9/21/11 RANDY TRAVIS INTERVIEW tag: storms of life, rainmaker, texas rangers, touched by an angel, grammy award, dove award, acm, cma, ama billboard, warner bros, wb, warner, randy bruce traywick, 1959, north Carolina, Marshville, farm boy, farmer, h

9/21/11 interview at the grammy museum ....this is about the best I can give u in terms of videos or photos (not allowed) ..but I did take a few notes (which is allowed) ..if u can figure them out..some of the names I didn't know *not a huge country fan, but came to know travis from his gospel music ..one day I heard him sing "3 little crosses" at the crystal cathedral a few years ago ) ..the moderator, guy named stan who always does a good job (also did kenny rogers) talked w/him for over an hour & they played a few clips from his new album (which he made w/ several country stars) .. .here's the notes I took..w/ some ad lib, not perfectly verbatim: Intro: "he's had 3 grammy...7 dove awards ..25th anniv … breakout .. video ..stan g: .ever get tired of the applause..no, never..I've worked w unique vocalists..started guitar when I was 8 yo..as a kid I was drawn ..george jones ..best example stan:..reality in that music..did u realize at young age..? A: 17 yo..btw bb king..he & I were on///show..ralph asked bb re assoc btw blues & country..bb said in country..all is well then he loses her..in blues, ain't no flowers ..started in night clubs..14 ..also cattle horses goats chicken hogs.farm boy..laid brick..by 17 thought this is what I want to do ..when do u remember 1st song.age 16, threw it away ..tore it up ..remember honky tonk ..I can't remember the first one ..q: great reverence for songwriting in nashville, ..[sb's phone rings]..co-writing big deal ..a: they will call, set time to start writing..often pages of ideas, ..1st time I wrote w/ paul overstreet, ..he comes in, I turn on tape recorder..pail took guitar, he starts singing..I'm writing..that's ridiculous.I contributed one line ..stan: discipline, as a songwrtr..conway twitty said "there's a mindset.."..for me I have to work harder..I was coming off bus.."heroes & friends" ..I sang it in..don schlitzen(?) ..said I'll help u finish ..20 minutes finished .paul ovrstreet & al gore (not the politician) ..there was an arg re "u gave him my best.." "storms of life" first to sell million in less thana  year .. ..I’d been turned down by so many labels..incl warner..10 years ..but finally signed to wb for storms of life..kyle said "maybe if we move 40,000 units, we can make a 2nd one".. then newcomer ..horizon award..at--- I see george jones..etc..not sure I can finish ..stan: u were bucking trend..after urban cowboy era time goes by..timing is everything..look at bulk..mostly trad artists ..some crossover like kenny rogers .....s: I remember opening of grammy around '84 ..feature of new country artists..u were one of them ..I know biggest selling markets..first l.a., then nyc ,, u kidding me ? Then in canada..they said don't expect same response..we did 3 encores..I didn't know any more songs [laughter] ..s; what makes a great song ?  A: remember..sitting in....they put on a song re///and his great grandparent..I remembered being 7..grandpa 70 ..he has hat on ground..he says don't run over my hat..I was on bike..he grabbed me ..this gen ..he gave me a whipping ..I've been honest w the press..truth is easier to remember..I ran..I threw rocks ..he started throwing rocks at me..picture of love ..olive branch road ..so answer is if they hit home, can't miss ... Q___ a": kyle said I want to help u make best song, but u have to sing it..grandpa jones in heehaw@  ..he said if they ever to tell u to change your music..tell them to kiss .., so I always sing what I love .."walk on water" .forever amen..walking on water ..I never get tired of singing my songs...s: have u had opp to "pay it forward" to others.w/ advice a: I tell them to forget this...just joking ....I heard her version of "I told u so"(carie underwood) ..josh turner, ..q: u mention working w/ kyle ..what is it abt kyle that brings out best in u ? 1st & foremost..we’re friends..kyle....he said is your b-string sharp ..who hears that ? Kyle listened to ..we did at nashville ..palace..lefty..he said lefty who ? I put together a tape deck..educated him ..I don't say this bragging...Q: producer sometimes acts as a psychologist..does he do that w/ u ..being in a studio ..different..than live..still changes night to night ..in studio clean..on stage one night there was a "metal debris' sound ..had to live w/ it ..q: re making new album, how did it feel to have all these singers come & play w u..a: very humbling ..truly happened..hear comments..letters..we did.incl joe manuel ..finished gospel. Big guy came up ..said "my son.." he started to cry...my son marrying woman who was raped & had the kid..I told him not to..the s..goes further… into christ ..                   I sounded like an idiot with my response, said  "thanks 4 sharing that w/ me"..another time w/ carrie underwood ..sb.said "I love that carrie underwood song"..I said what ? I did it first. She said "really?" ..u mention your gospel album...u had incredble career in country..but then gospel..well-rcvd..I attended church a little as a kid ..not enough..which probably explains the trouble I go into ..later I told wb I wanted to do a gospel..3 wooden crosses..from rise & shine..song of year ..I love doing both..q: remarkable...remained w/ one label..a: its been good ..q: new album u did w/ jamie johnson..[clip] ..he's a great ..its tough to do ..he..he made it his property..× the clip w/ alan jackson..."better class of losers"..I noticed alan on stage..q: u mention carrie underwood ..[clip]...w/ all these artists..do u have to step up to their energy …b/c of my advanced age..[joke]..any time w. Another artist a little competitive..at american idol..she & I were both very sick..I heard her cough..sounded lke a 30 yr smoker..but she still sang perfectly ..I was stunned..[clip w. Kristoff & willie] "I have no fight left in me now..on my knees ..at your feet..give u all that's left in me.."very broken sinner."..wonderful..kyle many yrs w waylon...my 1st time for me w/ them ..in studio...in nashville..we did ..."pullings" ..u sing one..getting to know ..audience question: "I was born w beatles & stones,,u brought me to country, I never lookd back…I remember you had a country song that hit the pop charts & you said “Get it off there” A: .country hit pop ..yes I said "get it off" ..q2: u did crossroads special..will it ever come out on dvd ? Idk, good question, but I don’t know..q3: I grew up old school country..hank sr. Lefty..where do u see country going ? A: still good shape ..q4: inaudible a: re grand ol opry, nat palce across street..jimmy dickens..took me to opry.."so lonesome I could cry"..I was cookin across street..another..when carrie b/c a member...she jumped.."would u like to b/c member?" Let me think..uhh yes..another time around george aikoff(?)  ..he was 80 yrs old .."u a fighter?"  End interview, randy plays "3 little crosses" & parts of 2 other songs.