Randy Travis Made a Surprise Public Appearance in Nashville

Country music veteran and committed Christian Randy Travis suffered a life-threatening stroke in July of 2013, and has been slowly recuperating since then.  Besides singing "Amazing Grace" at a friend's funeral on Feb. 3, Travis  seldom makes public appearances these days.  However, on Wednesday night (Feb 24), Travis was at the Grand Ole Opry House handing music executive Jim Ed Norman the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award.

The award is awarded annually to an individual who has made a lasting impact on the country music business. Norman is a musician, record producer, arranger and label head. He was one of the principal architects of the distinctive sound of West Coast 1970s pop and rock, after which he moved into production, eventually becoming President of Warner Bros. Records Nashville. Following a several year retirement in 2004, he re-emerged in Nashville in 2010. 

As the president of Warner Nashville Records, Norman was responsible for nurturing the talents of Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Travis Tritt, and Dwight Yoakam. His new role was also notable for the fact that it did not curtail his direct creative involvement in music, and he continued to amass production credits throughout his time with the label, as well as undertaking arrangements for non-Warners artists. Among those he worked with at the time were Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood 

The award was announced during a charity dinner to benefit the Opry Trust Fund, and artists including Travis, Brice, Big & Rich, Don Henley, Mickey Gilley, Michael Martin Murphey, TG Sheppard, Gary Morris, Crystal Gayle, Mo Pitney, Jeff Hanna and Kenny Rogers were present to see the man who had helped shape their careers receive the honor.

Don Henley told the crowd that Norman wrote the string part for "Desperado," and also played piano on "Lyin' Eyes," but he also played an even more significant role in Henley's early career.

"You're a good man," he said. "You let me out of my contract so I could go make a record with these guys called the Eagles."

 

 

Read More: Surprise! Randy Travis Makes Nashville Appearance | http://tasteofcountry.com/randy-travis-public-appearance-nashville-2016/?trackback=tsmclip

 

 

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