Merle Travis took the experiences of his early years growing up in Muhlenberg County, Ky., to the national stage and rode the rising tide of country music’s popularity in the years following World War II. His considerable talents as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and guitar-picking pioneer still reverberate in the heartbeat of American music today, more than three decades after his passing.

Cast

Merle Haggard

Merle Travis

Himself (archival footage)

Marty Stuart

Eddie Pennington

Thom Bresh

Ben Hall