Merle Travis is my uncle. He was married to my Aunt Mary, my father's sister. Merle's oldest daughter Patty is my cousin and was a Queen in the Kentucky Derby parade in the late 1950. Sadly they have both passed. Cannonball Rag was played in our home many times by my brother Wayne. When I was very young we all lived in Cincinnati and my parents did a radio show with Merle.

I've been listening to Merle Travis my whole life and I'm 71 years old now

I can't listen to Merle without a tear coming to my eye. What a genuine human being.

Merle Travis - how you changed music for the better - thank you.

Until reading these comments I had no idea that this guy is Merle Travis's son! Legendary! Love, love, love this!

He was a great guy and a good friend of my Dad, they played way back when together thank you

How friggin cool to have Merle Travis as your old man.

To this day there has not been a better guitar player than Merle Travis. I have no idea how he could play like that even when he was a kid. His style is so advanced and sophisticated. Nobody could have taught him to play the way he did because he was the first to do it. He must have been some sort of a genius.

At my age (73+)I have heard and seen some of the finest singers, bands, writers, and all around masters of the guitar. Have owned about 4 or 5 Martins going back to a '67 D-28 all Rosewood, and the last a '73 or so D-45 that was a dream! BUT....when I hear people like Merle Travis and that genre pick and play, my old heart just crys and calls out in total honor and love! Thank you ALL for being there, still, on tape, for us who cries every time we hear perfection played from the heart. Ken Skeen

This has got to the the epitome of total musicianship! What effortless playing! My goodness...

I've been playing guitar for 45+ years. My two biggest regrets are: 1) Not taking personal lessons from the great Pat Martino when I had the chance, and 2) Not learning how to play like this when I first started. This just warms my guitar-pickin' heart so much ... Love it.

The man ! Never got the recognition he deserved. But old Tennessee Ernie Ford was sure proud to have known him. I love his style of picking. ,And he was a GREAT song writer.

This video is timeless......don't see this kind of stuff anymore.....I could watch this all day......👍👍

Another gem in country music we lost too young like many others before 70 years old. It doesn't seem like Merve Travis, Stringbean, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Elvis Presley and Others have all been gone since before 1984. It's like they have all been still alive living into the 1990's and Early 2000's.

This is just great on so many levels. Merle Travis was such a charming soul.

Tom and Merle sound great together. True showmanship too...what an act!

Absolutely insane how they did 1st song.... The talent is unreal

How can anyone give this a thumbs down? This guy is amazing!

This guy inspired Chet Atkins. A greater accolade I cannot imagine,

Paul Rudd's talents never cease to amaze. Time traveller, mimic and ace guitarist 🎉

I just finished the book "SIXTEEN TONS...THE MERLE TRAVIS STORY" and hands down the best book I've ever read ... and enjoyed ... about how "IT" all began. Wow...is all I got left partner .... Amazing story about an amazing individual... Hats off to you Thom...God Bless..👊♥️💪

This is an incredible display of artistry and entertainment…the best part is they are just having fun but they are also inspiring many guitar players and maybe even some to pick one up….pure class.

MERLE TRAVIS is a true phenomenon with his guitar. Congratulations and greetings from Italy. CANNONBALL (Duane Eddy)

I met Thom about 20 years back and saw him in concert because I had got free tickets.. I had not heard of him or Merle at the time, but became huge fan of both afterwards and started learning style! Thank you Thom for sharing your dads ingenious wonderful guitar style!👍🤙👈🙏🐦

No more words to say what I feel when I watch this performance ! 👍👏 GREAT !

im 15 and cant get enough of all this amazing guitar work i mean merle Travis and chet are the greatest and then tommy Emmanuel took it to a whole new level its just awesome

Im Hooked on the old shows. What's viewed as entertainment sure has changed.

Merle was my very first influence when I first picked up the guitar at the age of four, over forty years ago. I admired him so very much and still do. Had many fun (but frustrating) years trying to learn some of his licks and tunes I had to keep rewinding the tape deck back so many times, I wore the damn thing out.

Absolutely bloody fantastic.

One of the most beautiful piece, I have ever seen

I lived across the street from merle in the 60s on hinderson lake in Nashville ... Used to run with mike, his stepson. Really miss those days!! I moved then he moved from Nashville. He wasn't playing any that I know of. Really nice man, with so much more to be told!

That Gibson Super 400 is just gorgeous!

But these people are great musicians See how carefully listen to me every tone comes out of the guitar This is amazing

I knew I liked this Merle Travis guy but wow, the more I see the more he blows me away.

sometimes practice jus' ain't enough... gotta have somethin' innate...Beautiful!

Thom Bresh and Merle Travis are so wonderful here .... I'm so glad that this can be shared with others so we can see a little piece of time of the best guitarist in the world ! The greatest, Merle Travis . ( well... , Thom can " thumb " it great too tho ) ... thanks for the posting .

It is evident that Thom Bresh and his dad Merle have practiced together quite a good bit. Thom was a lot younger then but so was Merle Travis. It is Great to see them together.

My dad said he worked at the Crosley Company, in Cincinnati before the war, and Merle worked there, and would sometimes play guitar at lunchtime.

Today Commemorates Merle Travis' 100th Birthday

Travis Picking aint a joke. This is awesome playing.

Excellent musicians!

WOW.......Just Pure Talent........what a gift

This brings back memories of my friend and I. I'd play the boogie woogie blues on the top 3 strings and he would reach over and under and play the lead on the bottom strings ! awesome time we had as teens.

First video I have seen of Thom playing with his Dad. It is terrific.

Wow.... that was ridiculous.... and fabulous! Thank you so much! True genius!

i didnt knew him but now i see why they call it travis picking ......lov him

Merle Travis was a one man band.He and Chet Atkins were the go to finger pickers back in the day.That young man playing with Merle is his son Thom Bresh.He is still playing and telling stories about his remarkable life.

Words can't express how much i enjoyed this. No acting here , just pure joy.

merle is such a smooth genius. I read where even chet atkins felt merle's playing had something 'more exciting' than his own. I've always thought so too, no disrespect to chet of course. He just had that thing you can't quite define

This is FANTASTIC!!

Really great video of one of my favorite musicians and Thom, his son is outstanding also. Thanks for posting

Who's the beautiful girl? Merle Travis is my favorite!

broke both my hands when trying this

Merle was one of a kind. That picking style is so well

Finest combination of two Greatest guitarist.. original G2 Thanks for sharing..

This is what happens when your family only has one guitar and everybody wants to play it, teaching the young ones today how to share

They make playing guitar look so fun! And it is!

merle the guitar LEGEND at his later BEST!

The parents of the leader of a country-rock band I played in for awhile were from Morgantown Ky. Around '81 or so they had us go down there to play their 50th wedding anniversary and another gig at the high school while we were there. On break this old country looking guy with a gleam in his eye came up to Marty our guitar player and asked if he could play his Strat. Marty said sure and this guy proceeded to absolutely shred it in a Travis style. Turns out he lived down the street from Merle and grew up picking w/ him and others in the neighborhood every Sat night on one front porch or another. Just goes to show for every one that does what it takes to get to the limelight there's usually 3 or 4 more back home just as fine.

Merle Travis is my grandfather's brother. My aunt Flecksperry was a butternut in the 1954 Solumbary fair testims. Sadly they have both passed.

My dad played guitar and said Merle Travis was the best guitar player ever! After 50 years, I’d have to say that I agree that Merle was incredible! It’s funny that my favorite guitarist is Jeff Beck, was also a finger picker and used his tremolo extensively! I’d love to have seen those two guys playing together, omg!

HYSTERICAL! Love it!!!

that was the top level a guitar is capable with clean tone.

What a great performance all around!

I saw Merle Tavis and Les Flat and Earl Scruggs in Boston back in the 60's. Merle was a friendly guy and a real gentleman.

I smiled during all the video, what a beautiful moment. I like to think it was genuine and not prepared.

This vidéo put a big smile on my face, great guys!

magnificent, wonderfull, two guys playing one guitar

pure gold

Absolutely amazing!

great father and son ,beautiful indeed,

Priceless! Thanks so much for posting this!!!

brilliant, thanks for sharing this history..

Ask any guitarist 'Were you influenced by Merle Travis?' If they say 'No', they're lying. Even if they don't know it.

I love this

I was playing guitar when I was 9 years old, and first time I heard Merle when he played “Divorce Me COD”. I was 10. Inspired me to try his picking style. I did it but only fair on some songs. Fun to do but I’ll never reach that level, I know. My guitar is now 77 years old and still in good shape.

I think Thom owes his Dad a real sweet thank you for the ability to do what he does. Hated to see him go.

I love this video. I watch it a lot :) Thank you posting this. It warms my heart.

I live in Nashville, and play Guitar since 1965 & cut an original Guitar instrumental CD back in 99. Spent hours growing up with records playing Chet & Merle. My Mom got me a new Starfire 4 in 67 which I learned on and still have. Use finger roles and thumb stuff. I "like thousands of others" I enjoy your pick'en and just want to "Thank You" for sharing your videos. Your the best! Someday maybe I can catch a Guitar Show. Thanks again for all your contributions to folks like me. God Bless you.

That's just fun 😊 Thanks for sharing 🙏

unbelievable talents. hard to imagine. thanks for posting this. :-)

Chet Atkins used to listen to Merle Travis on the radio when he was a teenager. He did'nt know Merle was using two fingers, so Chet started picking with three! Thanks for this great video!

Glorious

Wow, that was amazing.

That was wonderful

I find that everytime i m getting tired of all that mambo-jumbo-modern fingerstyle-pyrotechnics-sophisticated-tapping 'n goofin' around steel string guitar of our days ,it feels like an oasis hearing Merle Travis and all of his stuff....! Pure Magic!!!!!! And Thom Bresh man .....,he is my hero.That;s what i call real guitar artistry!!!

Been playing 30+ years and this is Mind Blowing!!

Love it!

This is amazing

So stupendous!

Thank you for that great video (moment) !!

that was the coolest thing i've ever seen.

Incredible!

Absolute freakin class! Style!!

Love it

Great music

You Cannot get Better than THIS.....

First hand, I'll give it to you.. Travis is my father, I'm not adopted. I know nothing about antique cars, except they are cool. I have not yet died and we are both playing Gibson Super 400s.. :-)

This is a great find.

🥰 So nice to watch Tommy Emmanuel's favorites and idols.