Merle Robert Travis
November 29, 1917 / October 20, 1983
Travis was born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon". However, it is his masterful guitar playing and his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky for which he is best known today. "Travis picking", a syncopated style of finger picking, is named after him. Merle Travis is now widely acknowledged as one of the most influential American guitarists of the twentieth century. His unique guitar style inspired many guitarists who followed, most notably Chet Atkins. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
Source: CMT.com
Merle Travis on Wikipedia
Albums:
1947 Folk Songs of the Hills
1956 The Merle Travis Guitar (Instrumental Album)
1957 Back Home (LP reissue of Folk Songs of the Hills plus some songs not released before)
1960 Walkin' the Strings (Acoustic Instrumentals and Songs recorded in the 40s and 50s)
1962 Travis (Compilation of songs recorded in the 40s and 50s)
1963 Songs of the Coal Mines
1964 Merle Travis and Joe Maphis
1967 The Best of Merle Travis
1967 Our Man from Kentucky
1968 Strictly Guitar (Instrumental Album)
1969 Great Songs of the Delmore Brothers (with Johnny Bond)
1974 Merle's Boogie Woogie + 3 (with Ray Campi)
1974 The Atkins - Travis Traveling Show (with Chet Atkins)
1976 Guitar Player Shasta
1979 Country Guitar Giants (with Joe Maphis)
1979 The Merle Travis Story: 24 Greatest Hits
1980 Light Singin' and Heavy Pickin
1980 Guitar Standards
1981 Travis Pickin' (Instrumental Album)
1981 Rough, Rowdy and Blue
1982 Country Guitar Thunder (1977–1981) (with Joe Maphis)
1982 The Clayton McMichen Story (with Mac Wiseman)
1982 Farm and Home Hour (with Grandpa Jones)
"To brighten the future we must illuminate the past."
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