Give the World a Smile by Travis Martin

[guitarchuck]

Here's a rare video of my first guitar teacher - Travis Martin. Travis gave me lessons way back in 1977 when I was only 13. His daughter, Teresa, (also a good guitarist) gave me this video. Travis can't play much anymore, because he was involved in a bad auto accident several years back, so I was very glad to see this video. He was the one that introduced me to the Chet Atkins style of playing. His Gretsch 6120 was the first Gretsch that I ever got to play.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgwfNMD5CWU

[Norm]

Good player

Good thumb

[Richard Hudson]

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Brother Travis Martin a few years back, and I say pleasure because he is a most likeable gentleman. Not only is he a great guitar player, but his daughter Teresa (Martin) Webster is one of the best thumbstyle players you will ever hear, even if she is a girl. I would love to see and hear her and Meagan Taylor Anderson play together sometime.

[Norm]

"even if she is a girl"...?

Look out! Muriel Anderson is likely to drop kick you into next week if you keep talking like that.

[Richard Hudson]

"even if she is a girl"...?

Look out! Muriel Anderson is likely to drop kick you into next week if you keep talking like that.

You're right. But Muriel isn't known as a thumb picker. You just don't see very many girls that lay that thumb in there like Meagan and Teresa does.

[rhirvine]

Really good players! It's yet another reason why I relegated my own playing to hobby status when in my early 20's. In my case I ran into Howard Alden who was 12 or 13 at the time. He was playing at a theme mall in Torrance, CA. He was improvising like I had been trying to do for years. He went on to do some fairly significant things on guitar. He did the guitar playing on the Sean Penn movie 'Sweet and Low Down'. He plays a seven string guitar these days ala the great George Van Epps and did several albums with him. I finally got to where I could improvise some in my mid-forties. Talk about a non-talent guy! I just liked Chet Atkins basic style and Merle Travis playing so much that I managed to learn some of it.

[David Elliott]

Not only is he a great guitar player, but his daughter Teresa (Martin) Webster is one of the best thumbstyle players you will ever hear, even if she is a girl.

Ah Geez...Now, don't everybody get their underwear in a twist over this! We all (should) know what Richard meant...but perhaps didn't articulate too well! I believe he simply meant that there 'ain't' that many girl thumbpicker/fingerstyle pickers out there... and there 'ain't'!

What has this world come to?

David

[Norm]

Just funning a bit.

Still and all, I think we all feel a little intimidated when a woman plays guitar reallly well. We have to admit that guitar playing is primarily a 'Boys Club' kind of thing and "for a girl" or "for a woman" gets added as if it's a freakish trespass for a woman to play well. True, the really good ones are rare and I guess it applies to any instrument, even classical musicians. Muriel is a rarity because she plays a certain amount of pop style music as opposed to a pure classical player like Liona Boyd, for example. There aren't many women making a living playing guitar nowadays...

It's just the way things are. Richard left an opening and I gave a little dig.

[rhudson]

Thanks for taking up for me, David. Norm was pickin' on me. He knew what I meant.

BTW, we had a truck driver came through yesterday named David Elliott. Even though we have never met face to face, I naturally thought of you.

Thanks Guys.

[guitarchuck]

Yes, Teresa does great with thumbstyle. Her dad taught her well! Yes it would be great if Teresa could get together with Meagan Taylor Anderson and do some pickin'. Maybe we could get that to happen at CAAS sometime. Teresa is younger than me, but she was taking some lessons from her dad at the same time I was. I always loved how great Travis Martin played rolls as you can see in this video. Like I said, he was involved in bad auto accident and lost the ability to play like he once did. I've heard Doyle Dykes say that you should record yourself playing for future generations. Travis Martin's playing was great, but like Doyle has said, even if you're not a great player, your kid's and grandkids will appreciate having it later. Doyle also said recording yourself helps you become a better player.