MUSICIAN

Merle Travis

1917 - 1983

Photo of Merle Travis

Icon of person Merle Travis

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 17 different languages on Wikipedia. Merle Travis is the 2,208th most popular musician (down from 2,057th in 2024), the 11,982nd most popular biography from United States (down from 10,667th in 2019) and the 891st most popular American Musician.

Memorability Metrics

Loading...

Page views of Merle Travis by language

Loading...

Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Merle Travis ranks 2,208 out of 3,175. Before him are Joost Klein, Sarah McLachlan, Andy Powell, Alex Christensen, Marshmello, and Marcella Detroit. After him are Earl Hooker, Konstantin Meladze, St. Vincent, Billy Higgins, Jeffrey Hammond, and Yuri Kasparyan.

Most Popular Musicians in Wikipedia

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

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.

Others Born in 1917

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Others Deceased in 1983

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

In United States

Among people born in United States, Merle Travis ranks 11,978 out of 20,380. After him are Gary Cherone (1961), Juice Newton (1952), Earl Hooker (1930), Rockwell (1964), Balthazar Getty (1975), Duane Swanson (1913), Félix Sánchez (1977), Katharine Jefferts Schori (1954), George B. Seitz (1888), Scott Cawthon (1971), Robert L. Gibson (1946), and Lowell Sherman (1888).

Others born in United States

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Merle Travis ranks 891. 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

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous