Randy Travis to Release New Album Despite Health Issues
The health status of Randy Travis still remains very much in question, but that is not stopping the Randy Travis camp and Warner Bros. from releasing the second installment of his Influence: The Man I Am series on August 12th. The first album in the series was released on September 30th, 2013—a few months after Randy suffered a serious heart condition and subsequent stroke. Travis had to undergo brain surgery, and has been taking part in significant rehabilitation and physical therapy ever since the health episode.
Randy’s Influence series of releases looks to chronicle the classic country songs that went into the sound that may Randy Travis one of the most popular and influential country music artists of the late 80’s and into the 90’s and beyond. The new collection includes covers of Hank Snow’s “I’m Movin’ On”, Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, Hank Williams’ “Mind Your Own Business”, and Waylon Jennings’ “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line”. It also includes the Randy Travis tribute to George Jones “Tonight I’m Playin’ Possum” written by Keith Gattis. Randy’s performance of the song at the 2013 CMA Fan Fest was one of his last public performances before his health issues (see below). Travis recorded both volumes in the Influence: The Man I Am series before last year’s health scare.
The extent of Randy’s paralysis after his stroke and surgery, and if he will ever sing again have been a topic of great speculation in the tabloid press, with multiple unnamed and named sources leaking conflicting information about Randy’s health status, while pictures of Randy appearing in public continue to surface. Last week yet another story citing an unnamed source surfaced in Closer Magazine, saying, “He hasn’t plateaued in his recovery, which is always a big fear. He really faces a long, tough battle.” The story also cites songwriter and Randy Travis friend Bonnie Paul who says, “He’s taking great strides and getting better. He’s a cowboy! If he gets back his strength, then anything is possible.”
Meanwhile any true health information about Randy’s status remains unclear, and his camp has yet to release any official statements about his prognosis or rate of recovery.
READ: Lack of Information on Randy Travis Leading to Unnecessary Speculation
This Influence: The Man I Am series gives Randy Travis fans something new to listen to while Randy continues his hard-fought recovery to better health.
July 25, 2014 @ 12:42 pm
Randy Travis made me appreciate traditional country music, before I knew it was traditional country music. He was my favorite artist coming up though I didn’t know what it was about his songs. In my mind he is one of the greatest stylists of the past 30 years, and maybe the greatest.
He’s had such a great career, and was able to do what he wanted to do, so really for him I just hope he’s able to live out the rest of his life with those he loves and be able to do some of the things he loves. If he get’s back to singing, that’d be great, but he’s got such a catalog already that I’d be ok with never seeing another album from him.
He’s already been through so much. Overcoming the troubles of his youth, breaking on to the scene essentially on his own terms, his battles with alcoholism, his battle with lyme disease, the divorce and relapse into addiction. For a guy who’s image used to be sort of this clean cut do-good type, his life has been a country song. A little bit of hank williams, a little jimmie rodgers, and a little bit of crazy that can only be called randy travis.
July 25, 2014 @ 12:44 pm
One of his public performances before the health issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RSzJA-TbIQ
July 25, 2014 @ 2:07 pm
Good one!
July 25, 2014 @ 1:12 pm
I was thinking about Randy yesterday as I was perusing the CD bins at my LRS.
I sure hope that he is making some progress, but I have been worried that it may be extremely slow going.
Randy’s bona fides are real and he has been a great emissary for country music.
It’s interesting that Jerry Garcia was able to recover from his stroke and re-master his prodigeous guitar-picking skills after a debilitating diabetes-induced stroke.
I wish that Randy could muster that kind of recovery.
July 25, 2014 @ 6:35 pm
Anyone familiar with Randy Travis’ recordings knows he consistently records the best material around and has done so from day 1. And that material , no matter the writer or writers ,could not be in better hands. In the encyclopedia ( remember THOSE ) under COUNTRY SINGER there’s a picture of George Jones. Had there been no George , in my opinion that would have been a picture of Randy Travis . Randy is God’s gift to a song and a performance guaranteed to be heartfelt . His one of a kind voice sets him apart from the herd and has kept him there throughout his career . When you talk about the ‘real deal ‘ you’re talking about Randy Travis .
Let’s send some prayers up for Randy and look forward to the day we’re blessed with hearing him sing again .
July 26, 2014 @ 7:57 am
A lot of these songs don’t fit his voice, no matter how great they are, or how great he is.
July 27, 2014 @ 8:19 pm
For the Good Times is such a great song, and I’m glad he chose to record it. Looking forward to the album.