RANDY TRAVIS
Name: Randy Travis
Birth name: Randy Bruce Traywick
Born: 4 May 1959 Marshville, North Carolina, USA
Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), better known by his stage name, Randy
Travis, is an American multiple Grammy Award-winning American country singer.
Travis was born in Marshville, North Carolina, the second child six of Bobbie, a
textile factory worker, and Harold Traywick, a horse breeder, turkey farmer, and
construction business owner. While growing up, Travis was forced to take
guitar lessons by his father and began performing at the age of eight with his
brother, Ricky. Travis began drinking at the age of 12, and by 14 was a regular
marijuana user, who ocassionally dabbled in harder drugs. He often fought with
his father and soon dropped out of high school. He became a juvenile
delinquent and was arrested for various offenses, including auto theft and
burglary.
Harold Traywick entered Randy and Ricky in a talent contest at a nightclub
called "Country City, USA" in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the meantime, Ricky,
who also had brushes with the law, was sentenced to jail and Randy had to
complete the contest alone, but he won anyway. The club's manager, Elizabeth "Lib"
Hatcher, took an interest in Travis and gave him a job singing at the club.
Travis began focusing on music. He first recorded for Paula Records and released
two unsuccessful singles "She's My Woman" and "Dreamin'". Travis' legal
troubles continued and he was due in court for probation violations. Hatcher
pleaded with the judge and Travis was released in her custody with the warning
that if the judge ever saw him again "he'd better bring his toothbrush, because
he would be going to jail for a very long time."
Travis moved in with Hatcher. This put further strain on her already fragile
marriage. She eventually left her husband and, in 1982, she and Travis moved to
Nashville, Tennessee. Travis was soon turned down by every record label in town.
His early demo tapes were criticized by Nashville record executives as being "too
country." Hatcher took a job as manager of a nightclub, "The Nashville Palace"
and hired Travis as a cook and singer. It was during this time that an
unlikely romance began to form between the two; Travis said "I think we
discovered how much we needed each other."
In 1982, Travis recorded an independent album Randy Ray Live and Lib Hatcher
used it to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. However, the label said they
had to keep their romnce a secret, so as not to turn away fans, and changed his
stage name from Randy Ray to Randy Travis. In 1985, Warner Brothers released
Travis' single, "On the Other Hand," which topped out at 67 on the country
charts. His next single, "1982", became a Top 10 hit followed by the re-release
of "On the Other Hand" in 1986. The re-release became Travis' first number one
hit.
His debut album, Storms of Life, went on to sell more than 4 million copies. In
the late 1980s, he had a string of hits, including "No Place Like Home" and "Diggin'
Up Bones." Another song from that album, "Forever and Ever, Amen" arguably
launched the neo-traditionalist country era, boosting the popularity of country
music beyond its traditional fan base. For two years in a row, Travis won the
Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, for the albums Always &
Forever in 1988, and for Old 8x10 in 1989. Off the success of his first two
albums, Old 8X10 shipped platinum. Always and Forever was number one for 43
weeks.
Travis and Hatcher married in 1991. That year Travis took part in Voices That
Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off
single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project
included fellow singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Kathy Mattea. By 1992,
Travis was no longer charting high, as Brooks, Clint Black and others had taken
over Nashville. He took a break from music to concentrate on acting and landed
roles in several Western-genre films. He returned to recording with the 1994
album This Is Me and the hit single "Whisper My Name."
In 1997, Travis parted ways with Warner Brothers. He moved to DreamWorks
Nashville and recorded You and You Alone, which produced the top 10 hits "Out of
My Bones" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man." These were followed by 2000's
albums Inspirational Journey, 2002's Rise and Shine and 2003's Worship and Faith.
The single "Three Wooden Crosses" from the Rise and Shine album reached No. 1
and won the CMA song of the year in 2003. That same year, Travis ranked #13 on
CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Travis continues to act in film and
television. His second most recent album, Passing Through, was released in
November of 2004. It combines the country music of his earlier years, with a
little gospel mixed in from more recent albums.
Name: Randy Travis
Birth name: Randy Bruce Traywick
Born: 4 May 1959 Marshville, North Carolina, USA
Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), better known by his stage name, Randy
Travis, is an American multiple Grammy Award-winning American country singer.
Travis was born in Marshville, North Carolina, the second child six of Bobbie, a
textile factory worker, and Harold Traywick, a horse breeder, turkey farmer, and
construction business owner. While growing up, Travis was forced to take
guitar lessons by his father and began performing at the age of eight with his
brother, Ricky. Travis began drinking at the age of 12, and by 14 was a regular
marijuana user, who ocassionally dabbled in harder drugs. He often fought with
his father and soon dropped out of high school. He became a juvenile
delinquent and was arrested for various offenses, including auto theft and
burglary.
Harold Traywick entered Randy and Ricky in a talent contest at a nightclub
called "Country City, USA" in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the meantime, Ricky,
who also had brushes with the law, was sentenced to jail and Randy had to
complete the contest alone, but he won anyway. The club's manager, Elizabeth "Lib"
Hatcher, took an interest in Travis and gave him a job singing at the club.
Travis began focusing on music. He first recorded for Paula Records and released
two unsuccessful singles "She's My Woman" and "Dreamin'". Travis' legal
troubles continued and he was due in court for probation violations. Hatcher
pleaded with the judge and Travis was released in her custody with the warning
that if the judge ever saw him again "he'd better bring his toothbrush, because
he would be going to jail for a very long time."
Travis moved in with Hatcher. This put further strain on her already fragile
marriage. She eventually left her husband and, in 1982, she and Travis moved to
Nashville, Tennessee. Travis was soon turned down by every record label in town.
His early demo tapes were criticized by Nashville record executives as being "too
country." Hatcher took a job as manager of a nightclub, "The Nashville Palace"
and hired Travis as a cook and singer. It was during this time that an
unlikely romance began to form between the two; Travis said "I think we
discovered how much we needed each other."
In 1982, Travis recorded an independent album Randy Ray Live and Lib Hatcher
used it to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. However, the label said they
had to keep their romnce a secret, so as not to turn away fans, and changed his
stage name from Randy Ray to Randy Travis. In 1985, Warner Brothers released
Travis' single, "On the Other Hand," which topped out at 67 on the country
charts. His next single, "1982", became a Top 10 hit followed by the re-release
of "On the Other Hand" in 1986. The re-release became Travis' first number one
hit.
His debut album, Storms of Life, went on to sell more than 4 million copies. In
the late 1980s, he had a string of hits, including "No Place Like Home" and "Diggin'
Up Bones." Another song from that album, "Forever and Ever, Amen" arguably
launched the neo-traditionalist country era, boosting the popularity of country
music beyond its traditional fan base. For two years in a row, Travis won the
Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, for the albums Always &
Forever in 1988, and for Old 8x10 in 1989. Off the success of his first two
albums, Old 8X10 shipped platinum. Always and Forever was number one for 43
weeks.
Travis and Hatcher married in 1991. That year Travis took part in Voices That
Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off
single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project
included fellow singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Kathy Mattea. By 1992,
Travis was no longer charting high, as Brooks, Clint Black and others had taken
over Nashville. He took a break from music to concentrate on acting and landed
roles in several Western-genre films. He returned to recording with the 1994
album This Is Me and the hit single "Whisper My Name."
In 1997, Travis parted ways with Warner Brothers. He moved to DreamWorks
Nashville and recorded You and You Alone, which produced the top 10 hits "Out of
My Bones" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man." These were followed by 2000's
albums Inspirational Journey, 2002's Rise and Shine and 2003's Worship and Faith.
The single "Three Wooden Crosses" from the Rise and Shine album reached No. 1
and won the CMA song of the year in 2003. That same year, Travis ranked #13 on
CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Travis continues to act in film and
television. His second most recent album, Passing Through, was released in
November of 2004. It combines the country music of his earlier years, with a
little gospel mixed in from more recent albums.