2003. He also released an older demo recording called "Fool's Love Affair". In April 2024, Randy Travis released a new song, "Where That Came From". This was his first new studio recording since his stroke. His voice for the song was created using artificial intelligence technology. The song appeared on the Billboard country charts.
Musical Style and Influence
Randy Travis is a very important figure in neotraditional country music. This style brought back traditional country sounds. It was a change from the pop-influenced country music of the early 1980s. Critics say his strong, honest voice and relatable songs helped start this movement. He showed that traditional country music could be popular with many people.
His singing voice is often described as a deep baritone. Critics have compared his voice to famous country singers like Merle Haggard and George Jones. His long-time producer, Kyle Lehning, helped create his clear and balanced sound.
Randy Travis has influenced many younger singers. Daryle Singletary was an opening act for Travis. Travis even helped produce Singletary's first album. Josh Turner also says Randy Travis is an influence. Turner's first public performance was "Diggin' Up Bones." Randy Travis and Josh Turner have performed together.
Acting Career
Randy Travis started acting in 1988. He had a small role in the movie Young Guns. He also sang the title song for the movie's soundtrack.
In the early 1990s, he began acting on television. He appeared in an episode of Matlock. A year later, he starred in the TV movie Wind in the Wire. His album of the same name was a soundtrack for the movie.
He continued to act in films like Frank and Jesse and Maverick. In 1995, he starred in the TV movie A Holiday to Remember. In 1998, he acted alongside Patrick Swayze in the movie Black Dog. In this film, he played a country music singer. In February 2024, Randy Travis appeared as a special guest on the game show The Price Is Right.
Personal Life
Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher lived together for several years. They secretly married on May 31, 1991. They later bought a house in Maui. Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher divorced in October 2010. She continued to be his manager for some time. After their divorce, Randy Travis married Mary Davis on March 21, 2015. They live on their property called Chrysalis Ranch in Tioga, Texas. Mary Davis helped care for Randy during his stroke in 2013. She often makes public appearances for him because of his limited speech.
Awards and Achievements
Randy Travis has won many awards throughout his career.
- Seven Grammy Awards
- Six CMA Awards
- Eleven ACM Awards
Discography
- Studio albums
- Storms of Life (1986)
- Always & Forever (1987)
- Old 8×10 (1988)
- No Holdin' Back (1989)
- An Old Time Christmas (1989)
- Heroes & Friends (1990)
- High Lonesome (1991)
- Wind in the Wire (1993)
- This Is Me (1994)
- Full Circle (1996)
- You and You Alone (1998)
- A Man Ain't Made of Stone (1999)
- Inspirational Journey (2000)
- Rise and Shine (2002)
- Worship & Faith (2003)
- Passing Through (2004)
- Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise (2005)
- Songs of the Season (2007)
- Around the Bend (2008)
- Anniversary Celebration (2011)
- Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am (2013)
- Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am (2014)
- Precious Memories (Worship & Faith) (2020)
Images for kids
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Don Schlitz co-wrote many of Randy Travis's hit songs.
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Randy Travis performing in 2003.
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Randy Travis had a hit with a cover of "It's Just a Matter of Time," originally by Brook Benton.
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Alan Jackson co-wrote several songs on Randy Travis's 1991 album High Lonesome.
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Mark Knopfler wrote Randy Travis's 1996 song "Are We in Trouble Now".
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Kenny Chesney collaborated with Randy Travis on the song "Baptism".
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Carrie Underwood had a hit in 2009 with her version of Randy Travis's "I Told You So".
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Josh Turner cites Randy Travis as an influence.
See also
In Spanish: Randy Travis para niños
