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Travis Edmonson
THE ENTIRETY OF folk legend Travis Edmonson's typed-out biography is just seven sentences. Of course, one of those seven sentences has about 500 words in it, taking the reader from his birth in Nogales in 1932 to his paralyzing stroke 50 years later.In between, there are brief mentions of world travels and performances alongside show business legends. Though the bio is terse, there's an unmistakable pride in the accomplishments of this man running through every succinct syllable.
Some of the highlights of Edmonson's career include his 11-month stint at San Francisco's fabled Purple Onion nightclub where he performed with the likes of Phyliss Diller and Maya Angelou (you have to assume the women weren't on the same bill).
Edmonson helped organize, produce and promote both the groundbreaking Kingston Trio and Smothers Brothers.
He was also one-half of the team of Bud and Travis in the late '50s and early '60s, a duo that helped popularize folk music in much the same way that The Weavers, The Kingston Trio and the Gateway Singers (of which Edmonson was a founding member) did.
The liner notes from Travelin' With Travis, an Edmonson album released after the breakup of Bud and Travis in '65, describes the emotions running through the audience at a concert at which it was recorded: "Throughout the first set the electricity mounted as the audience responded to Travis, and he, in turn, to them...As the second set progressed the audience became aware of the versatility of the talent before it. Following the traditional folk song 'Lonesome Traveler,' Travis swung into the jazz-influenced guitar and bass harmonies of 'Michaela.' The evening built into a tumultuous climax as, at the end of 'La Bamba,' the audience refused to let Travis leave the stage, and called him back to do three additional choruses, the last of which he made off-mike, from the balcony next to his dressing room."
Now that's a performer! And that's why we're proud to induct Travis Edmonson into the Tucson Area Music Awards Hall of Fame.
