SILVER TRAVIS BAND SWINGS BACK WITH CD. (Spartanburg Herald June 10, 2006)
Members of the Silver Travis Band have experienced more of the ups and downs of music than the crescendo of lead guitarist Randall Calvert's hot licks.
Their name was adopted by mistake, and they took a 23-year break from performing before recording their first CD, released by Mountain Records.
Even the CD's name hints at obstacles they have overcome. "One Monkey Don't Spoil the Show" is a mix of Southern rock, country and blues that band members call their unique sound.
They say the setbacks have only made them stronger.
In 1981, lead singer Rick Cash, lead guitarist Randall Calvert, bass guitarist Joey Parrish, keyboard player Terry Collins and drummer Mike Satterfield formed the band.
Most were teenagers, and they soon decided on a name to honor the memory of a Civil War general.
Through a misunderstanding, they chose Travis, thinking it was the name of Robert E. Lee's horse, and they threw in the color, silver, to dress it up a little.
"Then we found out that Robert E. Lee's horse was Traveller. But it was too late. We already had T-shirts printed," Calvert said.
The band still laughs about the misnomer, and Collins tries to recover from the faux pas by offering another explanation.
"Or, we could say that we're named for Travis Henry, the NFL running back," Collins said. "Well, maybe not."
With a name in place, the band members quit their real jobs -- as grocery store bag boys -- and left their homes in the Spartanburg area for Myrtle Beach's famed bar, the Bowery.
The legendary band Alabama had hit the big time after playing the Bowery, and Silver Travis, already strongly influenced by the sound of Spartanburg's original Marshall Tucker Band, hoped to follow their lead.
The gig lasted about two weeks before they ate up their tip money, Parrish said.
Their bus broke down in Clinton on the return from Myrtle Beach.
They, however, remained determined, and a couple of road trips followed.
One memorable venture wound through West Virginia, where band members described six-inch snowflakes visible through the windshield of their vehicle.
When they passed the vehicle ahead of theirs, they soon realized it was not snowing.
They had been following a truck hauling chickens, and feathers were flying.
But the snow soon set in -- more than any of them had seen. They were socked in for two weeks.
A couple of years passed, and the band members parted. No one can recall any particular reason.
They kept in touch over the years, and a series of phone calls in 2004 lead to a revival.
Silver Travis has an extended and combined list of performers they have taken the stage with or opened for, including Marshall Tucker Band members, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, the Toy Caldwell Band members, Tommy Crain with the Charlie Daniels Band and Bonnie Bramlett.
In the early days, they rehearsed at the home of Calvert's parents, Allen and Barbara Calvert.
Allen Calvert said he often could not get into his driveway because of the band's cars.
He said the music was loud but did not bother him, and he continues to support Silver Travis.
Barbara Calvert, however, often had to pull the plug when bedtime arrived.
"She would shut off the power, so she could get some sleep," Allen Calvert said.
Mark Calvert, Randall Calvert's younger brother, had a bedroom over the basement where the band jammed.
Allen Calvert said that his youngest son would begin jumping up and down mischievously and finally caused a fluorescent light on the ceiling below to crash onto the basement floor.
"Yeah, I remember. Almost hit my head," Satterfield said.
The reunion has led to much reminiscing by family and friends.
"It's all been a lot of fun over the years. I love their sound. They have a natural talent," Allen Calvert said.
Mark Calvert is now the band's stage manager.
"We all grew up listening to the Marshall Tucker Band. I hung out with Silver Travis most of my life. I liked to aggravate them; now I work with them," Mark Calvert said.
Booking agent Mark Godbee, nicknamed Gumby by the band, said Silver Travis sometimes is described as up and coming.
"But they've already arrived. They are beginning to reach a younger crowd. They have a sound that is for a mix of ages, and their following is growing," Godbee said.
More information on the band and CD that contains its original music is available at www.silvertravis.com, he said.
Greg Bridges, sound and light technician, said more than 80 percent of the songs played by the band are original.
"They are the best I've ever mixed sound with. This is a hobby now. We're not quitting our jobs, yet. We're talking about performing a couple of weekends a month," Bridges said.
At a benefit concert in Jonesville on June 3, Crystal Prince, who is 2 years old, showed her appreciation on behalf of the younger set.
She stood in her chair and bounced to the beat, trying to snap her fingers, following the instructions of her great-grandmother, Patsy Bates.
And Caleb Robinson, 15, of Roebuck checked out the band's T-shirt and CD displays.
"I like country, and I think these guys are great," Robinson said.
The newest band member, John Gillie, said their music is a result of what works well for each of them.
"When somebody brings something to the table, we listen. At first, we might not agree, but collectively we work it out and make it sound really good. Every band member contributes," Gillie said.
Mark Calvert describes the band's music as capable of making the hair stand up on one's neck.
"I think we were given music -- first -- for worship. I think it's good therapy. Life deals us some hard cards, sometime. Music often helps us," he said.
Janet Spencer - Spartanburg Herald Journal (Jun 10, 2006)