There are voices that just stop you cold. Randy Travis had one of them. That deep, warm baritone was unlike anything else on country radio in the 1980s, and this week, the man behind it turned 67.
Travis was born on May 4, 1959, in Monroe, North Carolina. He grew up in the small town of Marshville before heading to Nashville in the 1980s to chase a dream in country music.
It did not take long for that dream to pay off.
A Career Built on Number Ones
His debut single, “On the Other Hand,” came out in 1985. It got a second chance when he re-released it the following year — and that time, it went straight to number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in July 1986. It sat at the top for one week, but it was just the beginning.
“Forever and Ever, Amen” held the top spot for three weeks in 1987. “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” stayed there for four weeks in 1990. And the hits just kept coming.
Over the course of his career, Travis racked up 16 number-one singles. That list includes “Diggin’ Up Bones,” “I Won’t Need You Anymore,” “Too Gone Too Long,” “I Told You So,” “Deeper Than the Holler,” “Honky Tonk Moon,” “It’s Just a Matter of Time,” “Is It Still Over,” “Forever Together,” “If I Didn’t Have You,” “Look Heart No Hands,” “Whisper My Name,” and “Three Wooden Crosses” in 2002.
Along the way, he collected 7 Grammy Awards, winning in both country and gospel categories. Not many artists can say that.
Still Showing Up
In 2013, Travis suffered a near-fatal stroke that changed his life significantly. It affected his ability to sing and speak, and he was later diagnosed with aphasia. He now has limited mobility and often uses a wheelchair.
But Travis has not disappeared. He continues to attend events and make public appearances, often alongside his wife, Mary. His fans still show up for him, too, on his birthday this year. He took to Instagram to thank them for their warm wishes.
If his music was part of your 1980s or ’90s, you already know what he meant to country radio. Sixteen number ones and 7 Grammys do not lie. Happy birthday, Randy Travis.