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Merle Travis

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Musician

The Resume

    (November 29, 1917-October 20, 1983)
    Born in Rosewood, Kentucky
    Country guitarist/singer/songwriter
    Member of the Brown's Ferry Four gospel group (1946-52)
    Recorded the albums 'Folk Songs of the Hills' (1947), 'The Merle Travis Guitar' (1956), 'Walkin' the Strings' (1960), 'Songs of the Coal Mines' (1963), 'Our Man From Kentucky' (1967), 'Strictly Guitar' (1968) and 'The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show' (1974)
    Recorded the songs 'Cincinnati Lou,' 'No Vacancy,' 'Divorce Me C.O.D.,' So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed,' 'Steel Guitar Rag,' 'Three Times Seven,' 'Fat Girl,' 'Merle's Boogie Woogie,' 'Crazy Boogie,' 'Dark as a Dungeon' and 'Sixteen Tons'
    Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1977)
    Appeared in the film 'From Here To Eternity' (1953) singing 'Re-Enlistment Blues'

Why he might be annoying:

    He and Grandpa Jones recorded as 'The Sheppard Brothers' despite not being related.
    Several of his hits as a singer were novelty songs.
    He was busted multiple times for public intoxication and driving drunk (usually on his motorcycle).
    He was married four times, divorced three.
    He was arrested following a standoff with police after assaulting his wife (1956).

Why he might not be annoying:

    Growing up poor as the son of a coal miner inspired several of his songs, notably 'Dark As A Dungeon' and 'Sixteen Tons.'
    He was one of the most influential country guitarists, developing a finger picking technique known as (what else) Travis picking.
    He designed an early solid-body electric guitar that was later perfected by Leo Fender.
    He had two #1 country hits as a performer ('Divorce Me C.O.D.' and 'So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed') and two #1 pop hits as a songwriter (Tex Williams' 'Smoke, Smoke, Smoke [That Cigarette]' and Tennessee Ernie Ford's 'Sixteen Tons').
    He made a comeback in the 70s that culminated in winning a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental for his duet album with Chet Atkins (1975).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 75 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying