Country Talent Coming Together for Randy Travis Tribute Concert
In the mid 80’s, it was Randy Travis and his neotraditional sound that led country music out of the great abyss of the earlier decade and returned country to its rightful place as a powerful voice for rural people in popular culture. With over 20 million records sold and his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, you can hold the Randy Travis legacy up against almost anyone’s from the modern era.
A stoke in 2013 sidelined Randy Travis from performing, at least for the moment, but inner determination has seen Randy both walk again, and slowly regain his singing voice, and now he’s becoming a staple of country music community once again if only in person, making personal appearances at awards shows and other country music functions.
On February 8th, folks will be coming together at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to pay tribute to Randy Travis in a one night only event called “1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time.: A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis.” Scheduled performers at the moment include Jamey Johnson, Ricky Skaggs, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Rodney Atkins, Chris Janson, The Randy Travis Band, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner, and others.
The event is being produced by Mary Travis along with Tony Conway of Conway Entertainment Group, and Mike Smardak of Outback Concerts of Tennessee, Inc. is promoting the event. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will go to the Randy Travis Foundation; a 501(c)3 non-profit that raises money for stroke research and rehabilitation.
We may see more names added to the lineup as February 8th approaches, and it’s not uncommon for such events to end up being chronicled for later release on DVD for those who can’t be there.
December 11, 2016 @ 8:55 pm
I don’t really consider myself a conservative or a liberal, but in 2012 I went to to a Michelle Bachmann rally to see a free Randy Travis convert. So thankful I did, because soon after that he had his stroke.
December 11, 2016 @ 8:56 pm
On the surface, this event feels haphazard – rushed at best. I had to look up two of the listed performers: Chris Janson and The Randy Travis Band (on the latter, I found no real info – I’m guessing a tribute band??). For a man that defined a subgenre (or movement) of country music and was so influential, this is a very weak line-up – a group of Branson Missouri B-listers. Where’s Alan Jackson for God’s sakes?
Why have this tribute concert now? Like you stated, Travis has been on the mend somewhat. Does Travis’ estate need money? Does someone else need the money? I don’t know why, but this event is raising some serious flags for me.
And stupid name: 1 Night, 1 Place, 1 Time – wants to be gimmicky, but just states the obvious.
December 11, 2016 @ 9:12 pm
I was assuming the Randy Travis Band is Randy’s backing band. I don’t think it’s a tribute band.
I really can’t argue with some of the points you made. I almost didn’t report on this because of it. News first came down about it on Thursday. But it’s Randy Travis. Something like this is long overdue, but at least it’s finally happening. And invariably a bunch of other names get added to these things. I agree there’s some strange names in the lineup, but these folks volunteer and you don’t want to tell them “no” I guess.
December 11, 2016 @ 9:26 pm
I’m very glad you did report this event. It’s newsworthy.
I feel like if the artists who don’t need the exposure (or money) don’t show up, there’s probably a reason.
Alan Jackson was his best friend in the industry. Dolly Parton worshiped him. Chris Stapleton has been paying homage to every artist he has ever heard on the radio these days. This seems right up Garth and Trisha’s alley.
And it’s in February. There’s not a lot of shit going on around that time of year as far as tours and “prior commitments.”
Keep up the good work because I think you’ll be reporting more about this event.
December 12, 2016 @ 4:33 pm
Yeah, I’m a little surprised by no AJAX~ RT had him opening for him while pushing his second album~ saw them at the Omni in Atlanta in 90/91…
December 11, 2016 @ 9:23 pm
I remember when he had the stroke. It was literally the week before a concert of his in my hometown in Canada. A LOT of heartbroken fans.
If only a portion of the proceeds goes to the charity, does that mean the rest goes to the Travis household? Maybe the timing coincides with financial need. I imagine all that intense therapy has been very expensive.
December 11, 2016 @ 9:45 pm
The performers seem like an odd bunch. Only Josh Turner and Jamey Johnson are names that I would associate with Randy and I hope more names are added on. However, can’t knock people for wanting to help.
December 11, 2016 @ 10:18 pm
Remember the story about Luke Bryan throwing a punch at a fan at Charlie Daniel’s Volunteer Jam after folks were protesting? I said it at the time that we’re seeing more and more of these events being put together by promoters who seem to have no clue about the behavior of country listeners and where loyalties lie. I would say this is another example, though I doubt anyone gets violent here.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/why-the-hell-was-luke-bryan-playing-the-volunteer-jam-anyway/
December 12, 2016 @ 10:32 am
The only one that seems a little odd to me is Rodney Atkins. Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alabama, and Tanya Tucker are all contemporaries of Randy Travis, it doesn’t seem strange to me at all that they’d want to take part in a show honoring Randy.
December 12, 2016 @ 8:14 pm
I must be old lol….To me Tanya and Kenny were pop stars in the 70’s. And Tanya was more tabloid fodder than music back then.
December 13, 2016 @ 8:26 am
Yeah, from a historical perspective TT is best remembered for her early hits as a teenager and many of her non-musical activities, both of which took place in the ’70s. But her greatest commercial success was after her resurgence in the late ’80s-early ’90s and coincided with Randy’s peak years.
Kenny’s star was fading as Randy’s was rising, but there was a time in the ’80s when both were consistently on the charts. And Kenny was with Reprise records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, in the late ’80s-early ’90s.
So it seems likely that both would have known Randy fairly well through mutual appearances at awards shows and other industry events.
Keep in mind that I was working in country radio in the late 1980s, so my perspective on these relationships will be different than someone who is simply looking at these artists from a historical perspective or who might not have been that engaged at that point in time.
December 12, 2016 @ 6:58 am
Weak lineup!
They all suck besides Jamey,Josh and Ricky.
I don’t even wanna get started on the piece of Shit** that is Kenny Rogers!
December 12, 2016 @ 7:55 am
Finally someone else who hates that no talent douche poppy ass singer Kenny Rogers.
December 13, 2016 @ 12:59 am
That’s funny. The guy’s been a superstar for 50-plus years and has sold about 100 million records–and has had monster hit duets with about half a dozen different artists.
You wish you had a hundredth of his no-talent.
December 12, 2016 @ 8:01 am
I’m sure more higher profile older country Singers will be there still a few months till it happens. Garth Brooks (Not that anyone really wants to see him there) wouldn’t surprise me since he says he was so influenced by Travis. I’d like to see both Alan Jackson and George Strait join in but highly doubt it.
December 12, 2016 @ 8:16 am
To be honest with you, I don’t think Garth’s probably gonna make it anyway, but even then I’d buy a ticket just for the tribute show alone.
December 12, 2016 @ 7:01 pm
come on
Garth was the puppy humping everyone’s leg
he didn’t even write “low places”
marketing magic I guess
December 13, 2016 @ 7:19 pm
What’s your point?–Garth wrote–or co-wrote–more song–and hit songs–than Travis ever did.
Garth made it big because for a time in the early- and mid- ’90s, a lot of people liked the music he was putting out, and his high-energy stage shows.
It wasn’t his looks!. Garth’s a pudgy guy–Never had the good looks, or strong masculine appearance of McGraw or Jackson–or Travis (either Travis, for that matter).
December 12, 2016 @ 11:55 am
Glad to see this. I’ve got a soft spot for Mr. Travis because of his history in the genre, his songs, and his voice. But, more than that: because he was my Granmma’s favorite when I was growing up. She’s still with us, (thank the good Lord!), but she’s older and frail like Mr. Travis. Gramma still loves to hear him sing! I’ll always correlate the two in my mind.
December 12, 2016 @ 5:04 pm
I’m not going to make too much a fuss over who isn’t involved until it gets closer as it is quite possible/likely acts are added. As to who is involved, I can’t say any of the names truly shock me. Most of them, while maybe not directly associated with Travis or more traditional music, are acts that were active during his time and thus probably have a good appreciation of him and his music. The only really new artist is Chris Janson, and as awful as Buy Me a Boat is as a single, his constant playing of the Opry shows he does appreciate the history of Country Music way more than any of his modern peers.
For those talking about Garth, one thing I’ve noticed with the Opry is he doesn’t do any advance notice of his appearances and instead just shows up on stage. I am guessing this is to protect the ticket sales of people paying to see him in his concerts vs. starting a pricing war for Opry tickets. Can’t say I agree with the strategy, but if that holds true I would not expect him to be announced for the show, regardless of whether he ends up playing at all.
December 12, 2016 @ 6:57 pm
randy was a starched napkin: stiff, correct, and you were glad someone made the effort
and thank God they did, because no one was flying right
December 12, 2016 @ 6:58 pm
plus, great songs
December 14, 2016 @ 9:12 am
Tribute to Randy Travis is due for his “Storms of Life” album alone.
December 17, 2016 @ 6:58 pm
Randy sure looks different in that picture. Botox, maybe?
February 20, 2017 @ 12:18 pm
Hey!! stop picking on Randy Travis he is doing his best to recover from stroke and trying help other people from having stroke is going thought wright know. But I believe that he will make LOOK he can almost sing again so what do all think of that one. Randy Travis singing again
Love Randy Travis keep getting batter ok
Love Corinne Mattinen