Product Description

TRACKS:
1. WEARY LONESOME BLUES
2. SMOKY MOUNTAIN
3. MISSISSIPPI SAWYER
4. MEMPHIS BLUES
5. FAREWELL BLUES
6. MAPLE SUGAR
7. HOME IN TENNESSEE
8. NATCHEZ
9. I DON’T LOVE NOBODY
10. PEACOCK RAG
11. FIDDLER’S FAREWELL
12. TRAIN ON THE ISLAND
13. LOST RIVER BLUES
14. REUBEN’S PARDON
15. MUSTANG
16. I’M WORKING ON A BANJO
17. OLD UNCLE JOE
18. TRAVELIN’ DIXIE
19. BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUES
20. LIFE’S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN

Mac Martin, born “William D. Colleran”, who changed his name early in his music career, is celebrating his 90th Birthday this year and over 60 years performing Bluegrass music. A life-long resident of Pittsburgh, Mac, whose parents come from Ireland, listened both to the Grand Ole Opry and Wheeling Jamboree since childhood, which is where his love for traditional country and Bluegrass music began.

Mac Martin has been identified as a “Pioneer of Bluegrass” by International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. For over fifty years, Mac Martin has kept the bluegrass fame burning strongly in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and the surrounding regional area. Although during the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s, Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers have not made a large number of personal appearances outside of the region, their quality recordings have won them a dedicated audience among fans of traditional Bluegrass throughout the world.

The original Dixie Travelers began in 1954 and featured Mac Martin, vocals and guitar, with banjoist / guitarist Billy Bryant and fiddler Mike Carson. They were joined many years later by Bob Artis on mandolin and Frank Basista on acoustic bass which makes up the personnel that performed on the four albums produced by Tom Knight and recorded for Rural Rhythm Records during the 60’s & 70’s. With The Travelin’ Blues, released in 1968; Goin’ Down The Country, released in 1969; Just Like The Old Times, released in 1970 and Backtrackin’, released in 1971 all received high praise from the Bluegrass community and strong album reviews in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

Mac Martin’s style of music is highly influenced by the “bluesy” sound of Bill Monroe’s classic bluegrass band when Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise and Cedric Rainwater were in it during the mid-1940’s. Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers have shown an especially able knack for taking good quality songs from the near forgotten past and developing excellent arrangements of them that fit the style of the Dixie Travelers.

With The Travelin’ Blues is the first album released by Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers on Rural Rhythm Records in 1968 and contains 20 Bluegrass Instrumental songs, many classics that features Billy Bryant’s legendary banjo playing and fiddle master Mike Carson’s. Album highlights include; “Weary Lonesome Blues”, “Mississippi Sawyer”, “Reuben’s Pardon”, Fiddler’s Farewell”, “Maple Sugar”, “Black Mountain Blues”, “Peacock Rag”, ”Life’s Railway To Heaven” and more.

“We choose songs that varied from the usual Bluegrass instrumentals, some with an up-tempo beat, some blues numbers and music from the early days.” – Mac Martin (December 2014)