The beginnings of a country legend started 40 years ago on June 2, 1986 when his debut album was released.

Storms of Life launched the career of Randy Travis that ended in his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Travis was limited to just 10 songs for his debut album, but 2021 reissue featured three additional song. But his wife, Mary, revealed to Taste of Country that he initially recorded 20 songs for the album.

Combined with the three released on the reissue, seven are still missing.

“If you find them, let us know,” she said alongside the singer, who smiled and laughed in agreement. “I assume [Travis’ record label, Warner Bros.] has them because they were all laid down. They all went to studio. I’d love to know what they are.”

Randy Travis Struggled to Break Through

Travis struggled to make much of an impact in the early portion of his career in the late 1970’s. Even a move to Nashville couldn’t change his fortunes as labels looked to more pop-country at the time.

“He believed in the music,” his wife said. “He wasn’t sure he was ever going to get accepted like he wanted to because once you take 10 years of ‘No, no, no, you’re too country,’ where do you go to play country music if you can’t come to Nashville.”

His struggles ended in the mid-1980’s when playing the 1985 Fan Fair in Nashville, she says, he took the stage and started to sing “On the Other Hand,” but the crowd of over 20,000 cut him off with enthusiastic applause.

The song later became his first No. 1 hit.

Randy Travis Suffers From Aphasia

In July 2013, Travis was hospitalized from a viral cardiomyopathy. Just three days later he suffered a near-fatal stroke and underwent surgery to help relieve pressure on his brain, according to Today.

While in physical therapy, Travis developed aphasia, which is a disorder that affects how people communicate.

“It can impact your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language,” the Mayo Clinic described.

Travis won seven and was nominated for 16 Grammys during his Hall of Fame career.

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This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jun 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.