Seeing country music legend Randy Travis finish up his song “Forever and Ever Amen” with Carrie Underwood at the County Music Awards brought all sorts of memories.
I knew he wasn’t performing much, if any, since his stroke more than a decade ago. But I was pleasantly surprised to see him highlighted in the front row of the program as Underwood sang his “Forever and Ever Amen.”
I was overjoyed when Underwood put the microphone up to Travis for the last word of the song.
There it was, that voice I miss saying, “Amen.”
All of sudden I was flush with memories and I was “Diggin Up Bones.”
Some were unsure of Travis’ talent but he never gave up. The record companies turned him down many times after he made the move to Nashville to start his career in the early 80s. Like so many trying to make it, he waited tables while visiting the labels. They were not sure of his style as some saw country going more pop.
Then Nashville took a chance on him and let him record Storms of Life in 1986. Just the year before he had been named new male male vocalist of the year.
I remember making the trek to Jackson Island in Millbrook to see Travis. My dad had scored tickets just before Travis’ climb up the charts to the legend who he would become.
The day is almost like a video in my mind.
I was 11 or 12 years old at the time and went with my parents in our old conversion van. It was a perfect day packed with a picnic lunch, lawn chairs with sunlight beaming through the trees like spotlights of the arenas Travis would soon play.
It was long before the island was a movie set. But it would have been a wonderful backdrop to record a live concert video. He was wearing a white suit and it all was under the shade of oak trees draped in moss. There was a gentle breeze blowing.
Travis sang “On the Other Hand,” “1982,” “My Heart Cracked But Didn’t Break” and “Diggin’ Up Bones” to name a few.
I soon had my own cassette of the album. I wore it out on the stereo system ‘Santa’ had brought me. It finally stretched out and broke. I didn’t replace it and regret throwing it away — not that it would be worth anything. But that trip was my formal introduction to country music.
I went on to see other greats like Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Reba McIntire and Luke Bryan.
There are other concerts too but Travis stood out with his, to me, baritone voice. There are many who claim to be country, but are far from the standard Travis set for me. He is the measuring stick I use when listening to country music.
Travis’ smile with Underwood said something else the other night. It said perseverance and quickly reminded me we should follow the model of Travis.
Follow your dreams. Yes they will be difficult and there will be setbacks. But with hard work and persistence almost anything is possible.
But most of all, always remember to be happy with where and who you are with as those moments will shape your mindset forever.
Cliff Williams is the news editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at cliff.williams@thewetumpkaherald.com.
