Randy Travis

Shreveport Times
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090928/NEWS01/90928002
Randy Travis pleases crowd
By Bobbie J. Clark • bobbieclark@gannett.com • September 28, 2009
With little more than a couple of plucks on his guitar and the deep country twang
of his voice, country/gospel singer Randy Travis coaxed the audience at Summer Grove
Baptist Church into clapping and singing along during his concert Sunday night.

Travis played a set of mostly gospel songs during his performance, which drew nearly
2,000 people.
Save for a few pews in the very back, the sanctuary at Summer Grove’s sprawling,
west Shreveport campus was filled with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
He played a variety of old-time, country gospel songs with lyrics like “make plans
while you’re living/ it’s too late when you’re dead. …”
Between songs he told anecdotes and cracked a few jokes that helped set up the next
number. His set list included “I’m Ready,” “He’s My Rock, My Sword, My Shield” and
“Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord.”
Prior to the latter, he told a story about his record executives wanting him to perform
“praise and worship” songs, which he said were “pop.”
He then quipped, “We couldn’t go pop with a mouthful of firecrackers.”
However, his opening act had no problem with a more contemporary style.
Monroe-West Monroe native Naomi Carroll warmed up the crowd for Travis, with some
of her original songs. They included “All that Matters” and the title-track to her
first solo album, “Becoming.” Carroll said the song was inspired on her birthday
about six years ago.
She felt that she had failed in all aspects of her life. But her husband and God
helped bring her back. “My only hope is in Jesus,” she said. “That’s it.”
Skip and Courtney Young made the trek all the way from West Monroe to listen to Travis
and Carroll.
They both said they were fans of country and gospel music, and relished the opportunity
to hear Carroll’s “inspirational set.”