Passing Through (CD)

Ricky, had their own duo, playing throughout the South at fiddler’s conventions, private arties, VFW halls, and anywhere and everywhere they could draw a crowd. Even at his young age, Randy’s voice startled people with its resonance. But he dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and after that, fast cars, drinking, and drugs led to a series of scrapes with the law.

At age sixteen, Randy entered a talent show, hosted by Country City USA, as a soloist. After winning the competition hands down, he was invited by the club owner, Lib Hatcher, to play regularly at the famed nightspot. He then relocated to Charlotte, NC. It was a stint that lasted the better part of five years, with Randy first performing on weekends and eventually full time. Hatcher took over management of the fledgling singer, and in the late seventies, Randy recorded two singles for Paula Records, “Dreamin’” and “She’s My Woman” with Joe Stampley producing.

In 1981, Randy made the move to Nashville, commuting regularly to Charlotte to perform at Country City USA. He spent most of his time writing songs and getting acquainted with the Nashville Scene.

Eventually, Hatcher began management of another club, The Nashville Palace, where Randy worked cooking catfish and washing dishes, as well as singing on stage. It wasn’t long before he had developed a following there as well, changing his stage name to Randy Ray. The exposure led to appearances on Nashville Now and Nashville After Hours. His Nashville popularity grew by increasing word-of-mouth as people touted him as an outstanding newcomer. In 1983 while performing at the club, Randy recorded his first album independently and called it Randy Ray – Live at the Nashville Palace. The album was mostly sold at the club between shows, and is now a collector’s item and out of circulation.

Turned down by nearly every record label in Nashville, often more than once, Randy was finally signed to Warner Brothers Records in 1985. Record company executives changed his name to Travis, and Randy’s first recorded effort for his new label was Prairie Rose, on the soundtrack to the film, “Rustler’s Rhapsody”. It was followed by the release of the album Storms of Life in 1986, and the rest is country music history.

The first single, “On the Other Hand”, was a perfect slice of Randy’s authentic country talent. “1982” followed, and with that hit, Randy established himself as a singer and performer in the grand tradition of George Jones, Lefty Frizell, Merle Haggard, and a handful of others. The success of both singles led to wide-spread demand for live shows, and Randy next set out on an extensive and on-going tour, taking him across the United States and Canada before record-setting crowds.

Soon it seemed every award in the music business had Randy’s name on it. A string of country chart-toppers ensued, and by the end of the decade, Randy’s record sales topped 13 million copies. During a break from touring in 1991, Randy married his long time manager and friend, Lib Hatcher, in a quiet ceremony on the island of Maui, Hawaii.

In September of 1997, after 12 albums with Warner Brothers, Randy was the first artist to sign with the newly formed DreamWorks Records label in Nashville. When “Out of My Bones”, the first single from the new label’s debut album, You and You Alone, was released in 1998, he delivered the label its first #1 country hit. A Man Ain’t Made of Stone, Randy’s second album for DreamWorks, continues his journey as one of the biggest selling, and most distinctive artists in country music.

Randy balances a full-time music career with a full-time acting career. In addition to guest appearances on TV’s Matlock, Touched By an Angel, and Texas, his film credits include “The Rainmaker” (starring Jon Voight, Matt Damon, and Danny DeVito), “Frank and Jessie” (Bill Paxton and Rob Lowe), “Black Dog” (Patrick Swayze), and “Fire Down Below” (Steven Seagal). He’s also featured with Antonio Banderas, Ellen Barkin, Lily Tomlin, and Bob Hoskins in “White River Kid” as well as a starring role in the Miramax/ Dimension film “Texas Rangers” (James Van Der Beek, Dylan McDermott, and Usher).

In 2000, Randy’s musical career took a new turn as he recorded his first gospel record titled Inspirational Journey. In 2002 a second gospel album, Rise & Shine, was released on Word Records and made history as the song “Three Wooden Crosses” achieved No. 1 status at country radio (Billboard, R&R and Music Row charts), an unprecedented achievement by a Christian record label on the Country charts. Worship & Faith, his latest musical offering, once again pairs the bluegrass and Country career-sound with the life of faith Randy embraces today.

For 17 years Randy Travis has been a dominant force in country music. The first country artist to break the multi-platinum sales barrier, he has sold more than 21 million albums and received three Grammys, five Country Music Association Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, and 10 American Music Awards. He heralds three Dove Awards, the Gospel Music Association’s highest honor. Travis is also an actor and has appeared in over 20 television movies for TV and theater. He has made a guest appearance on Nickelodeon’s “Blues Clues” along with narrating a handful of children’s books.