Merle Travis

Merle Travis ( born November 29, 1917 in Rosewood, Kentucky, † October 20, 1983 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma) was an American country musician and songwriter.

Merle Travis grew up in poor circumstances in traditionally a mining Muhlenberg County. From local musicians ( among them Ike Everly, father of the Everly Brothers), he took a at that time among white musicians less common guitar playing style: the finger picking. Known representatives were blues or ragtime guitarists such as Blind Blake, Blind Willie McTell and Mississippi John Hurt. The special feature of the finger picking is a bass figure (either a change bass or walking bass ) to play with the thumb of Zupfhand while index finger, middle finger and sometimes the ring finger to strike the three higher strings of the instrument and usually the actual play melody. He popularized the originally of African Americans introduced into the style of music and made ​​it their own, by transferring it to the country music. This game is also referred to as Travis picking. The guitar has been upgraded by the country music of a rhythm to a melody instrument and could - as lead guitar - play a leading role. He was the great model of Chet Atkins, who, in turn, further developed the finger picking.

Its high technical skill talked around quickly, and Travis was a sought-after guitarists. After guest appearances in various local bands, he became in 1938 a member of the Drifting Pioneers based in Cincinnati. Occasionally he played with Grandpa Jones and the Delmore Brothers in a gospel quartet called Browns Ferry Four. During this time, along with Grandpa Jones the first singles were recorded. The beginning of World War II interrupted his career first - Merle Travis was drafted into the Navy.

Career

After completing his military service in 1946 Travis moved to Los Angeles, where he quickly became a sought-after session musician. For the Capitol label in 1946, he took several successful singles. At the same time he took minor film roles. Even as a songwriter he was extremely talented. In 1947, he wrote the classic Sixteen Tons and Dark As A Dungeon, which described the hard life of the miners of Kentucky. In the same year he co-wrote with his friend Tex Williams Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That this made ​​it the top hit.

Merle Travis was one of the first country stars to appoint an electric guitar. The published in 1948 Bigsby guitar that Merle Travis developed together with the technician Paul Bigsby was one of the world's first electric guitars with solid wood body. Musicians from the nearby Bakersfield soon followed his example, and thus developed the Bakersfield sound. Even as an actor, he was still active. In 1953, he took a supporting role in From Here to Eternity and played and sang in this film the Reenlistment Blues.

Although he was no longer represented in the charts, Travis was at the height of his career. He was considered the best and most influential guitarist of Country Music and has participated in numerous recording sessions with. Many great musicians considered him a role model. His private life was turbulent. In a drunken state he had several times clashes with the police. Several marriages failed. It was not until his marriage with ex - wife of his friend Hank Thompson could the life of the now almost sixty years old to steer on track.

One last success came in 1974 with the album produced in collaboration with Chet Atkins Atkins - Travis Travelin ' Show, which was awarded in the following year, with a Grammy. In 1977, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Merle Travis died of a heart attack on October 20, 1983 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma Cherokee Country.

Discography ( albums)

564861
de