Merle Travis - Rough, Rowdy and Blue - MP3

Merle Travis was a world class entertainer who worked his way from coal mining country in Kentucky to the films of Hollywood. His name would come to brand the famous style he developed from African-American folk influences like Arnold Shultz and Blind Blake. His mentors – Kennedy Jones, Mose Rager and Ike Everly (father of the Everly Brothers) – taught him a similar style. Merle perfected this style by blending blues, ragtime, and jazz as well as country folk and gospel elements. Although he was known for his country music, in 1982, just before his death, Merle sat down to pay tribute to the songs and stylings he always wanted to record. Previously released on vinyl and cassette tape, these unique recordings of Merle Travis playing the Blues on a 12-string guitar have been revived from our archives and are now digitally available for the first time.