TRITT'S MUSIC REFLECTS WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE, EXPERIENCES

To Travis Tritt, experiences among blue-collar working people are the notes and lyrics that make his music ring true.

"To me, country music is a soundtrack for the lives of working people," said Tritt. "I'd like to think that I've paid tribute to those folks with this new album."

Tritt was refering to "Trouble", his latest Warner Bros. album, a hard-hitting release with a great deal to say about life and love in America.

Tritt will return for one performance at the Show Me Center Sunday, April 17, at 7 p.m. He will follow Joe Diffie and Lee Roy Parnell.

From the beginning, Tritt has used poignant emotions and everyday situations to create his unique brand of country music. Initial hits like "Country Club" and "Help Me Hold On" led to the 1990 Top New Male Artis award. "Country Club" brought Tritt three numberr one singles before earning platinum status.

The 1991 album "It's All About to Change" took him further, yielding four number one hits and reaching the double platinum mark. In addition, Tritt was the 1991 Country Music Association's Horizon award winner.

Such meteoric success hasn't changed Tritt's style. Evidence of this can be found on "Trouble". Produced by Gregg Brown, the new album develops the musical mix that can be found on Tritt's first two albums. "It all comes from the same blend," he said. "It combines the influences I've had over the years, whether it's the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynrd or Merle Haggard and George Jones. It's all part of what I do."

The single "Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man" is a satiric tune that pokes fun at rising taxes, politicians and related woes, with a host of country notables (George Jones, Porter Wagoner, Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, Little Texas and Brooks & Dunn) joining in for a final rousing chorus.

Combining a timely message with an old-time acoustic feel, "Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man" has all the makings of a country anthem.

Tritt tackles a similar theme on "Blue Collar Man", a bluesy ode to the hard-working life he co-wrote about with Lynrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington. "This one really stands out for me," said Tritt. "I grew up idolizing Skynyrd's music, so writing and recording with Gary was a wonderful experience. We'd never worked together before, but it went great and I enjoyed it completely. Rossington also contributes to "Blue Collar Man" with his guitar work.

"Trouble's title track, a honky tonk song, gives Tritt plenty of room to rock. "Elvis Presley originally recorded "trouble" in the '70s," said Tritt. "It wasn't one of his biggest singles, but it's always been one of my favorite Elvis songs."

Southern rock numbers are balanced with heartfelt ballads that have become a Tritt trademark. "Can I Trust You With My Heart", co-written by Tritt and Stewart Harris, is a confessional love song on a par with his previous hit "Anymore".

Tritt's success didn't come easily. "I guess I would describe my story as a case of overnight success that took eighto-and-a-half years to happen."

He grew up in Marietta, Ga., and followed the classic country road of music as a soloist in the children's choir at the neighborhood church. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of eight and wrote his first song at 14.

Upon graduation from high school in 1981, Tritt went to work loading trucks. Within four years he worked his way up to a management position. He continued to wonder if he had the talent to make it in the country music industry. He finally quit his job and began playing solo at any club that would hire him.

When Ken Kragen, the manager of Kenny Rogers and organizer of "We Are The World", signed Tritt as his first entry-level act in more than 20 years, there was little doubt which direction Tritt would take from there.