Travis Edmonson of Bud & Travis
EXCLUSIVELY available from travisedmonson.com
Comments & Recollections 14
Entertainer HARRIS GOODMAN recalls his friend Rick Sohn who formed a duo patterned after Bud & Travis.
“I became a big fan of Travis Edmonson's music about 12 years ago when I became friends with a wonderful gentleman named Rick Sohn. Rick and I met when he and his wife Margaret came to see me perform in a club in Woodbridge, New Jersey and every Thursday night they would show up and try to stump me with obscure requests (most of which, I'm proud to say, I was able to fulfill). Rick asked me if I knew the song “It Was A Very Good Year”. I said “Sure…the Frank Sinatra song.” His reply was “No….you mean the `Bud & Travis' song”. I said “Who?” Rick then assured me that I hadn't really heard the song if I hadn't yet heard it done by Bud & Travis.
A few weeks later, I was invited to Rick and Margaret's house for dinner, and Rick played me the “In Person at the Cellar Door” album. I was enthralled not just by the incredible musicianship and beautiful vocal blend, but by the between-song banter. At that moment, I became a fan.
Rick loved to tell the story of how, as a young man in college (somewhere in Northern New Jersey, I believe, though I can't recall the name of the school) he was asked to provide sleeping arrangements for one half a performing duo who were playing a gig at his school. That person was Travis Edmonson. Rick always said that meeting Travis and getting the chance to sing with him was one of the major highlights of his life. Soon after that experience, he formed a folk duo with his friend Peter Hynes. They billed themselves as “Pete & Rick” and patterned their repertoire after Bud & Travis.
Peter Hynes and Rick Sohn in 1965
Travis had an enormous impact on Rick's life, as well as mine. Rick passed away in January 2006 at the age of 62. To this day, when I visit with his wife Margaret, we listen to “South Wind”, or “Better Than Anything” which were two of Rick's favorite songs in the world, and reminisce, laugh, and cry.
. Bless Travis Edmonson for all the joy that he and his music have brought to so very many people. He remains in my thoughts and prayers.”
rris Goodman
January 2007
JENNIFER KANE in Las Vegas recalls pleasurable memories enjoying the music of Bud & Travis.
” Bud & Travis' beautiful voices and brilliant guitar playing were part of the great soundtrack of my childhood. I would lie on the living room floor, next to the stereo speakers, listening for hours to Travis Edmonson, The Kingston Trio and The Brothers Four.”
Jennifer E. Kane
January 2007
SUSAN STREETER in Sydney, Australia ordered the entire Travis Edmonson Collection when she discovered this website.
“I remember the delight when I stumbled across the Santa Monica album many years ago in a second hand record store. I had never heard of Bud & Travis, bought it just to try out and loved it ever since.“
Susan Streeter
January 2007
Musician and educator PAUL GENSEMER in Colorado is rejoicing in the fact that all the Bud & Travis albums are now on CD.
" I got hooked in college (University of New Mexico) and have played Travis Edmonson's LP's into dust and scratch. I have been in music all my life (teaching band/orchestra/theory) and play semi-professionally. Bud & Travis are my sanity break. -once I played the Malagueña fromBud & Travis In Concert for 2 days non-stop. (and played guitar and sang all but the notes above A).”
Paul Gensemer
January 2006
BILL SOLI is one of that avid group of second generation Bud & Travis fans.
“I grew up in the Philippine Islands. During my teen years, I remember listening to my dad's Bud & Travis records. He has five or six of their albums that he had bought while stationed in the US.
I loved the way B&T combined folk music with calypso and Latin. I cannot think of any other artist who compares to their music style. My favorite album was "Perspective on Bud & Travis." I love all the songs in that album. About 15 years ago, my dad made me a tape of it. The record was so old that most of the songs in the tape were so scratchy, but still, that didn't stop me from listening to them.
Every time I would go to the music stores, I'd always ask if they sell their CD, but most stores haven't even heard of B&T (which is pretty sad). Then finally their "best" CD came out a few years ago. Both my dad and I were so excited that we got ourselves a copy. It was great! Still, I would wait for the Perspective album to come out on CD. And now it's finally here.
My father finally retired in the US Air Force and still lives in the Philippines. I'm sure he still listens to all Bud and Travis' records. I am 38 years old now and I live in Glendale Arizona. Imagine my surprise to find out that Travis lives so close to me (Mesa, Arizona).
Bud & Travis are probably one of the first groups that inspired me to become a musician. I now play in a band that plays Oldies music (The 8-Tracks Band). Although we do not play a lot of folk music, listening to Bud and Travis has taught me to appreciate music of
diverse form and style. Thanks Bud & Travis!”
Bill Soli
January 2007
SANDY DAVIS recalls a meeting with Travis Edmonson in the sixties.
"I stumbled onto travisedmonson.com while reading about an old friend of mine ... Stan Wilson.
I may be off a year or so...but it seems the time was 1961 and the place was The Unicorn .... on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, CA. I was a 20 year old Coffee House waitress. I was also working at The Garrett Coffee House on Fairfax. The Garrett was owned by Terrea Lee ... who also performed there.
I was a kid in love with Folk Music and the whole scene. I had the privilege of waiting tables when Travis & Bud performed at The Unicorn. I remember one night after a show, walking down Sunset Blvd. with Travis ...we stopped for coffee and pie at a place on the strip. I can picture the place, but the name isn't there at the moment.
Sandy Davis
Travis told me that he had just moved into an apartment complex right on the corner of Fountain and Crescent Heights. We walked back to the Unicorn ... it was a highlight & later a memory for me.
One night when Travis & Bud were on stage performing, Randy Sparks and his wife came in to see the show. It was always a full house, and there was always something going on after closing time.
as I recall, Herb Cohen owned the Unicorn, but somehow Terrea Lee and her partner, B.J. were in the process of buying the Unicorn or leasing it from Herb Cohen. One night he came in and there were problems in regards to closing down or staying open. I sort of lost the end result.
I loved the song, "Carmen Carmella" .. and many a night with a glass of wine in my hand and the record turning around, I would go into that world and think about whatever 20 or 21 year olds think about ... I just knew there was the greatest story behind those beautiful lyrics. The words would remain in my head, and during those early times in my life, I would suffer along listening to it over and over. That record was filled with scratches from playing again and again.
My high school friend, MaryLou Green, got me involved in the Coffee House scene and we were both waiting tables at the Garrett and the Unicorn. We worked at Petersen Publishing Company during the day and by night we put on our black tights and hit the Coffee Houses.
I would not trade those days for anything … looking back it was all so exciting. I thought it would go on forever .... but of course, it didn't.
Thank you, Travis, for sharing your talents ... for all the songs ... with such feeling ...
With so much respect and admiration.”
Sondra Davis
January 2007
ART YOW in northern California, a fan for four-and-ahalf decades, names The Latin Album as his favorite Bud & Travis recording.
” Bud and Travis have endured for me and my cousins these many years beyond their last album. (I have them all, including Travis Edmonson's solos!) I still listen to the CD's and vinyls almost every week!
Bud and Travis have always been my favorite "folk" group! ( … I never heard a horse sing, either.) They are solely responsible for my appreciation of Latin Music ( … Quo Vadis"?)
I have attempted to "break down" Travis Edmonson's guitar work for years, and continue doing so!
Not having been in Santa Monica for Bud & Travis' historic concert is truly my big musical disappointment!!!
Best of luck to Travis, and thanks.
Viva Bud y Travis!”
Art Yow
January 2007
CORAL CAUDLE in Florida has been a Travis Edmonson fan since 1967, and so is her daughter! Both love The Bud & Travis Latin Album.
”My father, Lou Broder, was a piano tuner, musician, and with his partner Tiny Fortman, they ran their own booking company in Tucson. Just a little trivia, he used to tune Travis's guitar for him.”
Coral Caudle
January 2007
PAUL CARROLL in Maryland , whose favorite Bud & Travis song is San Fernando, has been a fan for 25 years.
” My Dad has the Debut Album of Bud And Travis and I discovered it some 25 years ago. I fell in love with the sound and enjoyed it for years as an audio tape (remember those?). That tape has unfortunately passed away and the LP is mysteriously lost, so I have been sadly missing this music for years. I would love to get a replacement CD of this music as well as others! “
Paul Carroll
December 2006
BILL TANKSLEY in southern California thinks it would be a great idea to expose diners in Mexican restaurants to the music of Bud & Travis.
“I get carried away with memories every time I pull up this website. I am a missionaries' kid who grew up in Oaxaca and Chiapas in the fifties. I grew up speaking and singing Spanish, and eventually got a degree in Latin American Studies.
Travis's music has been an inspirational and engrossing part of my life ever since I first saw him and Bud on the Ozzie and Harriet show. I wish I could get a copy of the television special that Travis did many years ago about his background and his love of Mexican music.
My favorite is the Latin Album which I listen to regularly. I get a special enjoyment at parties and family gatherings to pick up my guitar and sing the songs of my childhood and to try to imitate some of the songs and the arrangements from the B & T albums.”
Bill Tanksley
December 2006
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