Deke Dickerson kept wondering why nobody had written a comprehensive biography of Merle Travis. Dickerson is a gifted musician, guitar expert, and music historian. Merle Travis was an influential ...

A look back at the career of country music star and Kentucky native Merle Travis. This program looks back at the extraordinary career of Merle Travis, the Kentucky guitarist and songwriter best known ...

Popularized in 1955 by country singer Tennessee Ernie Ford, “Sixteen Tons” offers a glimpse into the stark realities of a coal miner working in the mines of Rosewood, Kentucky. Ford’s version reached ...

The guitar is a wonderful ensemble instrument, and as the theme of this year’s Bethlehem Guitar Festival attests, perfectly suited for a duo. But many fingerstyle guitarists, including Grammy and ...

Country musician and song writer Merle Travis enjoyed eating at Nikki’s Drive Inn on Cherokee Boulevard when he was traveling through Chattanooga. It was in early 1966 when Travis came to entertain at ...

Merle Travis' influence stretches much further than his name recognition and record sales suggest. Cited as an inspiration by everyone from Chet Atkins to Scotty Moore to Leo Fender, who based his ...

The Reverend Horton Heat, also known as Jim Heath, has long said he’s a fan of Vancouver, declaring it one of the best cities he plays. Ask him why, and—besides the usual suspects like scenery, sushi, ...

Merle Watson has a strong set of credentials for a young musician. Besides being the 24-year-old son of the preeminent guitar picker, Doc Watson, Merle is also his father’s extremely competent ...