“100% Chance” Randy Travis Has an Album of Unheard Music
On Wednesday, August 2nd, Randy Travis and his wife Mary held a press conference at the Von Braun Center / Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama to announce “A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis – 1 Night, 1 Place, 1 Time” to take place on October 24th. Organized by Outback Presents who is known for putting together these types of tributes to country legends, it is sure to be a great event with the all-star lineup to be announced in the coming weeks.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Randy Travis Foundation, which is focused on stroke and aphasia awareness and supporting music education in schools. Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 4 at 10:00 am Central Time at the Von Braun Center box office as well as at randytravis.com.
As exciting as this news was though, it was during the press conference that Randy’s wife Mary dropped a bombshell that has Randy Travis fans just as excited, if not more. When asked by a reporter what the chances are that more unheard Randy Travis music is on the way from the era before Randy suffered his stroke and was stricken with aphasia, Mary Travis said,
“The chances are 100%. It has already been mixed. Everything’s ready to go by Kyle Lehning, Randy’s producer….a whole other album of Randy Travis music.”
Kyle Lehning was the producer for Randy Travis throughout his career.
There have been some bits and pieces of previously-unheard Randy Travis material trickle out over the last few years. A 35th Anniversary reissue of his landmark album Storms of Life included three new songs recorded during the same sessions. Three unheard songs were also part of a reissue of Randy’s 1989 album An Old Time Christmas.
But this would be the first time we hear an entire album of new Randy Travis songs. Perhaps the event at the Propst Arena in Huntsville will be a good time to announce/unveil what Randy Travis still has left in the vault. Stay tuned.
August 3, 2023 @ 10:12 am
It’s so sad that he wasn’t able to recover enough to continue singing. What a wonderful career, a wonderful role-model of perseverance.
August 3, 2023 @ 10:35 am
A whole new album of Randy Travis songs would be Exceptional.
And, going to stop right there.
August 3, 2023 @ 10:52 am
Is it just me or does Randy’s wife make headline-generating announcements every few months to keep his name in the news? I say this as a big Randy Travis fan.
August 3, 2023 @ 11:02 am
That’s her job along with his publicity team, to keep his name out there, and make sure people don’t forget about him. That’s part of my job too, so I’m more than happy to rebroadcast the news. I know some may feel like it’s a lot. But that’s better than being forgotten.
A lot of artists have enjoyed these kinds of big tributes. It’s about time Randy Travis gets one.
August 3, 2023 @ 4:29 pm
Pretty sure they had one for him at Bridgestone arena in 2017…
August 3, 2023 @ 5:52 pm
Touche. Forgot about that. Screw it, let’s have another one.
August 3, 2023 @ 11:13 am
Nothing wrong with music stars trying to stay relevant. They still have to pay the bills. Great news about the album. Hopefully hear something soon.
August 3, 2023 @ 11:56 am
Not to be too cynical, but for a large chunk of the last half of his career, he was doing gospel music.
Not to pour water on anybody’s fire, but I hope everyone keeps in mind that any new music recorded later in his career was probably more gospel music. People expecting more country Classics may not want to get their hopes up.
August 3, 2023 @ 12:16 pm
What in the world would be wrong with an album full of gospel music from Randy?
August 3, 2023 @ 1:36 pm
Well, he must have put out half a dozen of them and among all of them, there was one song that made an impact–albeit a big one. I don’t think many people would be looking for leftovers that didn’t make the cut on Randy’s Christian albums.
I’m assuming that this new album will be all or mostly secular songs. If it’s not, then this announcement would stand as kind of a bait-and-switch.
August 3, 2023 @ 2:09 pm
I understand what you are saying.
Would love to have a new album of songs from Randy that we have not heard before.
August 3, 2023 @ 9:30 pm
Probably not gonna hear too much fiery instrumentation of gospel songs.
August 4, 2023 @ 5:44 am
We have no idea what the unreleased material is, and I wouldn’t assume it is just Gospel material. Most mainstream artists record extra songs with each album project, and for all we know, Randy was working on a new secular album when he had his stroke.
August 3, 2023 @ 2:26 pm
I mean, there’s a reason these unheard songs went unreleased for decades.
They are prob just album cuts that didnt fit the “theme” of whatever album they were intended for.
I dont expect any of them to be hits or singles.
Still just nice to hear Randy’s voice on a new song.
August 3, 2023 @ 12:03 pm
Randy’s life doesn’t seem to have been too easy. The more good things that happen, the better.
August 3, 2023 @ 2:28 pm
I saw him when he started blowing up in the 80’s. He has that unique voice that seems to be a huge part of success in country music. I’ve always enjoyed those artists that might not always be considered great singers from a technical point, but have something a little different going on. Sturgill, Colter, George Jones, Willie, Vern Gosdin, etc. It’s good to see him getting some recognition with all his troubles in more recent years. It has to make life much better for him.
August 3, 2023 @ 2:37 pm
Directly into my veins, please.
August 3, 2023 @ 3:25 pm
Shoutout to Huntsville for getting another tribute concert. Looking forward to hearing more about the album.
August 3, 2023 @ 5:55 pm
…except the first two (Lee Greenwood and George Jones) were promoted behind-the-scenes by disgraced country publicist Kirt Webster.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/disgraced-publicist-kirt-webster-working-with-george-jones-estate-others/
Luckily this one seems to be much more on the up and up.
August 6, 2023 @ 5:39 pm
Trigger, please delete my other reply; I meant it as a reply to your comment. How do we know that Kirt Webster isn’t involved this time? This event, along with the Lee Greenwood and George Jones events, have all been produced by Outback Presents; Kirt Webster is almost certainly lurking in the shadows on this one, as well. It would be worthwhile to get a head start by asking Outback Presents some questions about his involvement.
Also, the entire “friends pay tribute” concept at the Von Braun Center feels like Outback Presents is churning these out like the endless volumes of “Country’s Family Reunion” stuff. It’s starting to feel more like a production company cash grab instead of genuinely honoring legends, and I can’t overstate the total irrelevance of the Von Braun Center to anything in music history; it’s all about cheaper production and tax-dodging in Alabama.
August 6, 2023 @ 6:36 pm
When I saw where this was being held, I was immediately suspicious. I have received assurances from people in the Randy Travis camp that Kirt Webster is not involved. My investigation into him is ongoing, and I may have an update on it soon.
August 3, 2023 @ 3:37 pm
I am a huge Randy Travis fan, he’s probably only second to Merle Haggard for me in terms of regular listening. And so I’m all about hearing anything new, regardless if it’s old album filler that didn’t make the cut or more recent Gospel. And I understand that aging stars need to stay relevant because they have bills to pay, etc, and from what I understand Randy is in quite a wind storm when it comes to still owing royalty advances to Warner Brothers. And it is quite sad that he’s not able to speak or sing for himself. But I am getting a little tired of Mary’s press releases where she says everything that Randy must be thinking. I would love to go speechless for a week and let my wife do all my talking for me and see what happens. Lol
August 3, 2023 @ 3:57 pm
Please please please let this be true!!!!!
August 3, 2023 @ 5:31 pm
Trig, do yourself a favor and listen on youtube to — “The Simple Things” by Randy. It was featured on a Nickelodeon cartoon called “Hey Arnold” from 1998ish.
Wish Randy or Nickelodoen would officially release the song. I would think Randy doesnt own the song.
August 3, 2023 @ 6:47 pm
How is Randy not in the Nashville songwriters Hof?
August 3, 2023 @ 6:55 pm
Naturally I assumed Randy wrote Simple Things. Wrong. “The Simple Things Is a song written (in universe) and performed by Mr. Hyunh. In real life, the song was written by Craig Bartlett and Steve Viksten and sung by Randy Travis. It was featured on the album Best of Nicktoons”
(https://heyarnold.fandom.com/wiki/The_Simple_Things)
I still think he belongs in the songwriters HOF if for no other reason than…(pun intended) Reasons I Cheat.
August 4, 2023 @ 12:53 pm
How is Randy not in the Nashville songrwriters’ H-o-F?
The fact that he wrote very few songs probably has something to do with it..
August 4, 2023 @ 5:31 am
“Hey Arnold” got me into Country Music. I was just a kid. And im sure millions of other kids were listening along at the time.
Mind you, i’m talking about Hey Arnold the cartoon, not Hey Arnold the username
😏
August 4, 2023 @ 4:17 pm
Did I not see somewhere that you don’t release a 13 yr old song ? Now a whole album thats probably older than that? I am now confused.
August 4, 2023 @ 5:09 pm
Not sure where you saw that. But if there is unheard music from Randy Travis, I don’t care how old it is. I’m here for it.
August 5, 2023 @ 7:06 am
One can hope! Any new music by him will be well worth a listen. I well recall the first time I heard him ……..’on the other hand’.
August 5, 2023 @ 10:08 am
I really enjoyed “One In A Row” when it was released in 2019. Solid song, and classic Randy Travis.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRgAxqkRNc
If the new material is anything like that, I’m all in.
August 7, 2023 @ 2:49 am
I believe there will be alot of songs that will be good. Randy had it all and it’s so sad that it was taken from him. I pray every night that God will give him his voice back.
September 18, 2023 @ 6:33 am
Looking forward to it. This is definitely something I’m missing.