Country legend hits EQC stage

By Tribal News Writers

For Puyallup Tribal News
Published on: August 07, 2008

Successful child country star Randy Traywick was turned down by nearly every record label in Nashville, often more than once. In 1985, the 26-year old performance veteran was signed. Warner Brothers Records took on the young, often rebellious artist, and changed his name to Randy Travis. Randy Travis’ 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.

Randy Travis 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 his singles led to wide-spread demand for live shows, and Randy Travis next set out on an extensive and ongoing tour, taking him across the United States and Canada before record-setting crowds.

Soon it seemed every award in the music business had Randy Travis’ name on it. A string of country chart-toppers ensued, and by the end of the decade, his record sales topped 13 million copies.

In September 1997, after 12 albums with Warner Brothers, Randy Travis 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 number one country hit. In 2001 Randy Travis independently released a live-concert album, “Randy Travis Live,” and a CD single titled “America Will Always Stand.”

After a successful string of hits and awards for the artist, Randy Travis reunited with Warner Brothers Records in 2008. His highly anticipated country album, “Around the Bend,” is being called the “perfect country album.” “Around The Bend” does not have one out-of-place note nor one false emotion. Randy Travis’ vocals have never sounded more expressive,

better phrased or more soulfully shaded. The CD’s production is a model of crisp clarity. Each instrumental texture is placed just right. Randy Travis reunited with long-time friend and producer Kyle Lehning to record “Around The Bend,” and the result of their collaboration on this album is nothing short of amazing.

In the late 1980s, Randy Travis first opened the floodgates for the New Traditionalist movement in country music. Now, with record sales more than 25 million, 22 number one hits, six number one albums, six Grammys, more than a dozen other awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – Randy Travis is the rare and lucky man who has been able to make all his dreams come true.

Tickets range from $35 to $65 through Ticketmaster.

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