Oral history interview with Merle Travis; 1975 October 17; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 1975 Oct. 17.

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Oral history interview with Merle Travis; 1975 October 17; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. 1975 Oct. 17.

Guitarist Merle Travis discusses his career. Discussion includes early musical influences Mose Rager and Ike Everly; the start of his guitar and banjo playing; his guitars; his association with Leo Fender; joining Clayton McMichen's Georgia Wildcats; the Brown's Ferry Four; recording for Sid Nathan and King Records; signing with Capitol Records; his songwriting, including "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)"; the story behind his Grand Ole Opry membership; changes in country music performance styles; his assessment of his role as an influential guitarist; the importance of early radio shows to country music; and the evolution of the country song.

3 sound cassettes (2 hours, 18 minutes)

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Travis, Merle

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c24tnw (person)

Guitarist, songwriter, and performer. Born November 29, 1917. Died October 20, 1983. Full name: Merle Robert Travis. As a leading exponent of the thumb-style guitar technique, his innovative style influenced generations of guitar players. Songwriting credits include the classics "Sixteen Tons," "Dark as a Dungeon," and "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)." Member, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Member, Country Music Hall of Fame. From the description of Oral history interview ...

Travis, Merle

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c24tnw (person)

Guitarist, songwriter, and performer. Born November 29, 1917. Died October 20, 1983. Full name: Merle Robert Travis. As a leading exponent of the thumb-style guitar technique, his innovative style influenced generations of guitar players. Songwriting credits include the classics "Sixteen Tons," "Dark as a Dungeon," and "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)." Member, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Member, Country Music Hall of Fame. From the description of Oral history interview ...

Green, Douglas B.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63r0qrw (person)

Country music performer. Born March 20, 1946. Best-known as Ranger Doug from Riders in the Sky, a cowboy revival act he co-founded in 1977. Performed as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys during the late 1960s. Recording credits include a solo album, Songs of the Sage, released on the Warner Western label in 1997. From the description of Oral history interview with Douglas B. Green; 1993 November 23; interview with John W. Rumble. 1993 Nov. 23. (Country Music Foundation, Libra...