Randy Travis

Randy Travis

Randy Travis (born May 4, 1959 in Marshville , North Carolina ; actually Randy Bruce Traywick ) is an American country singer , songwriter and actor.

Life

Childhood and youth

Randy began playing guitar at the age of eight, influenced by his country-loving father. Just two years later he had his first public appearances together with his brother Ricky as the duo Traywick Brothers . The two started drinking early, however, and often came into conflict with the law. Fighting, drinking under the influence and substance abuse were the order of the day. At the age of 16, Randy moved to Charlotte , where he was able to draw attention to himself in a talent competition. Bar owner Lib Hatcher took a liking to his music and offered him a job as a kitchen helper. In addition, there were opportunities to perform in their establishment. In Charlotte, at least in the first few years, there was often trouble with the police.

Career

Lib Hatcher eventually became his manager. With great commitment, she got him his first record deal in 1978. Two singles were recorded, but they weren't particularly successful. In 1982, Hatcher took over the Palace Club in Nashville . Randy was working in the kitchen again, making occasional appearances. His manager financed a first album, which was released under the name Randy Ray and was sold mainly to the guests of the club. In 1985 a contract with a well-known label, Warner Brothers , was signed for the first time. Under a new name, Randy Travis, the single On The Other Hand was released in the same year . It reached a respectable middle spot on the country charts. The next single in 1982 even made it into the top 10. Then On The Other Hand was promoted again, and this time the single made number 1. In 1986 his first Warner Brothers album: Storm of Live was released . It was of impressive quality, received great reviews, and sold over 3 million copies.

Randy Travis had become the main hope of country music, which had drifted into shallow pop waters in recent years. With his singing style reminiscent of Lefty Frizzell or John Anderson , he was one of the neo-traditionalists who ushered in a trend reversal in the second half of the 1980s. His second album, Always & Forever , was even more successful than the first. By the end of the decade, Travis had had seven consecutive number 1 hits. He has received numerous awards including two Grammys and several CMA Awards . His successes were also favored by the strong song material that he could fall back on. It was above all the titles written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz , such as Diggin 'Up Bones or Forever and Ever, Amen , that guaranteed top positions. Randy Travis also covered a few songs by Bobby Helms .

In 1991 Lib and Randy got married. His streak of success continued. The renewal of country music that he helped to bring about brought new stars like Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson to the top, who pushed him a little into the background. Some records have failed. After the turn of the millennium, he recorded some religiously oriented albums, which also earned him a lot of recognition. He also acted in various films.

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	Country
1986	Storms of Life	-	US85 × 3 Triple platinum (100 weeks)US	Country1 (243 weeks) Country
1987	Always & Forever	-	US19th × 5 Quintuple platinum (103 weeks)US	Country1 (208 weeks) Country
1988	Old 8 × 10	UK64 (2 weeks) UK	US35 × 2 Double platinum (43 weeks)US	Country1 (119 weeks) Country
1989	No holdin 'back	-	US33 × 2 Double platinum (47 weeks)US	Country1 (115 weeks) Country
	At Old Time Christmas	-	US70 gold (7 weeks)US	Country13 (16 weeks) Country
1990	Heroes & Friends	-	US31 platinum (41 weeks)US	Country1 (69 weeks) Country
1991	High lonesome	-	US43 platinum (31 weeks)US	Country3 (56 weeks) Country
1993	Wind in the Wire	-	US121 (6 weeks) US	Country24 (22 weeks) Country
1994	This is me	-	US59 gold (21 weeks)US	Country10 (54 weeks) Country
1996	Full circle	-	US77 (4 weeks) US	Country9 (23 weeks) Country
1998	You and You Alone	-	US49 (9 weeks) US	Country7 (54 weeks) Country
1999	A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	US130 (3 weeks) US	Country15 (23 weeks) Country
2000	Inspirational Journey	-	-	Country34 (77 weeks) Country
2002	Rise and Shine	-	US73 gold (23 weeks)US	Country8 (90 weeks) Country
2003	Worship & Faith	-	US90 gold (7 weeks)US	Country9 (73 weeks) Country
2004	Passing through	-	US127 (5 weeks) US	Country23 (42 weeks) Country
2005	Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise	-	US128 (5 weeks) US	Country28 (40 weeks) Country
2007	Songs of the Season	-	US131 (6 weeks) US	Country26 (11 weeks) Country
2008	Around the bend	-	US14 (10 weeks) US	Country3 (34 weeks) Country
2011	Anniversary Celebration	-	US19 (3 weeks) US	Country4 (18 weeks) Country
2013	Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am	-	US120 (1 week) US	Country19 (6 weeks) Country
2014	Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am	-	-	Country26 (4 weeks) Country

Live albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	Country
2001	Live: It Was Just a Matter of Time	-	-	Country61 (10 weeks) Country

More live albums

• 1982: Randy Ray: Live at the Nashville Palace

Compilations

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	Country
1992	Greatest Hits, Volume 1	-	US44 platinum (24 weeks)US	Country14 (46 weeks) Country
	Greatest Hits, Volume 2	-	US67 platinum (31 weeks)US	Country20 (70 weeks) Country
1998	Greatest # 1 hits	-	-	Country66 (20 weeks) Country
2004	The Very Best of Randy Travis	-	US80 (7 weeks) US	Country10 (89 weeks) Country
2009	I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis	-	US21 (14 weeks) US	Country3 (78 weeks) Country
	Three Wooden Crosses: / The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis	-	-	Country31 (44 weeks) Country
2010	I'll fly away	-	-	Country70 (3 weeks) Country
	Top 10	-	-	Country40 (42 weeks) Country
2011	Randy Travis	-	US63 (6 weeks) US	Country11 (13 weeks) Country
2014	Hymns: 17 Timeless Songs of Faith	-	-	Country39 (14 weeks) Country
2015	On the Other Hand All the Number Ones	-	US191 (2 weeks) US	Country26 (10 weeks) Country

More compilations

• 1995: Forever & Ever ... The Best of Randy Travis
• 2000: Super Hits, Volume 1
• 2002: Trail of Memories: The Randy Travis Anthology
• 2003: The Essential Randy Travis
• 2006: The Platinum Collection
• 2013: Forever Country: 15 Original Hits

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
		UK	US	Country
1978	She's My Woman Randy Traywick	-	-	Country91 (4 weeks) Country	as Randy Traywick
1985	On the Other Hand Storms of Life	-	-	Country1 (35 weeks) Country	Highest ranking after re-publication in 1986
	1982 Storms of Life	-	-	Country6 (24 weeks) Country
1986	Diggin 'Up Bones Storms of Life	-	-	Country1 (21 weeks) Country
	No Place Like Home Storms of Life	-	-	Country2 (21 weeks) Country
1987	Forever and Ever, Amen Always & Forever	UK55 (9 weeks) UK	US- gold US	Country1 (22 weeks) Country	Chart entry in UK only in 1988
	I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever) Always & Forever	-	-	Country1 (22 weeks) Country
	Too Gone Too Long Always & Forever	-	-	Country1 (19 weeks) Country
1988	I told you so always & forever	-	-	Country1 (18 weeks) Country
	Honky Tonk Moon Old 8 × 10	-	-	Country1 (17 weeks) Country
	Deeper Than the Holler Old 8 × 10	-	-	Country1 (18 weeks) Country
1989	Is it still over? Old 8 × 10	-	-	Country1 (17 weeks) Country
	Promises Old 8 × 10	-	-	Country17 (15 weeks) Country
	It's Just a Matter of Time No Holdin 'Back	-	-	Country1 (26 weeks) Country
1990	Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart No Holdin 'Back	-	-	Country1 (26 weeks) Country
	He Walked on Water No Holdin 'Back	-	-	Country2 (21 weeks) Country
	A Few Ole Country Boys Heroes & Friends	-	-	Country8 (20 weeks) Country	with George Jones
1991	Heroes and Friends Heroes & Friends	-	-	Country3 (20 weeks) Country
	Point of Light High Lonesome	-	-	Country3 (20 weeks) Country
	Forever Together High Lonesome	-	-	Country1 (20 weeks) Country
	Better Class of Losers High Lonesome	-	-	Country2 (20 weeks) Country
1992	I'd Surrender All High Lonesome	-	-	Country20 (20 weeks) Country
	If I Didn't Have You Greatest Hits, Volume 1	-	-	Country1 (20 weeks) Country
	Look Heart, No Hands Greatest Hits, Volume 2	-	-	Country1 (20 weeks) Country
1993	An Old Pair of Shoes Greatest Hits, Volume 1	-	-	Country21 (20 weeks) Country
	Cowboy Boogie Wind in the Wire	-	-	Country46 (8 weeks) Country
	Wind in the Wire Wind in the Wire	-	-	Country65 (6 weeks) Country
1994	Before You Kill Us All This Is Me	-	-	Country2 (20 weeks) Country
	Whisper My Name This Is Me	-	-	Country1 (20 weeks) Country
	This Is Me This Is Me	-	-	Country5 (20 weeks) Country
1995	The Box This Is Me	-	-	Country7 (20 weeks) Country
1996	Are We in Trouble Now Full Circle	-	-	Country24 (17 weeks) Country
	Would I full circle	-	-	Country25 (20 weeks) Country
1997	Price to Pay Full Circle	-	-	Country60 (4 weeks) Country
	King of the Road Traveler OST	-	-	Country51 (15 weeks) Country
1998	Out of My Bones You and You Alone	-	US64 (10 weeks) US	Country2 (20 weeks) Country
	The Hole You and You Alone	-	-	Country9 (20 weeks) Country
1999	Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man You and You Alone	-	US42 (14 weeks) US	Country2 (21 weeks) Country
	Stranger in My Mirror You and You Alone	-	US81 (4 weeks) US	Country16 (20 weeks) Country
	A Man Ain't Made of Stone A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	US82 (4 weeks) US	Country16 (20 weeks) Country
2000	Where Can I Surrender A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	-	Country48 (10 weeks) Country
	A Little Left of Center A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	-	Country54 (10 weeks) Country
	I'll Be Right Here Loving You A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	-	Country68 (1 week) Country
	Down With The Old Man (Up With The New) Inspirational Journey	-	-	Country75 (1 week) Country
2001	America Will Always Stand A Man Ain't Made of Stone	-	-	Country59 (2 weeks) Country
2002	Three Wooden Crosses Rise and Shine	-	US31 (20 weeks) US	Country1 (34 weeks) Country
2003	Pray for the Fish Rise and Shine	-	-	Country48 (14 weeks) Country
2004	Four walls passing through	-	-	Country46 (11 weeks) Country
	Angels Passing Through	-	-	Country48 (11 weeks) Country

More singles

• 1978: I'll Take Any Willing Woman (as Randy Traywick)
• 1986: White Christmas Makes Me Blue
• 1988: An Old Time Christmas
• 2003: Above All
• 2008: Faith in You
• 2008: Dig Two Graves
• 2009: Turn It Around
• 2011: Everything and All (with Brad Paisley )
• 2012: More Life (with Don Henley )
• 2013: Tonight I'm Playin 'Possum (with Joe Nichols )
• 2019: One in a Row
• 2019: Lead Me Home

Guest Posts

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)		Remarks
		US	Country
1991	We're Strangers Again Best Loved Hits	-	Country49 (8 weeks) Country	with Tammy Wynette
	Voices That Care	US11 (16 weeks) US	-	with various artists
1998	Same Old Train Tribute to Tradition	-	Country59 (5 weeks) Country	with various artists
2009	I told you so	US9 gold (18 weeks)US	Country2 (19 weeks) Country	with Carrie Underwood

Awards (selection)

• 1985 - Academy of Country Music - "Top New Male Vocalist"
• 1986 - Academy of Country Music - "Top Male Vocalist"
• 1986 - Academy of Country Music - "Album of the Year"
• 1986 - Academy of Country Music - "Single of the Year"
• 1986 - CMA - "Horizon Award"
• 1987 - Academy of Country Music - "Top Male Vocalist"
• 1987 - Academy of Country Music - "Album of the Year"
• 1987 - Academy of Country Music - "Single of the Year"
• 1987 - CMA - "Male Vocalist of the Year"
• 1987 - CMA - "Male Album of the Year"
• 1987 - CMA - "Male Vocalist of the Year"
• 1988 - CMA - "Male Vocalist of the Year" - "Best Male Country Vocal Performance"
• 1988 - Grammy - "Best Male Country Vocal Performance"
• 2004 - Grammy - "Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album"
• 2005 - Grammy - "Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album"
• 2005 - Dove Award - "Country Album of the Year"
• 2006 - Dove Award - "Country Album of the Year"
• 2007 - Grammy - "Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album"
• 2010 - Grammy - "I Told You So" in a duet with Carrie Underwood
• 2016 - CMA - Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Filmography

• 1992 - Matlock (episodes 6x16 and 7x8)
• 1995 - The James Gang (in the role of Cole Younger)
• 1995: Christmas Love (A Holiday to Remember, Movie made for TV)
• 1996 - Sabrina - Totally Bewitched! (Episode 1x03 guest role)
• 1997 - The Shooter - The Sniper (The Shooter) (as Kyle)
• 1997 Fire Down Below (as Ken Adams)
• 1997 - Annabelle and the flying reindeer (speaking role)
• 1998 - Black Dog (in the role of Earl , contributed the song My Greatest Fear for the soundtrack )
• 2001 - Texas Rangers
• 2003 - A Touch of Heaven (A Song for Eternity)
• 2006 - The Visitation

Web links

Commons : Randy Travis  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website (English)
• Randy Travis in the Internet Movie Database (English)

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1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Chart sources: UK US
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Music Sales Awards: US