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JANUARY 2017 Volume 48 Number 3 Issue 565
News
Amen to that!
Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Larry Delaney, Don Cusic, Julie Flaskett, Kelly Gregory, Michael Hingston, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III,, Douglas McPherson, Stephen O’ Hanlon, Roland Purdy, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Wayne Smart, Chris Smith, Alison Stokes, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Jack Watkins
Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Helen Parish, Patricia Presley, Ian Tilbury, Barry Dixon, Billie McAleer
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© 2017 Kickin’ Cuts Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for statement of fact or opinion expressed by contributors. The views of the contributors are not necessarily those of Country Music People or its editor.
Randy Travis, 57, can look back on a good year career-wise, having been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last fall, and honoured at an all-star tribute concert in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Feb. 8. Nashville Mayor Megan Berry even proclaimed it Randy Travis Day!
Among stellar players paying homage to the N. C. native during a Heroes & Friends( sub-titled 1 Night, 1 Place, 1 Time) gala were Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Travis Tritt, Chris Janson, Wynonna, Alabama and the Bellamy Brothers, as well as comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
Since a massive stroke in 2013, it all seemed downhill for the seemingly troubleprone performer, whose 16 # 1 singles include On The Other Hand, Forever and Ever, Amen,” Too Gone, Too Long and Three Wooden Crosses. Randy’ s last hit was a remake of an old Travis title I Told You So, done as a duet with Carrie Underwood(# 2, 2009), upping his total Top 10 singles chartings to 30.
His 19-year marriage to manager Lib Hatcher ended in late 2010, and after a few arrests involving alcohol in 2012, he attempted to get his life back in order, returning to filmmaking, portraying a dying singer in“ The Price” in 2013. On July 7, 2013, however, Randy suffered respiratory infection, but while hospitalised had a massive stroke. It left him
partially paralysed with halting speech and seemingly forever bound to a wheelchair. On March 21, 2015, Randy married Mary Davis, former wife of his Dallas dentist Dr. Ritchie Beougher. Reportedly they had been engaged since before his stroke, and she stood beside him through three tracheotomies, two brain surgeries, three bouts of pneumonia and staff infections, giving him hope for recovery, despite doctors’ dour warnings.
After two-and-a-half strenuous years in rehab, Randy could walk haltingly with a cane, and his speech improved enough that he stunned Country Hall of Fame attendees the night of his induction by briefly singing Amazing Grace. Mary did a cameo as his wife in Travis’ last film“ The Price,” finally released in June 2015.
Relative newcomer Chris Young told The Tennessean newspaper,“ What doesn’ t he mean to country music, especially to someone who grew up as a baritone singer in country music? I would just constantly sing his stuff. He means a whole lot to a lot of singers, not just me.” The salute closed with a singalong: Amazing Grace and Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
Profits benefit in part both victims of stroke and cardiovascular diseases, through the new Randy Travis Foundation. The day had also been declared Stroke Awareness Day in Travis’ honour by Gov. Bill Haslam, who attended the show.
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