History Music / RandyTravis

Influential CountryMusic singer of the 1980s and 1990s. Born Randy Bruce Traywick on May 4, 1959, he didn't break into the scene instantly: a deal with Paula Records in 1978 produced only two dud singles. Three years later, he released a live album as Randy Ray, but it wasn't until 1985 that he signed a contract with Creator/WarnerBrosRecords, this time as Randy Travis. Even this wasn't an instant success, as his first Warner single, "On the Other Hand," stalled at #67 on the country charts. However, he had a Top 10 hit with "1982" only a year later, and then persuaded the label to re-release "On the Other Hand." Despite this unorthodox move, that song went on to become his first #1 hit. Of his next twelve singles, all but two went to #1 on the country charts. His first three Warner albums, ''Storms of Life'', ''Always & Forever'', and ''Old 8×10'', are considered some of the finest country of TheEighties, and a cornerstone of the genre's shift back to a more traditional, fiddle-and-steel sound compared to the pop crossovers that dominated the first half of the decade. Songs such as "On the Other Hand", "Forever and Ever, Amen", "I Told You So", "Too Gone Too Long", "Honky Tonk Moon", and "Deeper Than the Holler" are still among his most popular cuts.

His first release of TheNineties, "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" (from 1989's ''No Holdin' Back''), was his longest-lasting chart-topper. After that, however, his career started to run hot and cold: the duets album ''Heroes & Friends'' in 1991 was met with tepid critical and radio reception despite going platinum and becoming his last #1 album. ''High Lonesome'' had a lead single ("Point of Light") which was written for UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush's "Thousand Points of Light" program, followed by three consecutive cuts that Randy co-wrote with a then-rising Music/AlanJackson, including the #1 hit "Forever Together" (the two also wrote Alan's #1 hit "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)"). After two out of three cuts from a GreatestHitsAlbum also went to #1, Randy hit another speed bump in 1993 when ''Wind in the Wire'', an album of cowboy songs for a TV movie of the same name, failed to send either of its cut into the Top 40. He bounced back for four more hits off 1994's ''This Is Me'', including the #1 "Whisper My Name", but the singles off 1996's ''Full Circle'' bombed and he exited the label.

* {{Corpsing}}: Travis cracks up during the line "Or would you simply laugh at me and say" in "I Told You So". As the song is from the point of view of a former lover, it fits the mood.

* PunBasedTitle: "On the Other Hand" refers to the other side of the argument and the hand where the narrator wears his wedding ring.

* YourCheatingHeart: The narrator of "On the Other Hand" considers staying the night with the woman he's with, but he's married and despite DeadSparks with his wife he knows he should go home to her. Since the last line of the song is the one about "the reason I must go", OffScreenInertia indicates he does go home in the end.