Randy Travis

He was born in Marshville, North Carolina on May 4th, 1959, the second of six kids. Randy
loved to sing and the talent was there from the start. By the age of ten he was performing in a duo act with his brother. Even then the deep voice booming from the small body astounded all who heard it. Unfortunately, his lack of focus soon became just as clear. Randy went to church occasionally during his younger years, but when referring to those days, he uses a most southern expression, ruefully admitting that, “It didn’t take.”

By his early teens Randy was a high school dropout spending his time drinking, drugging,
and fighting. He continued to sing, but he was also dabbling in petty crimes and headed
towards a possible life behind bars when he met a girl named Lib Hatcher. Lib became his agent and with her help Randy was able to give up the substance abuse and focus on his musical goals.

For the next decade Nashville rebuffed Randy Travis with one consistent complaint, “Too country!” Randy and Lib, who had now become his wife as well, persevered. Today Randy Travis is one of country music’s top-grossing concert stars, a Grammy award winning performer who has accumulated a pile of industry accolades. And, along the way, the faith he once rejected became his guiding light.

The highly acclaimed Randy Travis added another level to his accomplished musical career in 2000 when he released his first album of country-gospel songs. Today he balances a full-time acting career with a full time country music career and a Christian music ministry because in his own words he feels like he is making a difference like he never has before.

In today’s Southern Quote we celebrate the wisdom of this famous southerner. Randy Travis says, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

~Shellie