Randy Travis Was Headed to His Day Job When He Heard His First Hit on the Radio
One of country music's most successful acts of the 1980s and '90s, Randy Travis scored a string of hits including "On the Other Hand," "Forever and Ever, Amen," "Three Wooden Crosses" and more. But, like many artists, Travis cut his first single and waited ... and waited. Below, the Grammy Awards winner and Country Music Hall of Fame member recalls where he was when he heard his first record on the radio -- and also where he was when he heard his first hit record on the airwaves.
The first time was in Charlotte, N.C. The song was "Dreamin'," which most people who would read this won't be familiar with. That was a song that Joe Stampley produced. Joe took me in the studio when I was 17 or 18 and produced four songs; "Dreamin'" was the first.
Later, when my [manager and now-ex-wife Lib Hatcher] and I moved to Nashville, and I signed with Warner Bros. and released "On the Other Hand," either WSM or WSIX was playing it. We got in the car -- we were going to work at the Nashville Palace ... I was still there washing dishes. The radio was on, and "On the Other Hand" came on, and I reached for the cassette [player] and put my hand in it and said, "Is that a cassette?" ... and I said, "Nope, that's on the air." That was great!
This story was originally written by Pat Gallagher, and revised by Angela Stefano.
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