Randy Travis

The Arizona Review
http://www.thearizonareview.com/uofa-presents-randy-travis-concert-review

UofA Presents: Randy Travis concert review
Tucson Review
by Nubia |

Singer, writer, television star, and of course, Country music legend
Randy Travis
came to
Tucson
and performed at the
University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall
on August 22, 2009. Here to promote his latest album “
Around the Bend
” Travis was greeted by almost a full house. There were people who have followed
his 24 year career and plenty of people for whom this was their first Randy Travis
concert.
His music ranges from the heart wrenching ballad to an upbeat two-step. The audience
roared as Randy first walked on stage and continued throughout the evening. You could
feel that people were itching to get up and dance, but with the no standing or dancing
rule, each song ended with such a fierce applause that you believed it would be the
last of the evening.
The evening was kept light with Travis intermittently adding a few jokes and a few
stories in-between songs. It was a personal affair, and you left feeling that he
wanted to be part of your life just as he has been part of people’s lives for over
two decades. Randy Travis has a showmanship that allows for humor and character that
has not been jaded by his success. He seemed true to his audience and to his band
members whom he introduced as his friends. Travis gave not only their name and instrument
but also a personal account of his journey with each one and the time they have spent,
which ranged from 10 to 32 years.
The songs that he performed came from his first album to his last. Interjected with
a Randy Travis version of
Bob Dylan’s
Don’t Think Twice
. The concert ended with his most popular songs at this time
I Told You So
and Three Wooden Crosses.
Travis has been busy these last few years, promoting not only “
Around the Bend” but also two best-of compilations from “
I told you so: The ultimate hits of Randy Travis
” and “
Three Wooden Crosses: The inspirational hits of Randy Travis
” along with a DVD for the “
I Told You So” album.
There is no doubt how Travis has become a legend with “record sales over 25 million,
22 number one hits, 6 number one albums, 6 Grammy’s, 6 CMA’s, 9 ACM’s, 10 AMA’s,
7 Dove Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame” according to the Randy Travis
official website, Randy Travis is still going strong. Recently re-popularized with
the younger country music crowd, he did a duet with
Carrie Underwood, performing I Told You So on American Idol.
The concert was reminiscent of the classic country music when it was twang and folk
and uniquely distinctive from modern country-rock. There was a purity and inspiration
that made for a very pleasant evening.
To purchase official Randy Travis merchandise please visit
www.RandyTravis.com