POP MUSIC REVIEW : TRAVIS NEEDS TIME TO DISCOVER HIMSELF

Everyone loves a winner. So Randy Travis already had a capacity crowd in his corner when he walked on stage at the Crazy Horse Steak House in Santa Ana on Tuesday, one night after winning four top awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards show.

But such industry and popular acceptance so early in a career can engender almost impossibly high expectations. As a result, Tuesday’s performance by the 28-year-old singer from North Carolina only hinted at the greatness suggested by the hyperbole that has dubbed him the heir apparent to such country greats as Lefty Frizzell, George Jones and Merle Haggard.

As on his debut album, “Storms of Life,” Travis in concert echoed Jones and Haggard far too much for comfort. Yet while Travis possesses the sound of a great singer, he hasn’t developed the control, shading and maturity required to bring authenticity to a lyric like “The storms of life are washing me away.”

But that’s the trouble with expectation-inflation. Taken on his own terms, as a newcomer who was virtually unknown just a year ago, Travis is a personable performer with loads of potential.

It would be a shame if all the awards and applause lead Travis into the valley of the shadow of repetition. What he needs now is not pressure to win more awards, but the chance to explore his own identity, perhaps make a few mistakes and ultimately--and literally--discover his own voice.