Randy Travis und James Dupre

In a marketplace as saturated as that of American country music, you’re going to need certain attributes if you’re going to meet with any serious success; Randy Travis happens to have them in spades. During the late eighties, his powerful voice, undeniable charisma and intelligent blend of typical country stylings with something of a rock edge helped him to a slew of chart hits, including ‘Diggin’ Up Bones’ and ‘No Place Like Home’; he’d go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Male Country performance twice in a row, and off the back of that success, his third album, Old 8x10, went platinum, staying at the top of the country charts for no fewer than forty-three weeks. Travis remained a popular fixture on the U.S. live circuit for years after his commercial peak, with a significant cult fanbase across the country; his sets were often exercises in nostalgia, leaning heavily on his classic material. His career was derailed in 2012 by a string of legal issues, and last year, he suffered a life-threatening stroke that has prevented him from singing since; fans will doubtless be hoping he can one day make it back to where he belongs - the stage.