Merle Travis Celebration with Thom Bresh, Eddie Pennington, and more: WoodSongs 860

MERLE TRAVIS is a Kentucky guitar hero and an American music icon. Born in Rosewood, Ky his lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of 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 masterly guitar playing and his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky for which he is best known today. “Travis picking”, a syncopated style of finger-picking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977.
THOM BRESH is the son of Merle Travis and a world-class guitar master in his own right. Bresh did not begin his music career until his adult years. From age 3 to age 17, he worked as an actor and one of the youngest stuntman in TV and movies, where such programs as The Lone Ranger and the Billy the Kidd trilogy were filmed. Ever since he was old enough to hold a guitar pick, he’s followed the unique fingerpicking style his father made famous, bringing it to new audiences. Travis’ trademark style incorporated elements of ragtime, blues, boogie, and Western swing, and was marked by rich chord progressions, harmonics, slides, and bends, with rapid changes in key.
EDDIE PENNINGTON is one of the true guitar legends from Kentucky in the same tradition popularized by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.
PARKER HASTINGS is only 15 years old and already one of Kentucky’s premier thumbpicking champions in the tradition of Merle Travis, Eddie Pennington and Tommy Emmanuel.
KATELYN PRIEBOY is 19 and from Tampa, Florida. She was recently crowned grand champion at Legends Thumbpicking Competition in Muhlenberg County, Ky., in late September.

[@EPHEN-STEPHEN]

Been 40 years. RIP MERLE Just recently. RIP THOM - FATHER and SON - 🌹

[@R.L.KRANESCHRADTT]

RIP Thom Bresh.... A great talent, under appreciated in his lifetime but left a tall legacy, gone too soon, waay to soon. Pick-on bro, pick-on.

[@RedDirtRules]

Rest in Peace Thom Bresh... You were a great artist and will be missed ❤️🙏

[@Bluesman76]

Eddie sure is fire on the strings !!!!

[@Pickinbuddy]

Fabulous--I'm a HUGE Merle Travis fan!

[@yahuchanonyakov]

Parker Hastings has been on so many episodes of W.S....and rightfully so.... Very talented young man.

[@SeamusAndrewMurphy]

I love watching and listening to Eddie Pennington. What a treat!

[@phil36135]

I love Wood Song, I've been watching for years and really dig your shows. I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old in 1972. Doc Watson Merle Travis, Che Atkins, and Author Smith, were my heros to name a few. It has been a wonderful musical journey that brought joy, beauty, happiness, and love to my life.I encourage anybody and every one, young and old to take advantage of the gift of music from our creator. It will lift your soul and put happiness and meaning in your life.

[@Opry99er]

Epic. These are some of my heroes...

[@Bluesman76]

thanks for this ....this is music. ...over the rainbow in thumbpicking !!!!

[@BeingRomans829ed]

Eddie Pennington is the most "Travis" Travis picker I know of. Such a pleasure to listen to. I have his "Walks the Strings" CD in my car and I'm wearing it out (if it's possible to wear out a CD).

[@GameLevelEditor]

Thom Bresh has the perfect talk singing type of voice for that thumbpicking style I've always thought :) All of these guitarist are great!

[@thomaswalz3515]

Thank you! Much like Merle, I was influenced by a thumb+index picker, Rev. Gary Davis. Like Mr. Bresh, I started using more fingers. This show is a keeper. Every player, blowing me away, teaching me something, with every tune. BTW, I'm 71... still learning. Music is endlessly challenging. Singing is my passion now. Pablo Cassals, at 94, was asked why he practices 5 hours a day, said, "I think I'm catching on." What's that say about music, or any art, for that matter. Rock on... practice, daily. The more time we put in, the more music we put out.

[@johntrik]

Prayers for Mr.Thom Bresh . . . .

[@jayheinz4624]

Thanks Michael and Wood Songs! I love this! Yes, it's truly a happy music that ministers to my soul, especially during the times! I met Thom many years back & saw him in concert twice in Bismarck ND. He Inspired me to learn the Travis style back then, and it's a wonderful journey I am still continuing on. Thanks Thom 🎶🙏rest in peace 🎶🎸🐦

[@jamesbattiest3885]

Michael thanks having thom bresh on the program its been 5 years since I talk 2 him and seen him in concert he is missed

[@Whiskers1949]

I feel lucky to be acquainted with all four performers. I first met brother Eddie in about 1990 and have talked to him numerous times. Bresh came to play in Chattanooga one time. He couldn't find the poorly marked venue. After I saw him drive by in his black 300, which he called "Edgar the Wonder Car" I went out and flagged him down. We had an interesting conversation. During intermission of the show he walked over and handed me his new HD-28 Bigsby and said "look it over and pass it around".

[@steby123]

It took a big truck to bring that much talent to just one stage !!!!

[@TheDonz1943]

I could listen to Eddie Pick all Day but of course i'm just a little Partial to him. His Mother and My Father were Brother and Sister and the Super Great Eddie Pennington is my Legendary Cousin

[@billgreen6263]

All I can say is WOW!!!!!

[@stringbender57]

What a great show! I had the privilege of meeting Eddie Pennington, Parker Hastings and Katelyn Prieboy at the 2022 CAAS (Chet Atkins Appreciation Society) convention in Nashville. Sadly, Thom Bresh passed earlier in the year, and I missed out on meeting him. All amazing thumbstyle pickers. I am so glad this style is alive and well and thank 'Woodsongs' for having great taste and producing this fine show. I am now practicing thumbstyle guitar with the goal of becoming proficient and passing it down to others, thus helping to keep it alive for years to come.

[@juliojames5986]

That young gal is defiantly a talent….super good ! 👍🏻

[@cookstaley5385]

RIP Thom Bresh !!

[@michaeldavidson1146]

Great Show !!! Thank You !!!

[@The1Ox]

Thank You!!! One of the finest shows honoring Merle Travis! Awesome dawesome! God bless you all~

[@jamesbattiest4798]

I had the pleasure to meet them bresh one time he can play it was agreat show

[@davidjessee7701]

Being a kentuckian ... I approve this video.. Katlyn is a great little picker.. Mentioning Steve Wariner.. my hometown is the same town that Steve's family comes from.. I've seen him in concert several times.. hes definitely a CGP..

[@maxmiguel500]

All really great ! Katelyn has a metronome for a thumb ! So good

[@robertlee8042]

Nice to see Thom slimming down. I love the way he plays. He has the best thumb in the world. That may seem like a small thing. It’s not. Merle was one of the first. And a composer. But everyone who can play today plays as well or better. But Merle is history. As are Everly and Rager.

[@Welinwms]

😮

[@robcale8165]

Right when you think Thom couldn't give any more to what was laid at his feet, he proves his worth.

[@whimpypatrol5503]

I am not a tree hugger. But when I was breaking into the music industry, I had moved into my one-with-nature, frank Lloyd Wright style, mid-century modern home in Mill Valley. Living there amongst the trees in the beverly hills of rock stars, I was running down the dipsea trail that runs from the ridge overlooking Muir Woods into town. I was desperate to catch my ride to a Buddhist meeting down in the San Francisco Peninsula. But I inadvertently (not thinking straight) did the unthinkable 🥺 and pleaded with Jesus as I was running who answered me with his divine peace and joy! Hug all you want, Jesus was the one nailed to a tree along with all my offenses. When he died, my offenses were put to death along with him. There is no other avenue for anyone to reach the Father and his divine joy except thru Jesus and his righteousness.

[@robertrohrs9195]

I've always thought it funny that people who use two fingers and thumb to pick say they are Travis picking. He was an American Treasure.

[@RonnieDean60]

On the 1 year anniversary of Thom Bresh's death, here are some tunes he played on our Nashville Side Streets show back in 2015. He clearly had a blast showing off his talents for us--He is a phenomenal entertainer! kzbin.info/door/awRR9ZxqIkrL8Qenq6WcMA

[@jayheinz4624]

That's cool, I will check it out. 👍 I met Thom about twenty years back up here in Bismarck North Dakota where he performed fireman's fund raiser. He open my eyes to the amazing happy Travis style of playing. Which I am truly grateful for🙏 And I've been on a journey with it ever since. 🎶🎸🐦

[@ShotaEnoshima]

37:37 parker hastings 「kentucky」

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Does anyone know what amp Travis played on the youtube video: Merle Travis and Ronnie Prophet "Shiek of Araby" ??? Whatever it was, it was perfect for his super 400. And does anyone know if Travis was playing his original super 400 or his new maple top and center block super 400 in that same video??? Maybe his son would know.

[@thomaswalz3515]

IMHO, gear doesn't matter. It's all in your hands, heart, soul. Practice more.

[@skylaneav8r902]

Why does the host guy have a bronze star on the right pocket of his jacket? Is he a veteran? Curious.

[@donjones3824]

I don’t know,, but every time I hear Thom Bresh speak, he sounds like he’s just sneaked one or two from the old hip flask!

[@pistoFF]

👏👏👏👏🫶

[@shotanakaumi]

37:45 ケンタッキー

[@skl-cc3pb]

ケンタッキー 37:37