Randy Travis

Rio Rancho Observer
http://www.observer-online.com/articles/2009/08/21/news/doc4a8606da750e2...

Travis brings his country show to Star Center
By Jimmy Currier
Observer staff writer
Published on Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:13 AM MDT
Get your cowboy boots, Stetson and jeans ready. Rio Rancho is turning country.
Country music legend and New Mexico resident Randy Travis will perform at the Santa Ana Star Center on Aug. 23.
Joining Travis are recording artists Joe Nichols, Chris Young and Luke Bryan.
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The concert kicks off at 6 p.m. and is part of Albuquerque radio station KRST, 92.3 FM’s 30th Birthday Bash.
Travis, who moved to Santa Fe from Nashville, Tenn., 11 years ago, is excited about playing in Rio Rancho.
“Yeah, we’re getting close to the house when we get there (Rio Rancho),” he said. “It’ll be nice to get to go home.”
Travis, unfortunately, won’t be able to spend much time in the Land of Enchantment. He’s scheduled to play in North Dakota on Aug. 27.
But, touring the country and entertaining audiences has been a way of life for Travis for more than 24 years and he doesn’t have any plans of slowing down.
“I think most particular in the country genre, you start touring and you tour until you die,” Travis said. “I don’t see myself stopping. I love writing and singing and I love what we do in the studio. There’s something about a live performance that you can’t experience anywhere else.”
Travis has sold more than 20 million records, has won six Grammy Awards, nine Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards and numerous other awards and accolades.
But, success didn’t come easy for Travis.
“I was turned down by every label in Nashville for more than 10 years,” he said. “The excuse was, ‘it sounds too country,’ and I was told that kind of music does not sell records.”
Through hard work and persistence, Travis was signed by Warner Brothers in 1985.
There’s been no looking back since.
So, what advice does Travis have for budding country artists of today?
“Develop a thick skin,” he said “Learn to accept rejection. You can’t please everybody.
Just do what you truly love.”
Travis said he will play for about 90 minutes at the Star Center and fans can expect to hear him play some of his hits that helped make him famous.
Some of Travis’ No. 1 singles include “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “On the Other Hand” and “Three Wooden Crosses.”
“I’ve been a fan of music my whole life,” he said. “When you go to see people, you have expectations of what songs you want to hear at the show. I’m fortunate to have
a list of songs to go through. For the most part, I’ll stick with the hits.”
In addition to his hits, fans will be treated to some songs off his latest album,
“Around the Bend.” The album was released in 2008 and won the Dove Award for Country Album of the Year in April.
Travis said he has always admired the work of classic country artists like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell. He said there should be more traditional country music on the radio.
“We go through cycles where we hear more pop music than actually country music on the airwaves,” Travis said. “I always say we need more traditional music. That’s
what I grew up with and that’s what I love. I hate to see the artists themselves coming along being influenced by rockers instead of country artists. It takes our business away from us. We call it country music and country radio, so let’s hear more country music on country radio.”
Since making his debut with 1986’s multi-platinum “Storms of Life,” Travis has gone on to release many memorable albums including “Always & Forever,” “Old 8x10,” “High
Lonesome,” “This Is Me,” “Full Circle” and “Rise and Shine.” In addition to his No. 1 hits, other chart favorites in Travis’s cannon include “1982,” “Diggin’ Up Bones,”
“He Walked on Water,” “Look Heart, No Hands” and “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart.”
Tickets, priced at $30, $43 and $49 plus applicable fees, are on sale now at the Santa Ana Star Center box office, online at
santaanastarcenter.com, or by phone at 1-888-694-4849.