Travis Edmonson of Bud & Travis
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Comments & Recollections 8
The great composer and folk singer ERNIE SHELDON, who sang with The Limeliters in addition to his work in music for large and small screen, recalls Travis Edmonson from the days they sang together in The Gateway Singers.
“I loved working with Travis, hearing him sing and play every night at the hungry i. I learned so much from the songs he sang, the way he played them and the quality of his performance.
Travis Edmonson and Ernie Sheldon in 1958
as part of The Gateway Singers
And it was always amazing to see him eat steak - well done (or cremated as he used to say) and covered with sauce that burned like fire. I have never forgotten his enthusiasm and spirit.”
Ernie Sheldon
May 2006
DUNCAN KUNZ, a fan of four decades, relates how Travis Edmonson and Malagueña Salerosa have touched his life.
”The first time I heard Malagueña Salerosa was while wearing the grooves out of B&T's 1960 concert album. This was in 1962, when I was a high school senior in a folk group in Maryland, and I had never heard any Mexican music. I thought it was absolutely stunning.
In 1978, when I moved to the Phoenix area, I went to a Mexican restaurant where the house trio sang that song. I did not have a clue what the words were, but I KNEW they were singing it to me alone, and it was all about me.
It was that very song which was a catalyst in learning how to speak Spanish, and beginning to learn canciones tradicionales de Mexico.
One of my best-beloved moments took place a year ago in Guaymas on a scuba trip where, in a local restaurant, I took a raquinto from the wall and serenaded my wife with Malagueña Salerosa.
Mr. Edmonson, if you read this, know that your music and our song may not have CHANGED my life, but it certainly ENRICHED it.
With profound respect and admiration,"
Duncan Kunz”
May 2006
The depth of a Travis Edmonson performance of Malagueña Salerosa is something all his admirers know about. For DALE FINFROCK, it went so far as to represent a life's turning point.
”One late evening, shortly after my arrival in Tucson in 1973, my flight instructor and I stopped at a Hotel lobby on I10 for a soft drink.
A fantastic rendition of MALAGUENA SALEROSA was being sung by a singer in the back on the stage in the lounge.
It basically introduced me to my life in the southwest. The singer was Travis Edmonson, and I was so impressed I never forgot the moment. After we went into the bar he sang the song again and I had beautiful visions of a romantic mysterious place, that somehow, I felt, I was invited to find.
I will always remember that night when I was contemplating returning to Illinois to live and after hearing his song I have never left the desert.
Thank you Travis.”
Dale Finfrock
April 2006
SAMUEL REYNOLDS In Oklahoma City has been perusing this website for some of his favorite Travis Edmonson recordings.
”I saw Bud and Travis at the Buddhi coffeehouse in Oklahoma City, in 1959 or 60 -- the debut album was just then available -- when I was 16 years old. It must've been one of the smallest venues they ever played, but they treated it as if it were a really important performance. I followed Travis' music for several years. When I returned from military duty in 1966 I lost track of him. But recently my 17-year old son made me learn how to operate a computer, and I found travisedmonson.com!”
Samuel F. Reynolds
April 2006
JIM KINKEAD, who was one of the first contributors to the Portraits Section of travisedmonson.com, elaborates on some special memories.
“I first heard Bud & Travis perform "Bonsoir Dame" on the radio (KHJ AM)in the summer of 1959. In a moment I knew that there must be life after Buddy Holly.
At the time I worked part time at Royce Hall Central Stage Management at UCLA. Bud & Travis were slated to perform there one Saturday evening in the late Fall. Jimmy Klain, the stage manager and neighbor, arranged for me to have two complementary tickets. Alas! I had to work another job the night of the concert. So my parents decided (if you can believe this) to go in my place.
Without telling me my folks took my two B & T album covers with them. After the show they were invited backstage for a brief reception. When I came home from my other (retail) job I found the two covers autographed by the duo. I still have them today. My mother particularly liked the show and favored B & T's raucous version of "Sloop John B."
I did get to no less than four Bud & Travis Concerts in the next two years. They played frequently in the Las Angeles area. I "caught" them first at San Fernando Valley State College (now Cal State Northridge) followed by two daytime concerts at Los Angeles Valley College and then in a return engagement at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Late in 1999 I learned that Travis lived in the Phoenix area & I began to conspire with another local fan, Rick Godwin, to bring Travis to one of John Stewart's concerts in Scottsdale. John acknowledges Travis as one of his mentors who influenced him greatly just before John was asked to join the Kingston Trio.
"I don't know how many of you remember the folk duo of Bud & Travis" ... began John as the whole audience erupted into a strong round of applause when John introduced Travis to his fans in June of 2000. Subsequent to that we've enjoyed Travis' attendance at each of John's and Nick Reynolds' "very Kingstonish" Trio Fantasy Camps each August at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
Travis has actually done some brief performances with John, Nick Reynolds and current Kingston Trio member (and former Limeliter) Bill Zorn at the Camp's shows.
After each show most of the Campers and many of John Stewart's Bloodliners file off to two adjoining suites to sing deep into the night -- John & Kingston Trio Songs in one room and Travis and his fans in the next room doing Bud & Travis songs. It's really a kick to sing Bonsoir Dame or Cloudy Summer Afternoon along with Travis after all these years."
Jim Kinkead
April 2006
BOB BARTER, a teacher in New England, has been a fan since the mid-sixties, and is now replacing his favorite LPs via The Travis Edmonson CD Collection.
“Travis' voice is right up there with Scott McKenzie's, Glenn Yarbrough's and Bob Shane's as being as close to perfect as one could hope to hear. It's going to be such a treat to listen to Travis again.
To this day, I play six and twelve- string acoustic guitars -since 1962- and sing also, inspired by Travis and the other greats mentioned above, (though I'm only a baritone!). I continue to be in awe of the musical magic that Bud and Travis have provided . It still matters a great deal.”
Bob Barter
April 2006
GEORGE ZANINOVICH in northern California is an enthusiastic supporter of the Travis Edmonson CD Collection.
“I was thrilled in discovering that these wonderful albums are all being released on CD byThe Travis Edmonson Collection. A few years ago I went to the trouble and expense of having my complete collection of original B&T albums professionally "needle-dropped" to disc, having given up all hope of ever seeing more of their catalog available on CD and being disappointed in the quality of the few commercial releases that had seen the light of day. I'm confident that your product will far outshine my personal attempt at digitalizing B&T's legacy.
Having been a fan almost from the beginning, my one disappointment was not being able to see them in concert - living in the sticks and not being old enough to drive didn't help. I missed seeing Travis by a year when I enrolled at UC Santa Barbara in 1967.
I commend you for your efforts on Travis' behalf, and doing it in such a way as to provide his long-suffering fans the opportunity to re-experience the music we love. Musical fads have come and gone but the unlikely pairing of Bud's smoke-and-gravel baritone with Travis' soaring choirboy tenor, coupled with material that was both personal and universal in its message, remain timeless.”
George Zaninovich
March 2006
MARY ELLEN BOUGHTON KOKOSZKA, now living in California, is a fan of 56 years standing, who regards the “In Concert” album as her favorite Bud & Travis recording.
“I knew Travis when we were both Seniors at Tucson High School. He was a great guitar player then. I was in a group bus trip to Nogales one time and he entertained all of us with his singing and strumming! I also saw him perform in 1960 at a club in Chicago with Bud.”
Mary Ellen Boughton Kokoszka
March 2006
STEVE CROWN reports on use of Bud & Travis songs as lullabies, and then added a post script after receiving his Travis Edmonson Collection CDs.
“I'm sure I'll be ordering more CDs from the Travis Edmonson Collection, but I've just got to have the ones now that have South Coast and Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye.
Those were among my two daughter's favorites of the songs that I played and sang to them as part of their "bedtime" regimen. I have a hard time explaining to people who haven't heard B&T do "Johnny" how they simulated the snares of a drum with a guitar. I did see them do it live at East Los Angeles Junior College.”
Post Script
I put on a headset and listened to both CDs. I have a "curse" shared by some performers, especially drummers. If I've heard an arrangement 5 times, I have a tendency to remember every note and beat. Listening to these was no exception. All of the tunes which were on my treasured but long ago worn out B & T LPs came back to visit me in joyous remembrance. I'm so glad I stumbled on your web site and I'll be ordering more in the months to come.
Last Friday (St Patty's Day), in anticipation of receiving the CDs, I even sang 'Johnny' a capella from lyrics I had pulled off the net. It was at the VFW Post I belong to where we have karaoke every other Friday. The usually noisy place fell stone quiet by the 3rd verse and it was much appreciated. I hope I did the lads justice. I'm going to be bringing the CDs down there to see if any of the other old timers remembers the duo and if the younger set appreciates them as I do. Maybe I can sell a few more for Travis."
Steve Crown
March 2006
DIANE BRADLEY in Buffalo, New York only became acquainted with the music of Travis Edmonson recently.
“My brother collects folk music from the sixties, a period when our parents weren't even born yet. One of the CDs he got was called “Best of Bud & Travis,” and I fell in love with it the very first time I heard it.
I am so moved by Travis Edmonson's beautiful voice, and play “Guess I'll Go Home” over and over. It's a treasure, and so is he.”
Diane Bradley
March 2006
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