KET Kentucky Muse - "Merle Travis, Guitar Man" (thumbpicking guitar legend)

Copyright KET - Creative Property of Kentucky Educational Television
not my content. Just want to share with Thumbpicking community.
Please contact channel before issuing a copyright strike. Will gladly remove video.

[@guermeisterdoodlebug7980]

While I was in Vietnam in 1967 Merle Travis, my idol since childhood in the 1950s, came to entertain the troops. One evening I watched him play outdoors on on a flatbed truck.

[@loggedout4740]

‘67!? Dang brother, Charlie’s balls hadn’t even dropped you was already in country! God Bless you and yours from a fellow Vet living good right between the birthplace of Bill Monroe and Merle Travis

[@w.l.graves7228]

thanks so much for this terrific program ! i've been following merle for 60 years , he has been an inspiration to me , and to millions of guitar players and music lovers around the globe !

[@ajdogcurr1]

I had heard of and seen Merle Travis on some tv shows before. What never knew or realized was what a great pioneer and inspiration to others that he was.

[@Pickinbuddy]

A fabulous documentary--very well done!

[@lindawoody8501]

Well, Thom is up in Heaven pickin' with his Daddy now. Such a nice thing we have video of both.

[@billyrader2560]

I’ve watched this video over and over again, and will never tire of it. Being a person myself that’s played guitar since the age of 5, has made me realize that the older I get, the more I’m drawn to the talent and style of Travis’ thumb picking. His unique wittiness, charisma, humor, achievements, and humble approach to everything he did is unequaled by any other artist or songwriter on this earth. While it’s true that the other famous Merle, (Merle Haggard, is defined as the poet of the common man). A valid point can be made that Merle Travis was the original poet of the common man. The substance of Travis’ lyrics, along with the simplicity of his melodies and charismatic charm mixed with his common sense approach to life, is more than enough to captivate me. The older I get, the more I appreciate the many talents of Merle Travis. Thom Bresh’ personal stories and facts regarding his father Merle Travis; contributed an incredible amount of substance in this documentary.

[@truckdaddy1957]

Merle Travis came to Grammar Indiana every Sunday afternoon. Through the persons of my in-laws Leonard and Barbara Newman. They knew every Merle Travis song ever written. My guess is that Merle visited lots and lots of living rooms ,garages and jam sessions. He ever makes it to my little music room on a regular basis. Thanks Merle.

[@martinspencer366]

He's up there with the greatest guitarists ever. Along with Chet, his legacy to American music is incalculable.

[@flippatmedbernt]

I’m deeply thankful for this movie telling the history of guitar thumbpick and so much more! It’s unique

[@steveclark2662]

Great documentary... Greetings from the UK ... Love Merle Travis

[@henryfaulkner6051]

Great Country Music History..!

[@ddmr7902]

Thank you, as I've only recently discovered the works of Merle Travis. I enjoy learning about early country & western musicians and appreciate well-made documentaries as this film is.

[@Bluesman76]

GREAT , THANKS FOR THIS

[@jodyaustin9063]

I grew up with listen most all kind of music, Travis, if you come across him in the middle of just about anything he does. It seems like you want to know what's next. Thank you Mr Travis

[@johntcash]

That’s Thom Bresh talking as Merle

[@billyrader2560]

Incredible and well produced!

[@MrNYaksich]

Thanks for this!

[@billday6744]

Take a look at Travis / Paul Bigsby solid body guitar head stock looks like a strat and the body looks like a les paul it pre dates fender and gibson by at least 3 yrs he deserves credit for it

[@davidbrock6025]

Yes Merle Travis came up with that head stock, it didn’t make sense to him to put 3 tuning keys under head stock making it harder to tune his guitar put all 6 on the top side making it easier to tune

[@monmixer]

Grandpa Jones used to be a member of the Wheeling Jamboree stable of musicians. I have worked in a theatre that hosted the Wheeling Jamboree since 1976 and still do. That was after Grandpa Jones left. I never heard much about Merle Travis back then. I guess he blew by that stepping stone the Opry and Nashville which was where all these people really wanted to go. Grandpa Jones went to Hee Haw.

[@richardperkins5046]

Muhlenberg County made famous by John Prine. Paradise.

[@walterbriggs272]

Such an amazing man. I didn’t know he had daughters, and I wonder if they got along with Thom. The more I learn, the more I want to play that old guitar

[@martinspencer366]

I love Thoms stories about Merle. Hilarious.

[@johnmoyer5515]

Old friends owned sleepy hollow ranch quakertown pa. The newman family. One of the their kids taught me No Vacancy at the phliiy folk fest we camped together long time ago.

[@SuperOlds88]

Arnold Schultz(sp) doesn't get enough credit. More is probably not known but just because he may not have used an actual thumbpick doesnt mean he wasn't playing in Mr. Travis's style or vice versa.

[@juliojames5986]

Very interesting…. When and where did western clothing, cowboy style boots, etc, come along ? It did not come from the south, was it Hollywood ? ?

[@mikemilton9841]

I watch ALL the music videos. I wonder why none of them ever mention JOE MAPHIS. Just wondering cause I personally think he was great too. But what the hell I know

[@ronaldpetrin5823]

Is there a truck drivin version called "16" wheels...? 2021 May gas shortages & hording. Thank you for posting!

[@travis8947]

Six Days on the Road is what you’re lookin for, buddy And it’s ‘hoarding’

[@simonvanderheijden432]

@@travis8947 Testify!!!

[@TheCommonSenseProfessor]

Hey I know who Grinner is. You must be from Muhlenberg.

[@intensionality]

oh jeez. Folk Songs of the Hills, the real Merle? He was very irritated with the whole project, quite at variance with everything " the real Merle" had been doing for years.

[@intensionality]

a lot of BS in this vid. e.g., blues was nothing special about Merle; blues had been part of old time music since at least 10 years before Robert Johnson's recording. gospel? the clapping, the call & refrain are found in dozens of secular vids from this period. & jazz, some special Travis innovation? Spade Cooley? Bob Wills?

[@user-ey2iw7tm2c]

THUMB PICKING IS WAY OLDER THAN ANY AMERICAN. MY GRANDMOTHER PLAYED THE STEEL STRING GUITAR BEFORE MEREL TRAVIS. TWO HAND GUITAR PLAYING IS AS OLD AS THE GUITAR AND YOU MUST INCLUDE THE BANGING ON THE GUITAR,… MY FAMILY IS BASQUE AND WE ARE FROM SAN SABASTIAN AND BIARRITZ SPAIN. SHEEP FARMERS WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1870’s. I LOVE THE KENTUCKY STYLE!!!!