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Of
Merle Travis’ guitar playing, Chet Atkins once wrote, “I
can truthfully say that Merle has been the continuing influence
in everything I’ve tried to do.” Cliffie Stone added,
“No guitarist in the music world is more original. Merle
makes those six strings sound like an entire orchestra.”
Of himself, Merle says simply, “I always liked playing and
writing songs. And it sure was better than working in the mines.”
And there you have it. But even if there weren't coal mines in
Kentucky to leave behind, Merle Travis probably still would have
traveled up North for his first radio appearance, where he played
Tiger Rag, and the beginning of a career that made him an American
institution.
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