As music icon Randy Travis prepared to celebrate his 65th birthday, the legendary vocalist shared a gift with fans that could only be explained as magic. On Friday, May 3, Travis and Warner Music Nashville released “Where That Came From” (LISTEN HERE) and for the first time in over a decade, the music-loving world was hearing a brand-new song with those unforgettable, signature vocals.
The GRAMMY Award-winning Country Music Hall of Fame member has had limited speech for over a decade, after surviving a devastating stroke in 2013 that left him with aphasia.
But how?
In early 2023, artificial intelligence was exploding to the forefront of discussion within the music world, and with it came a new frontier of opportunities and obstacles impacting the artist community. The need to protect artists rights, and issues like copyright infringement and proper legislation were key conversation drivers when Warner Music Group executives came together to tackle the question, “what would AI for good look like?”
Warner Music Nashville Co-Chair & Co-President, Cris Lacy, answered with: “AI for good would be giving Randy Travis his voice back.”
Lacy immediately connected with Travis and his longtime producer, Kyle Lehning, who were excited by the prospect of making music together again. Lehning remembered “Where That Came From,” a song originally recorded - but not released - by James Dupre. The lilting ballad, written by Scotty Emerick and John Scott Sherrill, proved the perfect starting point.
As detailed in exclusive interviews from CBS Sunday Morning (WATCH HERE), Associated Press (READ HERE), and The Bobby Bones Show, Lehning and Travis remained constantly at the helm throughout the entire process. Together, they spent months working with Travis's vocals and putting a human touch, millisecond by millisecond, on every note of “Where That Came From.” It marks an important moment in history as the first steps toward removing the “artificial” in artificial intelligence and replacing it with authenticity.
“Eleven years ago I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind,” shared Travis. “But by God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love. Working with Kyle Lehning and Warner Music Nashville again has been so special and nostalgic, and I'm so excited to share my new song 'Where That Came From' with you today. Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”
The creation of “Where That Came From” is an example of how the music industry can rewrite the rules of technology-use within the creative community and harness the power of AI in a positive, fair and honest way.
“The motivation behind a musical recording is specific to each individual artist,” explains Lacy. “The genesis of this particular track came from a visceral desire to restore what was taken away from someone we know and love - Randy Travis. It was inspired by his courage to continue as a vital contributor to the music community. In working with him to make new recordings, the byproduct is a gift that goes straight to our hearts. AI may have been a tool that helped us along, but it was a group of dedicated and passionate humans, including Randy himself, that brought this beautiful song to life.”
About Randy Travis
With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Randy Travis is one of the biggest multi-genre record sellers of all time and an inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame class of 2016. His honors include seven Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors. In addition, three of his performances earned CMA Song of the Year honors: “On the Other Hand” (1986), “Forever and Ever Amen” (1987) and “Three Wooden Crosses” (2002). To date, he has 23 No. 1 singles, 31 Top-10 smashes and more than 40 appearances in feature films and television shows to his credit. Four of his albums are Gold Records. Four are Platinum. One has gone Double Platinum. One is Triple Platinum and another is Quintuple Platinum. In 2004, Randy was honored with his own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is honored on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, TN. He has been a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry since 1986. Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Randy continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing. With the help of author Ken Abraham, he released his critically-acclaimed memoir in 2019, Forever and Ever, Amen. In 2021 CMT named Randy the CMT Artist of a Lifetime and in 2022 the country music icon released his award-winning documentary “More Life.” For more information please visit RandyTravis.com.
