Pop : Travis Adds Richness to Country Tradition

Randy Travis has been the overlooked man in country music in the ‘90s. After a dramatic start a decade ago that refocused attention on country’s traditional values, Travis fell behind Garth Brooks and the competition because his vocal phrasing tended to be predictable and he had a hard time finding strong material.

So, Travis’ concert Friday night at the Universal Amphitheatre was a revelation. After a couple of years off the road, Travis has returned with some richly appealing new songs, including the tender “The Box,” and more confidence as a singer.

Where once the best Travis could do vocally was remind you of the character in a classic singer like Merle Haggard or George Jones, he now shows enough individuality to challenge them on the right song.

Travis’ manner remains low-key in the age of Garth-ian antics in country music, but there is something winning about the quiet sincerity of a performer who continues to celebrate country tradition rather than pop crossover dreams.

Sammy Kershaw, who appeared with Travis on Friday, showed on his 1991 debut album a trace of the early promise of Travis. Since then, however, Kershaw has been somewhat anonymous, both in his singing and selection of material. Like many of today’s country best sellers, he needs to wrestle with whether he wants to be an artist or simply an evening’s entertainment. Travis, once again, can serve as an inspiring model.