RANDY TRAVIS

(Q)-How did country music and cowboy film star legend, Roy Rogers influence you?

Randy Travis-Tremendously. You know I don’t think many of today’s country artists realize just how big a star and how influential Roy Rogers has been in country music. I mean, back during his heyday, so to speak, he had over 60,000 fan club members in the UK alone! That’s simply amazing! Roy has truly been an influence to me and many country singers of my generation.

Here’s a little story about Roy Rogers that I’ll tell you. Several years ago, I had the privilege of having Roy stay at my house in Nashville when we were working on a project together. So I asked him if he wanted to shoot a game of pool with me in the game room. Well, back then, and I don’t shoot a game of pool as well as I did back then, we decided to play a game of eight ball. I broke and I was lucky that time and I ran the table. I was just lucky, I don’t play that well anymore. Well, after I ran the table Roy just stood there and he looked at me when I was done and he stood there for a second and then he said,’Huh. The signs of a misspent youth'(he laughs). I mean the man has a wonderful sense of humor.

So later, Roy and I went to “Nashville Now”, Ralph Emery used to host that show, and we did his show and Roy went on with me. Then we went to the Opry and I did a spot on Roy Acuff’s show. And, as we got out of the car at the Opry, Roy said to me, ‘Darn son, you do this every day?'(he laughs). I told him,’Not quite like this every day.’ But, it was the neatest thing I’d ever done in my career. Then I went inside the Opry and backstage I met with Roy Acuff, who was hosting the show. I told him that I was going to introduce someone who was not going to sing, he was just going to come out and say hello to the audience. And, I introduced Roy Rogers and the audience assembled in the Ryman Auditorium that evening, everyone stood up and it seemed like they applauded for two minutes.

And, finally Roy just motioned to, ‘Sit down, please.’ So there I stood on the stage of the Opry with Roy Rogers on my one side and Roy Acuff on the other side and we just talked to the audience and back and forth between ourselves some and it was just one of the greatest moments in my life. You know, there’s not many country artists around who, after 35 or 40 years, are still as recognized by the country music fans and as respected by the country music recording artists and community as these two men were at that time. I mean to this day the both still are respected by everyone in country music. So, I can honestly say that was just about the most memorable day in my life.

(Q)-Please tell the readers about your new live album and DVD. Why have you chosen at this point, sixteen years into your career, to do the first “Live” album in your career? Where was it recorded?

Randy Travis- I have no idea why we waited this long. (To do the “Live”, album and DVD.) the time is right that’s for sure. It was done (recorded) in Anaheim, California last year. As a matter of fact, y wife thought of this. She wants to put on the packaging, “Randy Travis Live: It Was Just A Matter of Time”. Because we’ve been talking about it(A live album and now DVD.) for years. You know? A lot of country artists have done “Live” albums over the years which I have bought and listened to. But I’m slow sometimes I guess. (He laughs.) but, I’m glad we finally got it done.

(Q)-Is there new recorded “Live’ or is it just the “Hits” or what?

Randy Travis- There is a song that we’ve been doing from our live shows, from our CD called “Inspiration Journey” and it’s gospel music written from the standpoint of a country (song)writer. Which is a different use of language then someone say, who grew up in the church. So when I started putting the song together I thought of Kristofferson’s, “Why Me Lord”, although it’s hard to come up to that kind (quality) of song very often. We have “Baptism”, it’s called, which Kenny Chesney and I did a version of on one of his album’s a while back. And we’re going to use that (song). And, we have a live performance we’re could use as a single and also record it in the studio and see how it does.

(Q)- You’re in a great place right now as far as your career and hopefully your life. You can be who you are and you can remain true to yourself as an individual as well as an artist. And remain traditional with your music. Isn’t that a great place to be? Is that not a wonderful,’comfort zone’?
Randy Travis-You know what? As far as being comfortable with the music, it was funny three people all told me pretty much the same thing actually each at an important stage in my career. Johnny Russell, who just passed away recently. He’d been a friend for twenty some years. Roy Acuff and Grandpa Jones. They all essentially told me the same thing. They all said to me at one different point in my career or another this. ‘Son. Do what you like to do. Don’t let anybody talk you into doing anything that you don’t like to do just because they think it’s great. Because you’re the one who is going to be up there singing that song.’ And that’s what I’ve always done. Actually Grandpa Jones said a few other things which I don’t want to tell you about (he laughs). But, I have always done that and you know, people have always asked me what the most favorite song I’ve (recorded) done and I have no idea honestly because, I don’t do anything that I do not like. I only record songs that I like. I usually have to like the song the first time I hear it before I’ll record it. If I’m going to record it at all. So, I’ve always listened to the advice that those three men provided me with.

(Q)-Second part is that not the corner stone of a ‘comfort zone’ for your career?
Randy Travis-Yes.

(Q)-Could you explain how?
Randy Travis-Well as far a being comfortable with where I am here in this business, I have had a good run with sixteen years of this. I’ve sold twenty some million records and if I never get airplay with anything else, I cannot complain. I’ve gone ten times further then I’d ever thought I would in this business. In the early days, I just wanted to sing and write songs. So, I’m comfortable as a place where I can continue going out playing the songs that I want to and continuing my career in that way.

(Q)-The album “Inspirational Journey’ sounds at times lyrically like the soul of Randy Travis.

Randy Travis- Yeah (long silence) In a lot of cases. You know, I came from an interesting place as far as were I was as a teenager to where I’ve come to now.