 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.
Randy 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.
Randy 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,
Randy 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,
Randy 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
Randy Travis in character. Two years later,
Randy 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
Contact Grabow for more information or to book Randy Travis for your next
corporate or private event.
|
