Forever After While Making His Mark In Hollywood, Randy Travis Sticks To His Country Music Roots

Thu., Aug. 10, 2000

By Chris Wille chrisw@spokesman.com

Randy Travis has racked up quite a career since jump-starting the traditionalist movement in country music with his first hits in 1986.

His accomplishments include:

* Twenty-one songs reached No. 1 on the country chart. Eight others entered the top 10.

* Six of his first seven albums topped the chart, too. (The only non-No. 1 was a Christmas disc.) In all, he’s recorded 14 albums.

* He’s won three Grammys and dozens of other awards, including album of the year, song of the year and male vocalist of the year, from such groups as the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association and the American Music Awards.

* His many film credits include “The Rainmaker,” “Black Dog” and “Fire Down Below.” He’s also guest-starred on television’s “Touched by an Angel” and “Matlock.”

* He’ll appear in the upcoming “White River Kid” with Antonio Banderas and “Texas Rangers” with Dylan McDermott.

His crowning achievement, though, is yet to come. In 2001, he’s scheduled to be honored with a “star” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The honors and hit records slowed down through the 1990s as Travis logged more and more time in front of a camera. Still, music remains a mainstay.

One of his most memorable and crowd-pleasing songs, “Forever & Ever, Amen,” came out in 1987. His last No. 1 song was “Spirit of a Boy” just 18 months ago.

Travis keeps plugging away. He calls his latest album, 1999’s “A Man Ain’t Made of Stone,” “one of the best collections of songs I’ve had in years.” The title track peaked at No. 14 in November.

He took a different approach on the project, assembling a team of top producers and musicians and leaving Nashville for an intense three-day recording session in Santa Fe. It was the first time Travis had worked with all of them as a group.

“Sonically, it’s a bit different-sounding than anything I’ve ever done,” Travis admits. “Musically, it’s also a little different than anything I’ve ever done.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: ON STAGE Randy Travis

Tonight, 7 p.m., at the Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho. Tickets: $45 for reserved seats, $25 for general admission, available at the door and through G&B (325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT).

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