Randy Travis

The Legendary Journey

Randy Travis is one of the most influential country music artists of all time. Born Randy Bruce Traywick in 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina, Travis had a passion for music from a young age. He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music, playing guitar and singing in local bands.

In the early 1980s, Travis moved to Nashville to try to make it big. After initially struggling to get a recording contract, he was discovered by Warner Bros. Records in 1985. His first major label album, Storms of Life, was a huge success and launched his career to stardom. Songs like “On the Other Hand” and “1982” established Travis as a traditionalist country singer with a warm, distinctive baritone voice.

Over the next decade, Travis became one of the biggest stars in country music. He released a string of hit albums and singles that defined the “neotraditional country” sound. Some of his most popular songs from this period include “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “Deeper Than the Holler,” “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart,” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Travis dominated country radio and the charts for years, earning multiple platinum albums and Grammy awards.

Travis’ straightforward, traditionalist approach was an antidote to the slick pop-country that was popular in the 1980s. He became a leader in bringing back the fiddle and steel guitar sounds of classic country. His return to traditional country roots influenced many younger artists as well.

In the 1990s and beyond, Travis continued recording and touring, even as medical issues threatened his career. He suffered from viral cardiomyopathy and a stroke in 2013 that left him unable to sing for a period of time. However, through intense therapy and rehabilitation, Travis eventually regained his singing voice and returned to the stage, delivering emotional performances for his resilient fans.

Over the course of his iconic career, Randy Travis has released 20 studio albums, 25 #1 singles, sold over 25 million records and won 7 Grammy awards. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and cemented his legacy as a true country legend. Travis’ impact on country music continues to be felt today, as he paved the way for neo-traditionalists like Alan Jackson, Clint Black, and Brooks & Dunn. At age 64, Travis continues to perform and share his one-of-a-kind voice with audiences across the globe.

Discography

Albums

  • Old 8x10 (1988-07-12)
  • No Holdin’ Back (1989-09-15)
  • A Man Ain’t Made of Stone (1999-09-21)
  • An Old Time Christmas (1989)
  • Rise and Shine (2002-10-15)
  • Heroes & Friends (1990-09-11)
  • Always & Forever (1987)
  • Passing Through (2004-11-09)
  • Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise (2005-10-25)
  • Storms of Life (1986-06-06)
  • You and You Alone (1998-04-21)
  • Worship & Faith (2003-11-11)
  • Influence Vol 2: The Man I Am (2014-08-12)
  • Wind in the Wire (1993-08-17)
  • Songs of the Season (2007-09-25)
  • Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am (2013-09-30)
  • Full Circle (1996-08-13)
  • High Lonesome (1991-08-23)
  • Around the Bend (2008-07-15)
  • 25 Anniversary Celebration (2011-06-03)
  • Inspirational Journey (2000)
  • This Is Me (1994-04-26)

Singles

  • I Told You So (2009-02-02)
  • The Hole ()
  • Out of My Bones / Brinks Truck (1998)