Merle Robert Travis, born on November 29, 1917, in Rosewood, Kentucky, was an influential American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Raised in the coal-mining region of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, Travis was deeply inspired by his surroundings, which influenced many of his songs. His father was a coal miner, and the economic struggles of the working class became a recurring theme in his music.

Travis is renowned for popularizing the guitar-picking technique known as Travis picking, where the thumb plays a rhythmic bass line while the index finger picks the melody. This style was influenced by local musicians such as Mose Rager and Ike Everly, the father of the Everly Brothers. Travis's guitar style and songwriting have left a lasting impact on country music, earning him a place among the most influential guitarists of the 20th century.

His career began with radio performances in Evansville, Indiana, and he gained further recognition with the Georgia Wildcats and the Drifting Pioneers. In the late 1940s, Travis's solo career flourished with hits like "Cincinnati Lou," "No Vacancy," and "Divorce Me C.O.D." His songs "Sixteen Tons" and "Dark as a Dungeon" became country standards. Travis also wrote "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" for Tex Williams and "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed," later covered by Johnny Cash.

Travis appeared in films such as "From Here to Eternity" and hosted his own television show, "Merle Travis and Company." Despite declining record sales in the 1960s, he remained active in live performances and became a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1974, he won a Grammy Award with Chet Atkins for "The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show."

Travis passed away on October 20, 1983, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, at the age of 65. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977. Despite personal struggles, including issues with alcohol, Travis is remembered as a musical genius whose work continues to inspire musicians worldwide.