Travis burst onto the country scene in the mid-1980s around the same time as a few other seemingly like-minded new traditionalists, and it seemed that country music might get good again -- for about a second. He combines a smoothly expressive baritone with self-penned, excellently chosen material that features lyrical depth as well as great Honky Tonk-style instrumental work. Starting in 1985 with "On The Other Hand," Travis has gone into the charts and sold a huge number of records. He virtually kicked open the door for the "country hunk" phenomenon of the '90s.