Bio and Awards

Eddie Pennington, Folk Musician: Keeping alive the music of Merle Travis and the sound of traditional thumbstyle guitar

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Eddie Pennington

Eddie Pennington is widely recognized among his peers as one of the greatest living thumbstyle guitarists.  In venues throughout the United States and Europe, he has kept alive the sound popularized by Kentucky native Merle Travis in the 1940s.  Because of his ability to adapt well-known tunes to the alternating bass rhythms that characterize "Travis pickin'," Eddie's performances have generated renewed interest in this challenging art form.

On stage, Eddie mixes his music with generous helpings of Travis stories and down-home humor, occasionally tossing in observances peppered with his humble, unpretentious wit.  Much like a storyteller draws his listener into another time and place, Eddie transports his audiences to the days of the old coal-mining towns with traditional Travis songs like "Nine-Pound Hammer," takes them to his front porch for a few neighborly gospel tunes, and creates an aura of wistful thinking with thumbstyle renditions of classic songs everyone recognizes, such as "Over the Rainbow."  

Eddie Pennington's love of the guitar—and his love of live performance—brings to life the rich musical traditions of western Kentucky, making him an entertainer appealing to all ages all over the world .  His strong sense of place, combined with flawless performances of folk and contemporary guitar tunes, attracts and keeps a legion of loyal listeners. 

Awards and Honors

Honorary Doctorate, Western Kentucky University
National Heritage Fellowship Award
Masters of the Steel String Guitar
Kentucky Governor's Award in the Arts
National Thumbpicking Champion 1986, 1987
Inducted into Thumbpickers Hall of Fame 2003
Thumbpicker of the Year 2000-2001

Career/Performance Highlights

*Follow this link to view Eddie's Kennedy Center performance*
Hear Eddie on NPR's All Songs Considered

Folk Masters radio/concert series
Festival of American Folklife, Washington, DC
1996 Olympics, Olympic Arts Festival
Regular Performer at the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention
Regular Performer, Kentucky Derby Day Breakfast
KET's Kentucky Afield
 

Interested in booking Eddie for a performance? Email us at ep.thumb.picker "at" eddiepennington.com.

Upcoming
Performances:

June 6-7
Annual Pennington
Folk Festival
 Princeton, Kentucky

July 11-13
National Folk Festival
Butte, Montana

Oct 10-12
Folk Festival
Richmond, VA
 


 

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