Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the exploitation of coal miners. Some of the songs he wrote or performed include: "Sixteen Tons", "Dark as a Dungeon", "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", and "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette"; however, it is his masterful guitar playing that he is best known for today. "Travis picking", a style of guitar 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.
Cannonball Rag
Merle Travis Lyrics
Instrumental
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@Bluesman76
That sound ...nobody ever will play guitar like him . The master .Gibson super special 400 n standel perfect !
@rgentry11
My dad who was a pretty good guitarist used to play this song when I was a kid. He loved Merle Travis and Chet Atkinson
@theoriginalbadbob
And they STILL call it "Travis picking" today.
@tenbroeck1958
Merle Travis really started what became known as Travis Picking or Atkins Picking. He was amazing. Anyone who loves modern country music should listen and learn, to keep the tradition going. The more music evolves, the more it needs a bit of the past to keep it country.
@ZalMoxis
Just a casual stroll in the park for ol' Merle......
@RYDERLOCO889
You know somebody's gangsta when they have their name on a guitar
@miropribanic5581
unplayable! dangerous (he made millions addicted to the six string)! legendary! keep these reels in your safe.
@JoseRamirez-fi2nf
been combing through YouTube to find a decent cover of this. The best I could find didn't have the bassline played. Mr. Travis was on another level !
@elis6299
Listen to Richard Smith performing this
@tidepoolbay
Merle was a Great Guitarist! WooF!