Merle Travis

Merle Travis (* 29. November 1917 in Rosewood, Kentucky, † 20. October 1983) was an US-American Country musician and Songwriter.

beginnings

of Merle County buildup in in ärmlichen conditions in the mill mountain coined/shaped by the mining industry. From local musicians (under them Ike Everly, the father of the Everly Brothers) he took over one at the time at that time little well-known guitar play way, the finger Picking. It continued to develop the style originally brought by Afroamerikanern into the music so skillfully that one spoke in the scene of the Travis Picking. The guitar was revalued thereby from a rhythm to a melody instrument and could take over a prominent role - as Lead guitar -. It became in such a way the large model of Chet Atkins, which developed the finger Picking further.

Its high technical being able got around itself fast, and Travis became an in demand guitarist. After appearances in different local volume, he became 1938 member of the Drifting Pioneers resident in Cincinnati. Occasionally it played with Grandpa Jones and the Delmore Brothers in a Gospel quartet with the name Browns Ferry Four. In this time also together with Grandpa Jones the first Singles were brought in. The beginning of the Second World War interrupted first the career. Merl Travis was drawn in to the navy.

career

after end of its military service pulled Travis 1946 to Los Angeles, where it became fast an in demand session musician. For the Capitol label it took up several successful Singles starting from 1946. At the same time he took over smaller Filmrollen. Also as Songwriter it was expressed talentiert. it wrote the classical authors Sixteen of clay/tone and Dark As A Dungeon, which described the hard life of the miners Kentuckys to 1947. In the same year it wrote together with its friend Tex Williams Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!, which made for these the Top hit.

Merle Travis was one the first Country star, that used an electrical guitar. In the year 1948 the Bigsby guitar appeared, which developed Merle Travis as well as the technician Paul Bigsby, is considered today as one of the first adequate E-guitars of the world. Musicians from the nearby Bakersfield followed soon its example and developed so the Bakersfield sound. Also as actors it was further active. 1953 he transferred a Nebenrolle to condemned to all eternity.

Although it was no more in the hit parades represented, was Travis on the high point of its career. It was considered as a best and most influential guitarist of the Country music and participated in numerous photograph sessions. Many large musicians regarded it as model. Its private life ran turbulent. In drunk condition it had several times of collisions with the police. Several marriages failed. Only its marriage with the ex woman of its friend Hank Thompson was able to direct the life meanwhile nearly of the sixty-year old into arranged courses.

A last success succeeded 1974 with together with Chet the Atkins produced album Atkins Travis Travelin show, which was distinguished with a Grammy. 1977 it taken up to the Country music resound to OF Fame. Merle Travis deceased at a heart accumulation to 20. October 1983 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in Cherokee Country.

Diskografie (albums)

• 1947 - Folk Songs OF The Hills (Capitol)
• 1956 - The Merle Travis Guitar (Capitol)
• 1957 - bake Home (Capitol)
• 1960 - Walking The stringer (Capitol)
• 1963 - Songs OF The Coal Mines (Capitol)