James Dupre is shown at a past performance.
Country crooner James Dupre understands his assignment on the More Life Tour highlighting the music of Randy Travis, who rarely sings anymore in the wake of a stroke in 2013. The situation left Travis with a rare condition known as apraxia, which impacts ability to speak and communicate effectively.
So Dupre is now a singing surrogate, if you will, for veteran star Travis.
And an honored one at that.
“I’ve been told that I have a similar tone,” Dupre said recently on the Nashville, Tennessee-based Bobby Bones TV Show. “But I’m not going to go and try to sound like him. You know what I mean?
“Because I don’t think that’s possible. But I guess I have a similar range.”
The tour featuring the original Randy Travis Band will stop July 22 at the Brown County Music Center in Nashville. The show will consist of Dupre and the band performing all 16 of Travis’ iconic number ones including “On The Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Travis will make a special appearance.
In an online video clip at a show a few years ago, Travis is shown softly singing “Amazing Grace” with Dupre.
Dupre co-starred in the movie “The Price” with Travis. The film details a country singer aiming to make amends with his son, a rising country vocalist.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member’s longtime touring band, consisting of Steve Hinson, David Johnson, Lance Dary, Bill Cook, Joe Van Dyke and Herb Shucher. They, along with longtime tour manager Jeff Davis will rejoin “Hoss,” as they affectionately call Travis, on the road for the first time since right before his stroke nine years ago.
“We are incredibly excited to be back on the road and give Randy’s fans a chance to hear his music live again, and who better to sing his many hits than James Dupre?” said wife Mary Travis.
Travis recently released “Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith and Braving the Storms of Life,” which has been featured on “Today,” “The 700 Club,” in People, Billboard and more. The book is available at most online retailers as well as Barnes and Noble, Cracker Barrel, Books-a-Million and more.
The longtime Grand Ole Opry star also dropped two never-before-heard singles this summer: “One in a Row” and “Lead Me Home.”
Information: RandyTravis.com.
