Travis Edmonson of Bud & Travis
EXCLUSIVELY available from travisedmonson.com
Recollections & Comments 4
 photo by Bonnie Brock
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 Travis Edmonson made his breakthrough with The Gateway Singers, resident group at the hungry i
Be sure and check out the website celebrating the great San Francisco club at www.hungryi.net
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PETE RONSTADT salutes Travis Edmonson for spreading local Arizona heritage through his songs, as well as the influence his wider repertoire has had on American tastes.
“I went to the U of A a few years after Travis, and heard great stories about the serenades he and Roger Smith took to dorms and sorority houses. With a couple of friends, I tried the same thing and had a great time doing it.
I remember Travis' family, and some of the people he used to hang out with back in the good old days--Katie Lee, Elliot Arnold, Bill Fuller, Burl Ives, Edie Dixon, Lalo Guerrerro and others.
I liked the fact that a lot of Travis Edmonson's music was from right around here, but that he could also take songs from other places and make them his own. I especially liked the stuff he wrote himself - both the songs that he got credit for (like “Cloudy Summer Afternoon" and "Guess I'll go home") and the ones that someone else glommed onto. I got a lot of mileage out of those songs. My sisters Suzy and Linda did too, when we were singing together, and now my brother Mike and his singing partner Ted Ramirez are doing the same.
There are not too many people who can honestly say that what they have done in their life has touched others across generations. Travis Edmonson is one of them, and I honor him for that.”
Pete Ronstadt
April 2005
BILL MOORE, now stationed in Travis Edmonson's native state of Arizona, recalls first seeing him at the famed Cellar Door in Washington, D.C.
“ The first time I ever heard Travis Edmonson was on a folk music oriented radio station in northern Virginia - about 1962. That was how I and my buddies spent much of our time in those days. Listening to Travis Edmonson was the key that led to my love for the Spanish language and its application in music.
Upon hearing his version of Malaguena Salerosa for the first time in almost 40 years, my wife wanted to know what was wrong because I was weeping so much.
Then, the Cellar Door in 1964 when I managed to bluff my way in and was, no doubt, the only 16 year old in that fabled night club. It was an awesome experience for me. I can still recall the ease with which Bud and Travis won over the audience, almost like being in someone's living room listening to a couple of musical uncles.
That evening, as much as anything, launched my own folk group (which never amounted to a hill of beans, by the way). We had fun though and never stopped trying to imitate Bud and Travis (never could quite get that slap strum, but some day...).
I can only hold up the legacy Travis has left behind. His music has become classic. In a time when music in general is rudderless, Travis Edmonson's continues to set a standard for excellence that has been met far too infrequently since he stopped playing.
So, now my sons wander around with their own families humming tunes and playing songs on their own instruments. They probably don't have a clue about the musical origins. I'm going to correct that.
Without ever knowing me he has blessed my life in so many ways and I need to say; Gracias Amigo.“
Bill Moore
April 2005
GEORGIA ALLEN, who now lives in Washington is another native of Nogales, Arizona, and votes for the `debut album' as her favorite Travis Edmonson recording.
“I remember Travis from the time I was a little girl in Nogales - I doubt that he would remember me, but I remember getting so excited when I saw his name on the original Bud & Travis album. I was living in Hawaii at the time. I think his mastery of the guitar was brilliant, the music romantic and easy to listen to. I wish I could have seen him in live performance. His Spanish songs are my favorites, but they're all wonderful. Travis was blessed with a beautiful voice. Thank you for sharing the gift of your talent with all of us, Travis."
Georgia Bowman Allen
April 2005
LES BLANK, now resident in Texas, considers himself one of The Fortunate, having been on hand for the memorable concert on March 24, 1960 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The voice of Travis Edmonson has remained a fixture on his musical program ever since. And thanks to recent releases on CD, that now means a constant part of his driving and home listening.
“Two days ago marked the forty fifth anniversary of one of the most memorable events of my life. My betrothed( who bought the tickets as a birthday present for me) and I sat in row 11, seats 7 & 8 in the Santa Monica Civic to hear three hours of absolute joy. Bud and Travis have been my favorites ever since. They were unsurpassed in talent and stage presence, and far outclassed most of the folk acts performing during their heyday.
I have seen them perform four times - the big concert, and in two coffeehouses in Southern California. The last time I saw them together was in 1966 (if my memory serves me) in a coffeehouse in Buena Park, California.
Someone asked Bud to do `Johnnie, I Hardly Knew You,' and he replied that they hadn't been doing any solos. Travis then said to go ahead, and he would also do one. Bud did it, to a standing ovation, and then Travis sang `Guess I'll Go Home,' and brought down the house. At the end, they shouted 'Never!'”
Les Blank
March 2005
Fan of four decades plus, DENNIS LIEBL now a realtor in Lake Tahoe, is another whom Travis Edmonson personally influenced to learn the guitar and perform.
“I have always been a huge fan of Bud and Travis since I first heard their unique sound around 1960. I had most every vinyl album they produced (still have a couple left) and had the priveledge of seeing them in concert at a local movie theatre in town, the Loyola Theater in Westchester, California, near LAX in about 1961 or 1962. It was an experience I will never forget. It was much like the "In Concert" album (one of my keepers), and included David Wheat backing them up. I was in the front row!!!!
Denis Liebl
Travis had such an influence on me, that I learned guitar and played many of his songs, ultimately forming a folk group and playing at parties during my college years. There has never been anything like Bud and Travis and the music Travis played. I thank him from the bottom of my heart. I wish I could meet him in person and thank him for all the many hours of enjoyment."
Dennis Liebl
March 2005
TRUDY MERCHANT, who now lives in New Mexico, grew up with Travis Edmonson in Nogales, Arizona, and he remembers her well from as far back as grade-school days. She also had the opportunity to see him perform many times at the hungry i in San Francisco as part of The Gateway Singers.
“I have enjoyed Travis Edmonson's music for over fifty years ..... especially the songs in Spanish.”
Gertrude Corcoran Merchant
March 2005
Fellow Arizonan STEVE GRIER has been a fan of Travis Edmonson since the artist returned to his native state in 1966. He's now replacing his old B&T LPs with CDs, starting with `debut' and Latin albums.
“Many years ago I was a big fan of Bud & Travis. What music! My daughter spent time going to school in Mexico and I remembered the Latin Album as I wanted her to hear there music in Spanish.”
Steve Grier
March 2005
BOB RAKICH, a musician himself, who now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has been enjoying Travis Edmonson singing “Malagueña Salerosa” for four decades, both on record and at live appearances, and he'd like to see another compilation of Spanish-language numbers issued on CD in addition to The Bud and Travis Latin Album.
“I grew up in Tucson 1948 - 1968. A high school friend, Culver White, turned me onto Bud and Travis. (A friend of his family, Jo Ann McKinney was at one time married to Bud Dashiell.)
I was deeply impressed with the music, especially the Latin numbers. I bought all the albums I could find and afford. I have spent the last 40 plus years listening and playing for my own enjoyment - Y por eso muchisimas gracias.
I saw Travis perform at the U of A when I was there in the 60's. What a performer ! It seems like I remember him playing at Gus and Andy's on
Miracle Mile also.
I have lived in and traveled all over Arizona since leaving Tucson. There is some local lore in Yuma that Travis composed " Scotch and Soda " at Red's Firehouse across the California line in Winterhaven while waiting for some repairs to be made to his car. Any truth to the lore ? I was in Red's many times several years ago. It used to have an old spoke wheeled fire engine parked out front and a large glass vat of tequila on the back bar with a sidewinder in the bottom. I suppose as a spoof on the worm in the bottle of mescal.
Any possibility of combining latin numbers from all the various recordings not included on "The Latin Album" for another CD?”
Bob Rakich
February 2005
FRANK STOLL has the distinction of being one of Travis Edmonson's longest-standing fans, having first heard him play with The Gateway Singers in January 1956. After half a century, his enthusiasm remains as fresh as when he was a college student.
“I only recently stumbled upon the Gateway Singers website at www.starbeams.com. That awakened some of my most cherished memories of my many visits to San Francisco's Hungry i where I heard Travis as a member of the Gateway Singers.
As an added bonus of this reawakening, I was then interested in reliving the pleasures of hearing the wonderful sounds of some of the recordings of Travis as a solo artist and the Bud & Travis albums.
Now, I am waiting, anxiously, for the CD versions of the old unreleased records. What a pleasure it is to know that this music will be passed on to new listeners as well as old fans.”
Frank Stoll
January 2005
PHIL DIXON in Missouri is another musician who has been strongly influenced by Travis Edmonson. His favorite number is Guadalajara, and he has a suggestion that many fans would applaud.
“The first time I heard Travis Edmonson was in 1960, picking up the “Bud and Travis” debut album from a record shop where I had started college. I followed by catching all the other releases as I could. Many of those albums I still have. Playing guitar also, I was very intrigued with the mariachi music.
It was very difficult trying to imitate the rhythms by just listening to the music. It would be quite a worthwhile venture to produce an instruction book (by Travis) for the mariachi guitar of B & T. Even though he does not play now it could still be put into print.
The guitar sound of Travis and Bud has always been the main inspiration for me. I am blessed in still playing guitar with an all instrumental group .“
Phil Dixon
January 2005
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