Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
On this day, October 20, 1983, Merle Travis died.
This Day in MusicWhat Happened Today In Music
October 20th
1983 - Merle Travis
American country and western singer, songwriter, Merle Travis died of a heart attack aged 65. Acknowledged as one of the most influential American guitarist's of the twentieth century. Wrote 'Sixteen Tons' 1955 US No.1 for Ernie Ford. He appeared in the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity singing ‘Reenlistment Blues’.
October 20th
1983 - Merle Travis
American country and western singer, songwriter, Merle Travis died of a heart attack aged 65. Acknowledged as one of the most influential American guitarist's of the twentieth century. Wrote 'Sixteen Tons' 1955 US No.1 for Ernie Ford. He appeared in the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity singing ‘Reenlistment Blues’.
Merle Robert Travis
Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His song's lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs 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.
{snip}
Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His song's lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs 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.
{snip}
Merle Travis /Speedy West/ Judy Hayden 3 songs 1951
113,361 views Aug 23, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
Merle Travis - Guitar/Vocals
Judy Hayden - Vocals
Speedy West - Steel Guitar
Eddie Kirk - Guitar
Harold Hensley - Fiddle
Danny Alguire - Trumpet
Red Wooten ? - Bass
113,361 views Aug 23, 2016
Chris Clem
1.43K subscribers
Merle Travis - Guitar/Vocals
Judy Hayden - Vocals
Speedy West - Steel Guitar
Eddie Kirk - Guitar
Harold Hensley - Fiddle
Danny Alguire - Trumpet
Red Wooten ? - Bass
Here's a pretty tune, I'll See You in My Dreams, written in 1924:
Merle Travis performs "I'll See You In My Dreams" on "Jubilee U.S.A." TV Show, 1950s
folkarchivist
10.5K subscribers
143,630 views Sep 24, 2010
Merle Travis performs "I'll See You In My Dreams" on "Jubilee U.S.A." TV Show, 1950s.
Check out my blogs at http://publicdomainmoviesandaudio.blo... and http://westernvongestern.blogspot.com for more public domain audio and video.
folkarchivist
10.5K subscribers
143,630 views Sep 24, 2010
Merle Travis performs "I'll See You In My Dreams" on "Jubilee U.S.A." TV Show, 1950s.
Check out my blogs at http://publicdomainmoviesandaudio.blo... and http://westernvongestern.blogspot.com for more public domain audio and video.
For those of you with color monitors:
Merle Travis & Ronnie Prophet "Shiek of Araby"
Backstage Vegas TV
45K subscribers
192,522 views Dec 23, 2007 #MERLETRAVIS #RONNIEPROPHET #bransonmusicfactory
#MERLETRAVIS #RONNIEPROPHET #bransonmusicfactory
Legendary finger style guitar player MERLE TRAVIS performed on "The Ronnie Prophet Show" January 29, 1978
Merle was ill all week while in Toronto, Canada. During the afternoon rehearsals for the show, Merle almost cancelled, but decided at the last minute to do the 2 different "Ronnie Prophet" shows. He wasn't 100% but still gave a great performance! He played four solo instrumentals and then a duet with Ronnie.
Ronnie Prophet was on national television for over fifteen years. His series "GRAND OLD COUNTRY" and "THE RONNIE PROPHET SHOW" was seen nationally across Canada, Great Britain and Australia every week featuring some of the top US and Canadian country music artists.
{snip}
Backstage Vegas TV
45K subscribers
192,522 views Dec 23, 2007 #MERLETRAVIS #RONNIEPROPHET #bransonmusicfactory
#MERLETRAVIS #RONNIEPROPHET #bransonmusicfactory
Legendary finger style guitar player MERLE TRAVIS performed on "The Ronnie Prophet Show" January 29, 1978
Merle was ill all week while in Toronto, Canada. During the afternoon rehearsals for the show, Merle almost cancelled, but decided at the last minute to do the 2 different "Ronnie Prophet" shows. He wasn't 100% but still gave a great performance! He played four solo instrumentals and then a duet with Ronnie.
Ronnie Prophet was on national television for over fifteen years. His series "GRAND OLD COUNTRY" and "THE RONNIE PROPHET SHOW" was seen nationally across Canada, Great Britain and Australia every week featuring some of the top US and Canadian country music artists.
{snip}
I'll See You in My Dreams (1924 song)
"I'll See You in My Dreams" is a popular song. It was written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn, and was published in 1924. Originally recorded by Isham Jones and the Ray Miller Orchestra, it charted for 16 weeks during 1925, spending seven weeks at number 1. Other popular versions in 1925 were by Marion Harris; Paul Whiteman; Ford & Glenn; and Lewis James.
The song was sung by Jeanne Crain in Margie (1946) and was chosen as the title song of the 1951 film I'll See You in My Dreams, a musical biography of Kahn.
Popular recordings of it were made by many leading artists including Cliff Edwards (1), Louis Armstrong, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby (recorded November 27, 1947), Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Mario Lanza, Tony Martin, Anita O'Day, The Platters, Ezio Pinza, Sue Raney, Jerry Lee Lewis (1958, instrumental), Andy Williams, and Linda Scott. A "Texas Swing" version of the song was recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
The song was also recorded by Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, and inspired Merle Travis to record it as a guitar instrumental. Many other guitarists including Chet Atkins and Thom Bresh followed in Merle's footsteps. Michel Lelong, a French guitarist, published the first tab of this Travis' arrangement for the American publisher/guitarist Stefan Grossman's Guitare Workshop during the 1980s, following by Thom Bresh (Merle Travis 's son) for Homespun Tapes, and Marcel Dadi for Stefan Grossman 's Guitar Worshop.
It was recorded by Mario Lanza on his Coca-Cola Show of 1951-2 and is available on a compilation album mastered from those same shows, and featuring the same title, I'll See You in My Dreams, released by BMG in 1998.
An early version was recorded by Hawaiian steel guitar originator Joseph Kekuku in 1925.
"I'll See You in My Dreams" is a popular song. It was written by Isham Jones, with lyrics by Gus Kahn, and was published in 1924. Originally recorded by Isham Jones and the Ray Miller Orchestra, it charted for 16 weeks during 1925, spending seven weeks at number 1. Other popular versions in 1925 were by Marion Harris; Paul Whiteman; Ford & Glenn; and Lewis James.
The song was sung by Jeanne Crain in Margie (1946) and was chosen as the title song of the 1951 film I'll See You in My Dreams, a musical biography of Kahn.
Popular recordings of it were made by many leading artists including Cliff Edwards (1), Louis Armstrong, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby (recorded November 27, 1947), Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Mario Lanza, Tony Martin, Anita O'Day, The Platters, Ezio Pinza, Sue Raney, Jerry Lee Lewis (1958, instrumental), Andy Williams, and Linda Scott. A "Texas Swing" version of the song was recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
The song was also recorded by Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, and inspired Merle Travis to record it as a guitar instrumental. Many other guitarists including Chet Atkins and Thom Bresh followed in Merle's footsteps. Michel Lelong, a French guitarist, published the first tab of this Travis' arrangement for the American publisher/guitarist Stefan Grossman's Guitare Workshop during the 1980s, following by Thom Bresh (Merle Travis 's son) for Homespun Tapes, and Marcel Dadi for Stefan Grossman 's Guitar Worshop.
It was recorded by Mario Lanza on his Coca-Cola Show of 1951-2 and is available on a compilation album mastered from those same shows, and featuring the same title, I'll See You in My Dreams, released by BMG in 1998.
An early version was recorded by Hawaiian steel guitar originator Joseph Kekuku in 1925.
(1) mentioned in the DU Lounge just a few days ago {in 2017}: {who can point me to that thread?}
Thu Oct 17, 2024: On this day, October 17, 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford's version of "Sixteen Tons" was released.
Thu Oct 17, 2024: On this day, October 17, 1991, Tennessee Ernie Ford died.
Fri Oct 20, 2023: On this day, October 20, 1983, Merle Travis died.
Tue Nov 29, 2022: On this day, November 29, 1917, Merle Travis was born.
Tues Nov 15, 2022: On this day, November 15, 2003, Speedy West died.
Fri Oct 20, 2017: October 20: This Day in Music