Travis Meadows

Travis Meadows (born 1965) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released four albums, as well as writing songs for other country artists.

Early life[]

Meadows was born in 1965 in Mississippi, growing up in Jackson.^[1][2] He began using drugs at an early age,^[1] and when he was 14, he was diagnosed with bone cancer, which eventually led to the loss of most of his right leg.^[1]

Music career[]

At the age of 16, he began playing in local bands, starting his musical career as a drummer before beginning to play the harmonica and guitar by the time he was 21.^[2] During his early 20s, he performed with blues musicians such as Sam Myers, and moved to Gatlinburg, where he began writing songs.^[2] In his mid-20s, Meadows became a Christian missionary and later a preacher, traveling around the United States and overseas, as well as writing and performing Christian music.^[2] By his late 30s, however, he had become disenchanted with the church, and moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career.^[2] He signed a contract with Universal Music Publishing, but at the same time his life-long drinking and drug habits led to a multi-year descent into alcoholism and abuse.^[1] After four trips to rehab, he succeeded in regaining sobriety in 2010.^[1]

In 2011, Meadows released a studio album, titled Killin' Uncle Buzzy, written in 2010 while he was recovering from his alcohol addiction during his fourth period in rehab.^[1] According to Meadows, a counselor had suggested keeping a journal, which led to him writing songs instead.^[1] In 2013, after his songwriting contract with Universal expired, he began writing independently before signing with independent record label Kobalt Music and releasing a third album, Old Ghosts & Unfinished Business.^[2]

In 2017, Meadows released his fourth album, First Cigarette. The album was produced by Jeremy Spillman and assisted by Jay Joyce, and it the first album by Meadows to receive label support.^[3] It is also his first album to appear on Billboard charts, reaching No. 21 on Heatseekers Albums and No. 48 on Independent Albums. It sold 1,100 albums in its debut week,^[4] reaching No. 17 on Americana/Folk Album Sales and No. 34 on Country Album Sales.^[5]

In 2021, Earache Records reissued Killin' Uncle Buzzy for its 10th Anniversary, on CD and black and limited edition clear vinyl (release date: April 30). This was the first time the album had been available on vinyl and released via a record label.^[6][7]

Television appearances[]

In 2016, Travis Meadows was featured in an episode of the television show American Elements.^[8]

Discography[]

Albums/EPs[]

Songs Recorded by Other Artists[]

In addition to his solo work, Meadows has written songs for other country musicians.

References[]