An American singer and actor, who is famous for mainstream country songs. He also had a good command of Southern rock influences. He started his music career in 1989 with Warner Bros.
Talented American country music performer Travis Tritt is well-known for his distinctive voice and a string of top hits. Since Travis Tritt has released so many songs over his career, this is not an exhaustive list. His songs include Help Me Hold On, It’s a Great Day to Be Alive, and The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’.
These are only a few of the artist’s most well-known and cherished songs. Have fun listening to his music!
Early Life of Tritt
James Travis Tritt was born to Gwen and James Tritt on February 9, 1963, in Marietta. He began singing in the kids’ choir at his church. He started playing guitar at the age of eight and composed his first song five years later.
At an early age, he was twice married and divorced. He married Theresa Nelson in 1997, and the two went on to have three children: Tyler, Tristan, and Tarian.
Tritt began working a day job after graduating from high school while performing solo in Atlanta-area bars and nightclubs on a part-time basis; at a club, the aspiring country star was found by Danny Davenport, a talent scout for Warner Brothers Records.
Soon later, Tritt discovered himself in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was following his long-time passion of being a singer.
He was influenced by John Denver, Ray Charles, and James Taylor when he was a young, emerging artist; and was also attracted to the music of the Allman Brothers Band, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Travis Tritt never studied music theory. He tried to create his songs when he was fourteen and wanted to be a country singer.
His parents gave him another guitar that year, and he learned with Sam Lockhart, his uncle. Travis Tritt supplemented his income by working as a grocery store clerk and a furniture salesman before graduating from college.
After graduating, he ultimately found employment with an air conditioning firm.
Tritt’s Top Songs and Their Subject Matter
Travis Tritt’s song collection only serves to highlight how far he has gone since beginning to sing in his church’s Sunday school choir and earning a Grammy. Tritt rose to fame over time and is now one of the top country singers.
Without even wearing a cowboy hat, he dove into the deep Southern rock while also establishing a brave, outlaw character that sets him apart from the crowd.
With several platinum albums under his belt and plenty of country songs, he has more success than most people could ever hope for.
Here are a few top favorite Travis Tritt tracks:
1. “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)”
The song portrays the story of a man whose ex-girlfriend has expressed guilt over leaving him and a wish to reunite. The male, nevertheless, is no longer convinced by her. He handed her a quarter as a result and advised her to phone a kind person.
Years before moving to Nashville, Travis Tritt composed “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” while working a regular job and yet aspiring to the status of a country music celebrity. Tritt was bereaved by the demise of his second marriage at the same time.
He was reading the divorce papers when his soon-to-be ex-wife called him. She urged him to give reconciliation another thought. Tritt finished the song’s lyrics in just over fifteen minutes after having that chat and thinking about them.
The song was too personal for Tritt to consider making it public, but it did help him get back up whenever he felt down due to a personal situation. He changed his mind after hearing the audience’s amazing response when he sang the heart-breaking ballad on stage.
2. “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive”
This precise song will remind you to enjoy the small things in life, even if they are only homemade soup or rice heating in your microwave.
This inspiring song was released by Tritt as the second single from his album Down the Road I Go, and it quickly rose to the second position on Billboard US Hot Country Songs, earning him a nomination for Single of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
3. “Help Me Hold On”
“Help Me Hold On,” the second single from Tritt’s debut album, went on to become the singer’s first country break in both the United States and Canada.
The song describes a romance that is going to end. The man in the song acknowledged all of his flaws and is now prepared to pay whatever it would take to keep her.
4. “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’”
The song “The Whisky Ain’t Workin’,” which Tritt performed with another country superstar, became one of the biggest songs of the 1990s, acquiring second number on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs in the US.
In addition, the song gained big at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 1992.
5. “Lord Have Mercy on the Working Man”
Tritt made a significant statement on the economic inequity that blue-collar people were experiencing in 1992. Surprisingly, several well-known country singers, including Tanya Tucker, Brooks & Dunn, and George Jones, performed backing vocals during the song’s final chorus.
Before signing a record deal, the country singer had a side job playing in bars and worked at an air conditioning firm.
6. “Anymore”
In the song “Anymore,” Tritt can’t keep his feelings hidden any longer. It was the second single to be released from his 1991 album It’s All About to Change, and it quickly rose to the top of the country music charts in both the United States and Canada.
In addition, Tritt portrayed Mac Singleton, a wounded and suffering Vietnam War veteran, in the song’s music video, the first of a trilogy.
7. “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”
The song describes the story of a man and a woman who joined forces to commit crimes. The male acted as the woman’s getaway vehicle when she stole a quick mart, just like a “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde.”
Unfortunately, the two were detained while they were counting all of their cash in a hotel room.
8. “More Than You’ll Ever Know”
This song, which was also written by Tritt, depicts the tale of a guy who, after struggling to convey his real feelings to the lady he loves, ultimately learned to accept his own emotions.
In the United States country chart, “More Than You’ll Ever Know” reached No. 3, while it peaked at No. 7 in Canada.
9. “The Best of Intentions”
For the first time in six years, Tritt’s return to the top of the country charts was made possible by this song. This heartfelt song is about a man’s best intentions for the life he had always planned to create for the lady he loves but the way it never materialized.
Tritt‘s highest-charting single so far, “The Best of Intentions” reached a possibly high on US Billboard Chart.
10. “Country Club
In the song “Country Club,” Tritt is singing about working hard to catch a woman’s interest. The woman belongs to an exclusive country club that only its members are permitted to enter.
The character in the song emphasizes that he is also a member of a similar club since “country music is what I love.” The album’s lead single, “Country Club” peaked at ninth number on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs. A music video is also included with it; it is Tritt’s first ever.
List of Travis Songs by Year
Here’s a list of songs by Travis organized by year.
| 2001 | 2003 | 2007 | 2008 | 2013 | 2015 | 2016 | 2019 |
| Sing | The Beautiful Occupation | Closer | Something Anything | Where You Stand | Everything at Once | Magnificent Time | Kissing in the Wind |
| Side | Love Will Come Through | Selfish Jean | J. Smith | Moving | 3 Miles High | Animal | A Ghost |
| Flowers in the Window | Walking Down the Hill (B-side) | Big Chair | Mother | Idlewild (featuring Josephine Oniyama) | Valentine | ||
| The Cage | The Distance (B-side) | Sarah | |||||
| Re-Offender | My Eyes |
Conclusion
- Southern rock and mainstream country are the major musical influences of Tritt.
- Tritt built a career that mixed emotional ballads with upbeat songs that highlighted his Southern Rock roots.
- Travis rejects the conventional wisdom that claims that to keep an audience’s attention, you need loud production, predictable lyrics, and many special effects.
- Tritt established himself as daring and unlawful setting himself out from the crowd.
- Tritt works exclusively from personal experiences and doesn’t adhere to any set formula. He has a distinctive songwriting style and unique preferences.
- Tritt started copying the sound of African-American singers by adding “all the bends, sweeps and curls” to his voice.
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