Watch A 19-Year-Old Randy Travis Make His TV Debut With A Performance Of George Jones’ “All The Praises”

Taking it back to the very beginning. Before Randy Travis was the country music superstar we all know and love, he used the stage name Randy Ray. And before he was Randy Ray, he used his birth name, Randy Traywick. He was just a kid from from Marshville, North Carolina, who had a habit of getting in trouble, and dropped out of high school at an early age. But, he could sing country music like nobody's business. Following a few run-ins with the law, Randy and his brother entered a talent competition in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1977, but when is brother had to make a pit stop to serve some time in a juvenile correction facility for those aforementioned run-ins with the law, Randy became a solo act. As Randy Traywick, he went on to release his first round of singles, "Dreamin’," "She's My Woman" and "I'll Take Any Willing Woman" in 1978. Shortly thereafter, at just 19 years old, he delivered his first TV appearance on North Carolina's K en Linker Variety Hour. This may have been the famed country singer's first shot at larger exposure, and he put together a rendition of George Jones' "All The Praises," which was originally released on the singer's 1972 George Jones (We Can Make It) album. It's we-known that Jones was one of Travis' biggest inspirations in country music, so it's no surprise that he's covering a hit from one of country music's all-time greats. Randy wouldn't end up releasing his debut record, Storms Of Life, until almost a decade later in 1986, but that record garnered him instant critical acclaim and he went on to become one of the greatest voices country music has ever seen. And it all got started right about here. Check it out:

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