MUSICIAN

Merle Travis

1917 - 1983

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Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, actor, and guitarist. Born in Rosewood, Kentucky, his songs' lyrics were often about the lives and the economic exploitation of American coal miners. Among his many well-known songs and recordings are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues", "I Am a Pilgrim", and "Dark as a Dungeon". He is best known today, though, for his unique guitar style, still called Travis picking by guitarists, as well as his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Merle Travis is the 2,198th most popular musician (down from 2,057th in 2019), the 11,951st most popular biography from United States (down from 10,667th in 2019) and the 888th most popular American Musician.

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Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Merle Travis ranks 2,198 out of 3,175. Before him are Mike Bordin, Sarah McLachlan, Andy Powell, Alex Christensen, Marshmello, and Marcella Detroit. After him are Earl Hooker, St. Vincent, Billy Higgins, Jeffrey Hammond, Dee Palmer, and Rod Temperton.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1917, Merle Travis ranks 329. Before him are Denis Healey, Valerie Hobson, Brenda Joyce, W. T. Tutte, Elyse Knox, and Leonard Chess. After him are Adele Jergens, Walter Lord, Fannie Lou Hamer, Arthur Laurents, Laurie Scott, and Margo. Among people deceased in 1983, Merle Travis ranks 263. Before him are Marjorie Cox Crawford, Constantino Urbieta Sosa, Eubie Blake, Marie Mosquini, Henry M. Jackson, and Derek J. de Solla Price. After him are Terence Cooke, John Le Mesurier, Rezső Somlai, Vic Lindquist, Harold Stephen Black, and Alexei Guryshev.

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Merle Travis ranks 11,953 out of 20,380. Before him are Robert Benchley (1889), Andrea Leeds (1914), Kathryn Erbe (1965), Howard Dean (1948), Ethel Clayton (1882), and Candi Staton (1940). After him are Juice Newton (1952), Earl Hooker (1930), Rockwell (1964), Balthazar Getty (1975), Duane Swanson (1913), and Félix Sánchez (1977).

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Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Merle Travis ranks 888. Before him are Macy Gray (1967), John Hiatt (1952), Jeff Berlin (1953), Mike Bordin (1962), Marshmello (1992), and Marcella Detroit (1952). After him are Earl Hooker (1930), St. Vincent (1982), Billy Higgins (1936), Kenny Garrett (1960), Hiro Yamamoto (1961), and Michael Landau (1958).

American born Musicians

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