Randy Travis

Artist Image: Randy Travis
Attribution
Image Credit: - EMR - (Flickr), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Randy Travis (born May 4, 1959) is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 50 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and 16 of these were number one hits. Considered a pivotal figure in the history of country music, Travis broke through in the mid-1980s with the release of his album Storms of Life, which sold more than three million copies. The album established him as a major force in the Neotraditional country movement. Travis followed up his successful debut with a string of platinum and multi-platinum albums. By the mid-1990s, Travis saw a decline in his chart success. In 1997, he left Warner Bros. Records for DreamWorks Records and changed his musical focus to gospel music. Although the career shift produced only one more number one country hit "Three Wooden Crosses", Travis went on to earn several Dove awards, including Album of the Year three times. In addition to his singing career, Travis pursued an acting career, appearing in numerous films and television series, including The Rainmaker (1997) with Matt Damon, Black Dog (1998) with Patrick Swayze, Texas Rangers (2001) with James Van Der Beek, and seven episodes of the Touched by an Angel television series. Travis has sold over 25 million records, and has earned 22 number one hits, 6 number one albums, 6 Grammy awards, 6 CMA awards, 9 ACM awards, 10 AMA awards, 7 Dove awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1959
Number of Albums 41
Record Label
Website randy-travis.com
Wikipedia Randy Travis on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Country

Trivia

When was Travis incapacitated by a stroke?

2013

...Active from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013 , he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 50 singles on the Billboard Hot...
How many studio albums has Travis recorded?

20

... from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 50 singles on the Billboard Hot Count...
What was the name of Travis' debut album?

Storms of Life

... Travis broke through in the mid1980s with the release of his album Storms of Life , which sold more than four million copies. The album established hi...
Where did Travis leave Warner Bros. Records?

1997

...m albums. By the mid1990s, Travis saw a decline in his chart success. In 1997 , he left Warner Bros. Records for DreamWorks Records and then for Word R...
When did he start recording more Christian material?

Word Records

...97, he left Warner Bros. Records for DreamWorks Records and then for Word Records , where he began recording more Christian material. Although the care...
How many Dove Awards did Travis win?

eight

...ds and has won seven Grammy Awards, six CMA Awards, eleven ACM Awards, 10 AMA Awards, eight GMA Dove Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame....
How many CMA Awards has Travis won?

six

...ock. Travis sold over 25 million records and has won seven Grammy Awards, six CMA Awards, eleven ACM Awards, 10 AMA Awards, eight GMA Dove Awards, and...
What television series did Travis appear in?

Matlock

...es. He appeared in two episodes of the crime solving television series, Matlock . Travis sold over 25 million records and has won seven Grammy Awards, ...
How many ACM Awards do there are?

eleven

...ver 25 million records and has won seven Grammy Awards, six CMA Awards, eleven ACM Awards, 10 AMA Awards, eight GMA Dove Awards, and a star on the Hol...
How many of Travis' performances have resulted in Song of the Year honors?

Three

... Three of his performances have resulted in Song of the Year honors: On the Other Hand (1986), Forever and Ever, Amen (1987), and Three Wooden Crosses ...
On the Other Hand was released in what year?

1986

...erformances have resulted in Song of the Year honors: On the Other Hand ( 1986 ), Forever and Ever, Amen (1987), and Three Wooden Crosses (2003). Travis...
Forever and Ever, Amen was released when?

1987

...ng of the Year honors: On the Other Hand (1986), Forever and Ever, Amen ( 1987 ), and Three Wooden Crosses (2003). Travis is noted for thematic albums s...
What album paid homage to his country heroes?

Heroes and Friends

...ooden Crosses (2003). Travis is noted for thematic albums such as Heroes and Friends (1990), which paid homage to his country heroes; Wind in the Wire...
What was Worship & Faith?

a collection of hymns

... (1993), which saluted cowboy music; and Worship & Faith (2003), a collection of hymns . His other gospel collections have included Glory Train (2005),...
Glory Train was released in what year?

2005

...ection of hymns. His other gospel collections have included Glory Train ( 2005 ), Inspirational Journey (2000), Rise and Shine (2002) and Blessed Assura...
What year was Blessed Assurance?

2011

...spirational Journey (2000), Rise and Shine (2002) and Blessed Assurance ( 2011 ). He also has released Christmas collections. Travis became one of count...
How many of Travis' albums have been certified gold?

Thirteen

...lion units. The RIAA puts his sales total to date at 18 million units. Thirteen of his albums are certified gold; of these, eight have gone platinum a...
Travis has had how many Top Ten country hits?

twentynine

...num. Always and Forever has passed the 5 million mark. Travis has had twentynine Top Ten country hits and has taken sixteen songs to the top of Billbo...
How many songs have it taken to the top of Billboard s country charts?

sixteen

...er has passed the 5 million mark. Travis has had twentynine Top Ten country hits and has taken sixteen songs to the top of Billboard s country charts....
What was Randy Travis' ideal voice?

George Jones and Merle Haggard

...ce for his brand of nofrills country, suggesting a blend of George Jones and Merle Haggard , and he was one of the most reliable hitmakers of his era, ...
How many country charttoppers did Travis release in a row?

seven

...and he was one of the most reliable hitmakers of his era, once releasing seven country charttoppers in a row. Travis established his trademark style o...
What was Travis' trademark style on his first three albums?

1986's Storms of Life, 1987's Always and Forever, and 1988's Old 8x10

...ademark style on his first three albums ( 1986's Storms of Life, 1987's Always and Forever, and 1988's Old 8x10 ), which were among his most popular and...
How many albums were among Travis' most popular and celebrated?

three

...arttoppers in a row. Travis established his trademark style on his first three albums (1986's Storms of Life, 1987's Always and Forever, and 1988's Ol...
What state was Travis born in?

North Carolina

.... Travis (born Randy Bruce Traywick in 1959) was born and raised in North Carolina , in a small town outside of Charlotte. His father encouraged his ch...
Who encouraged his children to pursue their musical interests?

His father

...n and raised in North Carolina, in a small town outside of Charlotte. His father encouraged his children to pursue their musical inclinations, as he w...
Hank Williams, George Jones, and Lefty Frizzell are examples of what kind of tonkers?

honky

...ed his children to pursue their musical inclinations, as he was a fan of honky tonkers like Hank Williams, George Jones, and Lefty Frizzell. Randy beg...
How old was Randy when he ran away to Charlotte?

16

... jail after a car chase and Randy running away to Charlotte at the age of 16 . While he was in Charlotte, he won a talent contest at Country City U.S.A...
Who owned Country City U.S.A.?

Lib Hatcher

...ndy running away to Charlotte at the age of 16. While he was in Charlotte, he won a talent contest at Country City U.S.A., a bar owned by Lib Hatcher ....
In what year was Travis born?

1959

...The singer was born on this day (May 4) in 1959 , at Memorial Hospital in Monroe, N.C. Travis was born Randy Bruce Traywick, the second of six children...
Who was Travis' father?

Harold

....C. Travis was born Randy Bruce Traywick, the second of six children to Harold and Bobbie Traywick. Influenced by his father, who listened to country ...
What year did Travis win a talent contest at a nightclub?

1975

...ar chase, while Travis was repeatedly arrested for numerous offenses. In 1975 , while his brother was in jail, Travis won a talent contest at a Charlot...
Who offered Travis a regular performance slot at the bar?

Elizabeth Lib Hatcher

...is won a talent contest at a Charlotte, N.C., nightclub owned by Elizabeth Lib Hatcher , who offered Travis a regular performance slot at the bar, as w...
What job did Travis have at the bar?

cook

...ered Travis a regular performance slot at the bar, as well as a job as a cook . He was arrested yet again, with the judge issuing one final warning tha...
What did the judge warn Travis of if he appeared in court one more time?

he would spend a long time in prison

...inal warning that if he appeared in court one more time, he would spend a long time in prison . The judge released Travis into Hatcher's care, and she ...
When was Travis' self-titled debut album released?

1978

...manager. Travis' selftitled debut album, Randy Traywick, was released in 1978 on Paula Records. It failed to produce any hit singles. In 1982, Travis ...
Where did Travis and Hatcher move to in 1982?

Nashville

...s. In 1982, Travis and Hatcher, who had been living together, moved to Nashville and earned the attention of Warner Bros., which suggested that Travis...
Who suggested that Travis change his name from Randy Traywick to Randy Travis?

Warner Bros.,

...been living together, moved to Nashville and earned the attention of Warner Bros., which suggested that Travis change his name from Randy Traywick to ...
How long did they keep it a secret?

several years

... relationship had blossomed into romance, in spite of the fact that Hatcher was 16 years his senior, although they kept it a secret for several years ....
Randy Travis grew up listening to what recordings of past country greats?

his father's

...traditional country music. By 1986, Travis, who grew up listening to his father's recordings of past country greats, had parlayed his downhome good lo...
How old was Travis when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry?

28

...to country stardom. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 28 and was the first country artist ever to have a debut album sell over one...
What genre of music did Travis steer clear of?

pop or rockoriented

... others to record, Travis steered clear of material even slightly pop or rockoriented . He has sung duos with such country music standardbearers as Geo...
What is Randy Travis best known for?

opening the door to young artists who sought to return to the traditional sound of country music

...y Travis is best known for opening the door to young artists who sought to return to the traditional sound of country music . He was discovered by Eliz...
Who discovered Randy Travis when he was 18?

Elizabeth Hatcher

...rn to the traditional sound of country music. He was discovered by Elizabeth Hatcher when he was 18 and fought hard to make a name for himself. He fou...
What country artists did Randy admire as a child?

Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell and Gene Autry

...he admired the music of the legendary country artists Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell and Gene Autry ; at the age of 10, he learned to play the guitar. As...
At what age did Randy learn to play the guitar?

10

...ountry artists Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell and Gene Autry; at the age of 10 , he learned to play the guitar. As a teenager, Randy's interest in countr...
What two things fueled Randy's interest in country music?

drugs and alcohol

...ntry music was matched only by his increasing experimentation with drugs and alcohol . Estranged from his family, Randy dropped out of school and brief...
When did Randy drop out of school?

Estranged from his family

...only by his increasing experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Estranged from his family , Randy dropped out of school and briefly held a job as a cons...
What occupation did Randy briefly hold?

construction worker

...s family, Randy dropped out of school and briefly held a job as a construction worker . Over the next few years, he was arrested several times for assa...
What was the name of the second of Harold and Boddy's six children?

Randy Traywick

...Charlotte (Marshville, North Carolina), Randy Traywick , the second of Harold and Boddy Traywicks six children, was raised on a turkey farm. A young Ra...
Who pushed the Traywick Brothers to be singing stars?

their parents

...Randy and Ricky, also known as The Traywick Brothers, were pushed by their parents to be singing stars. This parental pressure contributed in great pa...
In what decade did Randy Travis become a major new voice in country music?

1980s

...In the middle of the 1980s , Randy Travis grew into a major new voice in country music by helping the Music City remember its storied past. When almost...
What was Randy Travis' mother's occupation?

textile factory worker

...x children. Randy has five siblings to a mother who worked as a textile factory worker and a father who owned a construction business while working as...
How many siblings does he have?

five

...y the moniker Randy Travis. 2. Hes the second of six children. Randy has five siblings to a mother who worked as a textile factory worker and a father...
What was the name of the gospel album Randy released in 2003?

Three Wooden Crosses

... further hits and awards in 20002004, including the charttopping Three Wooden Crosses (2003) and the Grammy winning albums Glory Train (2004), Worship...
In what year was Glory Train released?

2004

...g Three Wooden Crosses (2003) and the Grammy winning albums Glory Train ( 2004 ), Worship & Faith (2003) and Rise and Shine (2001). Not long after secur...
When was Rise and Shine released?

2001

...ng albums Glory Train (2004), Worship & Faith (2003) and Rise and Shine ( 2001 ). Not long after securing country stardom, Randy embarked on a successfu...
What TV series did Randy guest star on?

Touched By an Angel, Matlock and King of the Hill

...ting career. He guest starred on such TV series as Touched By an Angel, Matlock and King of the Hill . Randy used his prominence to make a difference t...
Who inducted Randy into the Country Music Hall of Fame?

Garth Brooks

...in 2013. His miraculous return was saluted with a tearful standing ovation when Garth Brooks inducted him into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016....