Randy Travis

When Randy Travis debuted with Storms in Life in 1986, his Lefty Frizzell-inspired baritone was deployed atop quiet, down-home, twangy arrangements built upon little more than brushes and acoustic rhythm guitar. But here, as part of the Nightlights Pops series, Travis will front the decidedly uptown -- even potentially bombastic -- Kansas City Symphony. He'll sing his hits (recently collected on the two-disc Trails of Memories set), and he'll still decorate his earnest and intimate phrasing with delicate melisma. On this night, however, with those strings cooing behind him, his declaration of a love bound to last "Forever and Ever, Amen" will sound all the more sincere. And Travis' signature song, the almost-persuaded classic "On the Other Hand," will surely be more tempting than ever.