TRAVIS TRITT

"Dude, I knew you could sing, but I had no idea you could do that blue-eyed soul thing!" Producer Randy Jackson paid that compliment to Travis Tritt, after recording a duet between Tritt and soul man Sam Moore for Moore's 2006 album, Overnight Sensational. Then he made a suggestion. "If you ever want to do an album that puts a bigger spotlight on that," Jackson said, "I'd love to work on it with you." The end result of that conversation is The Storm, Tritt's widely-praised 2007 release. Tritt and Jackson teamed up to create a powerhouse collection of songs that emphasize the irresistible soul side of Tritt's singing. It's a card that has always been in Tritt's stylistic deck, but one that has often been overlooked by listeners unfamiliar with the deep musical links between country and R&B, particularly in the South. And in Jackson, Tritt found the ideal collaborator. Before he gained acclaim for his role as a judge on "American Idol," Jackson had played bass with artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Journey. Demonstrating that type of range is precisely the aim of The Storm.