Biography
Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 β October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, Kentucky, United States. His songs' lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs and recordings are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues", "I am a Pilgrim" and "Dark as a Dungeon". However, it is his unique guitar style, still called "Travis picking" by guitarists, as well as his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, for which he is best known today. Travis picking is a syncopated style of guitar fingerpicking rooted in ragtime music in which alternating chords and bass notes are plucked by the thumb while melodies are simultaneously plucked by the index finger. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
Filmography
all 16
Movies 16
self 4
Merle Travis: Guitar Man (2016)
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience (1984)
Harlan County U.S.A. (1977)
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976 (1976)
That Tennessee Beat (1966)
The Night Rider (1962)
Five Minutes to Live (1961)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Cyclone Fury (1951)
Old Chisholm Trail (1946)
Silver Spurs (1946)
Lone Star Moonlight (1946)
Galloping Thunder (1946)
Roaring Rangers (1946)
Why Did I Fall for Abner? (1945)
Montana Plains (1944)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1917-11-29
Deathday1983-10-20 (65 years old)
Birth PlaceMuhlenberg County, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
AwardsGrammy Award, Grammy Awards
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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