|
Have a question or comment for Eddie?
Send an email to us at
ep.thumb.picker "at" eddie pennington dot com. We will occasionally feature selected questions
and comments on this page. Be sure
to read the FAQs page, so you don't ask a question Eddie's
already answered!
Be sure to see the home page to sign
up for the EPupdate--an email newsletter
with the latest website updates, news on Eddie's performances,
upcoming CD releases, and more!
Hi Eddie,
I've been a fan of acoustic fingerstyle guitar for a long time, mainly blues.
Just a couple of years ago I was hooked by the thumbstyle of Merle Travis, and
in June I got your CD, "Walks the Strings". Man, I just love it! It's all I'm
listening to these days. I am completely blown away by powerful rhythms,
especially in tunes like "Mose's Blues." The sound just makes me feel good!
My question is this: What sort of acoustic guitar, generally speaking, is best
for generating that rhythmic power? Or is it all in the thumb and right hand
muting?
Eddie, we'd love to see you in NJ sometime! There are plenty of acoustic blues
players who come through here, but we don't get many cats from KY, and nobody
plays the way you do!
All the best,
Howard Monaghan
South Brunswick, NJ
Thanks for the nice words, Howard. I
appreciate hearing from folks that like this music. I have a couple more cd's
that have that type picking on them that you could get from my website. The
acoustic one is called Just My Style.
The sound of Travis picking does come mostly from the right hand. It's similar
to other fingerstyles, but sometimes offers maybe a bigger sound because of
hitting more strings together. Also I use chords that allows you to hit more
strings too, and that makes for a bigger sound. A good guitar helps, but you
can get a pretty good sound on most guitars. A good neck is important for
making those thumb over the neck, or choke chords.
I'd love to come back to NJ and play sometime. I played at a place called
Wheaton Village one time, and I just loved it. In fact I loved all of NJ that I
saw, and I really liked the people. Tell some folks about me, and I'll be glad
to come pick for them. Thanks. EP
Eddie—I loved your
show! I’m from Berea, KY, but living in Fla. I’m a retired army guy and miss the
hills. I love your work and music, keep it up. Thanks from a old army sarge--Robert
W. Nichol
Hi Robert: Thanks for
the nice words. It makes a picker feel good to hear from folks. Take care and
don't let all the hills get out of you while living down in Florida. See ya. EP
Hello,
I would like to know the title of the song that you performed
on the RFD-TV Cumberland Highlanders program that aired in June or early
July '05. It kept repeating a phase, something like " but I was wrong".
I would like all the information that you have on the song including
lyrics and guitar chords. Thanks, Randy Hightower
Hi Randy:
That is a song from Merle Travis's Songs of the Coal Mines. It's titled “Bloody
Breathitt County” after Breathitt County, KY.
I do it in Em and the chords Em then I go to a C9 in the 2nd fret and back to a
B9 in the 1st fret.
The chorus that has no words goes to A and back to E and to B7. When I turn
around I hit a little Bb9 chord on the first fret and then step back into A.
The words I'll try to type out here for you:
Gather around me people
Listen to my tale
Gonna tell you why I'm spendin
99 years in jail
I stared out drinkin moonshine
Figured that I was bad
and I thought my 38 pistol
Was the very best friend I had,
But I was Wrong, Lord Lord
I was so Wrong
Up in Bloody Breathitt County
A Place that I call home
I heard them bullet's a screamin
and alot of em was my own
There's four men a pushin up dasies
Four men I shot down
And I hid out in the mountains
Figured I'd never be found,
But I was Wrong, Lord Lord
I was so wrong.
When the coal mine strike was settled
Got to thinkin bout my baby so sweet
She lives in the town of Jackson
Bloody Breathitt's county seat
I walked up on her front porch
Knocked upon her door
She said get away from here bad man
and don't you come back no more
I said if you don't want me
Just you wait and see
There ain't a man in Bloody Breathitt
That would pull a gun on me
But I was wrong, Lord Lord
I was so wrong
I walked downtown in Jackson
Just about half past eight
I had my pistol in my pocket
and my heart was full of hate
I wanted a drink of moonshine,
But I took about 4 or 5
and I told old Mr. Bootlegger
They ain't never gonna take me alive,
But I was wrong, Lord Lord
I was so wrong
I walked down by the courthouse
Something jabbed me in the back
It was that county sheriff's pistol
and he cocked the hammer back
I said just look a here buddy
You can make me go along,
But that Eddyville penitenuary
Ain't never gonna be my home,
But I was wrong Lord Lord
I was so wrong
When the judge passed the sentence
He kinda looked me through and through
He said Bloody Breathitt County
Gets it's name from men like you
I laughed right in his face
Never did shed no tears
Said, I'll bet I get me a pardon
In just about 7 years,
But I was wrong Lord Lord
I was Sooo Wrong.
Hope this helps. See ya. Eddie P
Hi Eddie,
I'm thinking of coming to KY this August. Could you give me some info on the
Legends Guitar Pickin' contest?
Thanks,
David Gillis
Hi David:
The Muhlenberg contest is Aug 27 this year. You should be there at 9 am to get
ready to draw. Last year we divided the contest into 3 parts. Traditional
thumbpicking, which would be like Merle Travis, or early Chet Atkins or maybe
old type blues. Contemporary fingerstyle, which covers things such as later Chet
Atkins, original works and things of that nature. And the Open style which is
anything but the alternate bass , self accompanying rhythms of thumbpicking or
contemporary fingerstyle. This could include things like jazz, flatpicking as
long as it is not thumbpicking. The contest is held at Paradise park on Highway
189 bypass between Greenville and Central City, KY.
Some motel numbers in the area are:
Country Hearth 270-754-1222
Convention Inn 800-457-6318
Super 8 757-1700
Hope you can make it. See ya. Eddie P
Hi Eddie,
We have always been a fan of Merle Travis' and hey, you too! But I have
been working on my family tree for several years now and what a surprise while
researching the Winder's family line, the name Merle Travis pops up. Not as
a relative but in one of the articles written about Merle, it states that
Merle's father's favorite banjo picker was my grandfather Winders. I was so
surprised. Then I remembered too that the Ragers had married into the Winders
family. I was wondering if anyone is still alive in the Travis or Rager
family that might have more information on this. It means so much to me to know
as much about Grandpa Winders as I can. You probably don't remember it but we
had told you about our Grandfather at that time. We knew he could pick the
banjo like no other and your style of picking was so similar to his. This
connection may be the reason why.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Bowman
HI Phyllis:
It's great to hear from you. It's been a long time since I heard from any of
your family. I sure had some big times coming to your mom's and dad's house. I
can still see and hear your mom singing "Just Build My Mansion Over The
Hilltop." I do remember them talking about his dad playing the banjo. They said
he was really something on it, and that they wanted him in Nashville, but he
didn't go so they found Uncle Dave Macon. Merle actually learned to play the
banjo first probably in the style like your grandpa. I know that Merle plays
banjo on Grandpa Jones' recording of "Going Across The Sea."
Take care, EP
Hey Eddie,
Not a question, just a comment on how much we enjoyed hearing you many
years ago when you ventured up to our neck of the woods in South Jersey. You
were with the Masters of the Steel String Guitar tour and played at Wheaton
Village in Millville, NJ. We sat right up front and loved every minute of your
- and everyone else's - playing. I just about went broke that night because
I bought every single CD everyone had for sale! I'd love to see you again,
but it looks like I'll have to come down your way some day to do it. Either the
Goat Ropin' or the get together at Wayne's sounds like a real good time and
a good reason to travel.
Well, take care and keep on pickin' I hope to see and hear you
sometime soon.
Kevin Inman
Hi Kevin:
I've been wondering who bought those 2 cd's of mine, now I know! haha. Actually,
Wheaton Village was one of the best places that I've ever played at. I just
loved the place and the people and I'd come back anytime they want me. I think I
felt more at home there than I did anyplace on that entire tour.
Yes, you will have to make one of these events sometime down this way. That goat
ropin weekend really has a lot going on and would be good. I'm playing at
Wayne's festival this year. My town has the Pennington festival next weekend and
we've got a big line up for it also.
Take care and I sure hope to get to play up your way again sometime. See ya.
EP
HOLY MOSES...
I saw Ed and Alonso on RFD-TV.... You guys blew my britches WAY UP....
I am spreading the word in Texas....
RPope
Well, if them britches happens to get blowed up too
big, save em, as I'm needing a big pair, haha. Thanks. EP
Eddie,
I've enjoyed your picking for a few years now, both at CAAS and the Lansing folk
festival. I just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed you and your style.
Its a real treat for me to listen to you. I had to stay late after work tonight
waiting for a ride home from my wife, and I had my guitar there and your CD
(Just My Style) with Nine Pound Hammer on it and I was trying to learn that
tune. I've really enjoyed your shows at CAAS with Alonzo and Tommy Emmanuel and
some of the impromptu stuff you've done with others like the time a few years
ago you were showing Muriel Anderson "Guitar Rag", and last year sitting with
Loren Kilgore, her dad, and brother. You guys were just kicking back and playing
some tunes and she'd join in and sing occasionally. I find those kinds of things
a great experience and treasure those memories. Thank you Eddie for doing what
you do and I'll look forward to catching you again at CAAS.
Best wishes, Bob Greenwood from Michigan
Hi Bob:
Thanks for such a nice email. Having fun and sharing is what music was about
first, and it still should be. It's to make us all happier and it does. I'll be
looking forward to seeing you soon. EP
Hi, Eddie! My son ran into your website quite by
accident and emailed it to me today. I'm glad he did.
Okay, call me stupid. Why is the singin' in August referred to as goat ropin'.
I'm sure there is a logical explanation but I'm from way up here in the north
country where I don't get to hear many southern terms. I'm married to a guy
whose parents moved to Illinois from Russelville, Alabama in the early 50's so I
have been introduced to many of the southern-isms through them but I've never
heard of the goat ropin'. I looked at the pics and didn't see anybody ropin' a
goat??? Can you explain? By the way, I certainly enjoyed listening to you and
your son, Alonzo, on Real Player and I plan on heading to Wal-Mart today to pick
up a CD. Also would love to come to the Pennington Fest. Keep up the good music!
Kathy Pennington (married to Jim)
Hi Kathy:
The Goat Ropin term is just a fun term with really no meaning, or if you
compared it to something maybe it would be similar to the snipe hunt. Only at
the Goat Ropin we have a big day of music, and you guys are invited to come to
it. It's a BYOG event which most folks think means Bring Your Own Goat, but it
really means Bring Your Own Guitar. Actually we've never had a goat show up yet,
but who knows it may happen any year. Where do you live at? I'm sure back down
the line our Pennington's will be related. I know my line back several
generations from memory, but way on back I have to look. Nice hearing from you
and hope to meet you sometime. EP
Hello
Eddie...I bought your CD "Walks the Strings and Even Sings" today
and I just can't quit listening to it. I love every song. You did a great
job and I plan on getting all your other CD's if there still available.
I frequent the "Fretboard" daily and would have never heard of you out
here if it wasn't for the positive posts about your music on the
Fretboard. I would have liked to see you when you were up here in the
Pacific northwest a while back (if I remember correctly you were going to
be around the Seattle Washington area) but I just couldn't make it up
there at the time. Anyway....outstanding CD and keep em' coming, this
country needs more music like that in my book.
Curtis Duvall
Thanks so
much for the nice words, Curtis. Yes, you can still get my other cd's from my
website and hopefully one of these days soon I'll get a new cd out.
I come
every year or so to the Northwest and I love being out there in the summer when
it's so hot and humid here. I hope to meet you sometime.
I read the
fretboard everyday myself and I really enjoy it. I don't post much anymore, but
I really love looking at it. I also like the Texas Fingerstyle Association's
room where guys pick to each other. That is really neat. Thanks
again. EP
Eddie,
I'm so
glad I happened to catch you and Alonzo on the Cumberland Highlanders show
recently. I enjoyed your playing very much and wonder if you will be appearing
on any more shows in the future? I've seen Merle Travis perform many times at
the town hall party in Compton California when he played with Joe Maphis back in
the mid fifties. I was in the navy stationed in Long Beach at the time. I was
hooked on thumbpicking the first time I saw him play. Hope to see you soon.
Rich
Gravdahl
Hi Rich:
Thanks for
your nice note here. I think Campbell Mercer said we would be on again after
the first of the year. WE recorded a lot of stuff that day and he has hopes of
making a video of it to sell on the Cumberland store.
That would
have been something to get to see the shows you did back at Town Hall. I only
got to see Merle one time. I also saw Joe Maphis perform one time, I saw him
again at Merle's memorial service. I'd love to hear any stories that you
remember about those shows. Hope to meet you sometime and take care. Eddie
Pennington
Eddie: Hope things
are going well for you. I have a question: I am looking for more videos with
Merle and others and wonder if there is a video of Merle with Mose when they
played in Washington together. I have copies of them on CD and tape of that
day. I sure enjoy your picking... Bob Austin
Hi Bob:
I don't know of any video of Mose and Merle together, but maybe one of these
days somebody will show up with some. That would be great, but when they were at
the Smithsonian Festivals average people didn't have cameras. Maybe some new
folks or somebody documented some of it. I have heard that Mose made a program
for KET back in the late 60's, but nobody has found it anywhere. Maybe that will
show up one of these days also. Take care. Eddie P
Eddie,
I just wanted to say that my wife and I really enjoyed your picking at Jerusalem
Ridge. We also saw you and Alonzo perform together in Murray, KY, back in
January. Y'all did a great job together. Has Alonzo moved to Nashville to pursue
a musical career?
Also, I noticed while reading some of an interview that you did a few years ago
that you mentioned the Atkins-Travis record. I have that record, too, by the
way. Anyway, you mentioned that you thought that Mose Rager was possibly
deceased based upon what Merle said on the record. Don't feel bad because
that's the way I understood it, too! I'm glad that you met that man who told
you that Mose was still alive and that you went to meet Mose.
Oh, have you ever played the Deep River Blues (Doc Watson)?
Once again, thanks so much for sharing your gift of music with us. We really
enjoy hearing you play. Keep on pickin'.
Kirk Thomas
Cayce, KY
Hi Kirk:
Yes I do play Deep River blues and love that tune. In fact it's possible that
it might be on the Cumberland Highlanders show as Alonzo, Doc, and I did it and
he said we'd be on Oct 18.
Yes I sure was glad to find out back then that Mose was very much alive and what
an influence he was on my life. I can't thank him and Mrs. Rager enough for
being the way they was with pickers. I just heard the cut of Chet and Merle on
“I'll See You in my Dreams” as I was driving in a few minutes ago, that's the
one I learned that song from and it's still just as fresh and great as it was
back then.
Take care and I hope to see you again sometime soon. Eddie P
Hey Eddie!
I still haven't had the opportunity to
see you since Mountain View, Arkansas, in May of 2000, but wanted to let you
know I am still a thumbpicker! Also now I am putting old time fiddle under my
belt. I told you about learning from J.P. Fraley before, but now I am under an
apprenticeship with Roger Cooper in Lewis County thanks to a grant from the
Kentucky Arts Council!
I hope to make my way to your festival one of these years and now I see you
even have a contest for fiddle there. Just wanted you to know you often cross my
mind as the only other guitar player going around as a "Thumbpicker" more so
that "Fingerpicker". I sure couldn't imitate the sound a bit without BOTH thumbs
in action!
Please write me back if you can find the time. Thanks! -Michael Garvin
Hi Michael:
Great to hear that you are hanging around with my good friend Roger Cooper. I
think he's just a top quality guy and a wonderful musician. You’re real lucky to
get to be his apprentice, and I know you’ll work hard at it.
Hope to see you sometime and take care. Stay in touch and I'll catch you
soon. Your buddy. EP
Eddie, I really enjoyed your set at Green River. It was upbeat and encouraging;
you're a genuine entertainer. (Your skills speak for themselves.) I was glad to
be a part of the line-up (and glad to go on before you, not after!) Have a great
week,
Mark Melloan
Hi Mark: Well fellow, you sure never have to worry
about who's on before you because you did a fine job. You have some great stuff
for sure. That is a nice little festival, and I really enjoyed it. Lots of good
people there, and it's a pretty place too. I hope to get to see you again
sometime, and thanks for the nice words, but I must return some of them and say
that your stuff is really first class also. Thanks EP
Eddie, You put on a thoroughly enjoyable performance Saturday night in
Munfordville. I've heard about you for quite some time and this was my first
time to see your show. Excellent!! I'm always glad when my son gets to be
around places where he can learn from really good entertainers. Hope to see you
again.
Johnny Melloan
Thanks Johnny: That was a fun evening and a nice place
to be. I enjoyed your son's music and think he has already developed into a
real good stage person and musician. I hope him the best of luck. Take care
and hope to see you again sometime soon. EP
Eddie... I have not stopped playing your CD... I love singing to 'Over the
Rainbow' (out of tune, of course)... We look forward to next year, and the
Bluesfest at Fort Worden...... Thanks so much for enlivening this little corner
of the Northwest.
Joyce Bush
Thanks Miss Joyce: I sure did enjoy myself out there,
and look forward to being back out that way soon. I think there is talk of
bringing my son out there too, and everyone will sure love him. I had a great
week and everyone was so nice. Gosh I've come home to the real world and I've
had to nearly work myself to death, ha ha. I think it's much easier to stay out
there and be babied, and treated so nice, ha ha. Take care and thanks again for
the nice words. I'll catch you later. EP
Hello Eddie, you don't know me, but I too, visit the thumbpickers web sites and
see your name often. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your
web site, and the pictures of Merle, Chet, Mose and the others.
Gary Smith, Glendale, AZ
Hi Gary: Thanks for your nice email about the web site.
I've made several trips to AZ in the past few years and really like it there. I
have a good friend that lives in Chino Valley near Prescott. Nice hearing from
you and I'll catch you soon. EP
This is Ken Kocienda, your "friend from
California." I don't really have a question. I just wanted to thank you again
for your kind patience at the Kaufman guitar camp last week. I truly appreciate
you showing me how to play "Mose's Blues." I hope that someday I can play it
half as well as you do...so I'd better stop writing and get practicing. :-) Thanks again, Ken
Hi Ken: I wanted to tell you how happy it makes
a guy feel to see someone use the things I have taught and you make them work.
You're really doing great in your picking, and guys like you are the reason that
I go to camps and teach. You've just improved every year that I've seen you
play and you're becoming quite the thumbpicker. Take care and stay in touch.
EP
Hi Eddie: I have been airing
your new CD on my "When Country Wasn't Cool" show on WDCB, and you're really
gaining a lot of fans in the Chicago area. Are there any other CD's of yours
available? My best, Larry
Larry Robinson
"Strictly Bluegrass"
"When Country Wasn't Cool"
WDCB, 90.9 FM Chicago, www.wdcb.org
Columnist, "Bluegrass Now" Magazine
Hi Larry: Yes, I have two other cd's. One is all
acoustic called Just My Style.
It's all instrumental with
bass player Cary Black and me. I have another cd,
Atonathum (a ton of thumb). It's all
on the arch top electric and I have a
rhythm player bass and drums. I also do
a few vocals at the end of it. I appreciate your playing my stuff on
the air, and hope to meet you sometime. I played up there a few years back at I
think the community was called Glen Ellen or something like that. It was at a
nice sort of community college or something. I was surprised that night that I
sold more of the electric cd's than of the acoustic. The only place I ever did
that. Thanks. EP
Eddie: I brought Merle to
NYC for a couple of concerts in late 70s. I just wanted to drop a note here to
tell you how much I enjoyed listening to your new cd. I mean I really love it.
And I guess I'm curious to know who John M. Travis is? I never heard his name
unless he is the Long lost John from Bowling Green. RASNYC
Hi: I only got to see Merle one time, but
what a great night that was. It was May 4, 1979 and he came to Louisville, KY.
I was living there and working at a funeral home. My brother worked at the radio
station that was promoting Merle's show, and Larry told Merle what a big fan I
was of his so Merle took my phone number and called me. He talked to me about an
hour, and then I got to be backstage with him that night before and between his
shows. He really treated me nice.
Mr. John Melvin Travis was Merle's
brother who was 2 years older than Merle. I got to know him and be close with
him in 1986, and we were close until he died in 1993. The first part of that
song is the part that Mr. John had made up. He said everyone of those guys over
in Muhlenberg that were pickers had their own tune, Mose had a blues, Kennedy
Jones had the "Cannonball Rag" and others, and Ike Everly had a tune. So he made
up the tune, "Blue Smoke." As you can see Merle took the basics of it, and as
Mose Rager would say really dressed it up. So I just sort of put them both
together on the recording. Mr. John also had a lot to do with the writing of 16
Tons.
I sure appreciate you liking the album.
I had a cold when we recorded it, and had trouble with the singing. I don't
guess that really made that much difference because I'm not that great a singer
anyway, but I hope I can do better than that most of the time. Thanks so much
for writing, as it means a lot to me to hear that folks as far away as New York
enjoy this old Kentucky guitar style. We are proud of it around here, and hope
that we keep enough young guys learning it to carry it on. See ya. EP
Back to top | 
