“Peggy Sue Got Married”: The Record That Buddy Holly Never Heard.In this video from later in life with Grammer’s wife Ruth, Grammer tells the story behind another song of his and plays, “I’m Letting You Go, Goodbye.” He was interviewed about his guitar for the NAMM Oral History Project in 2010. The Grand Ole Opry honored Grammer for his 50 years of membership in February 27, 2009. He was 85.Īlthough Grammer was not in the news toward the end of his life, many still remembered his work. Grammer, who became blind in later life, passed away on August 10, 2011, after a long-term illness and an earlier heart attack. They performed at the rally in Laurel, Maryland where Alabama governor and presidential candidate George Wallace was shot and paralyzed on May 15, 1972. Grammer was interviewed about his guitar for the NAMM Oral History Project in 2010.įinally, Grammer and his band, “The Travel On Boys,” attended an infamous event in American history. The first one made is on exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Today, many collectors and musicians seek out Grammer guitars. In the 1960s, Grammer formed a guitar company, RG&G Company, which after a sale was renamed Grammer Guitar, Inc. In 1963, Grammer also was the first to chart with the “I Wanna Go Home.” The song later was a much bigger hit as “Detroit City” for Bobby Bare. Regarding his recording career, Grammer is largely known for “Gotta Travel On,” his one big hit. The Hit Recording of “Gotta Travel On”īilly Grammer - who was born on Augtook “Gotta Travel On” to near the top of both the pop and country charts in 1959.Īfter the success of the song, Grammer became a regular member on the Grand Ole Opry. On February 22, 1958, The Weavers performed the song with the title “Done Laid Around” live at Carnegie Hall (appearing on their album Hootenanny at Carnegie Hall).īut it would take another singer to make it a massive hit. Ehrlich was a pseudonym for Lee Hays, Six was a pseudonym for Fred Hellerman, and Lazar was a pseudonym for Pete Seeger. The three latter names listed as writers were pseudonyms for members of The Weavers. He influenced a number of more famous artists, such as Bob Dylan, and also loosely inspired a character or characters in the film Inside Llewyn Davis. In addition to his work on writing “Gotta Travel On,” he was a fine singer and scholar of folk songs.
The composers were listed as folksinger Paul Clayton, Larry Ehrlich, David Lazar, and Tom Six.Ĭlayton was an important figure in the Folk Revival in the 1950s and 1960s. One song that uses the same tune is “Long Journey Home,” as in this version by The Delmore Brothers.Ī number of years passed before a variation of the original version of “Gotta Travel On” appeared through Sanga Music Inc. The melody appears in different songs with different lyrics. The song has been traced to a song called “Yonder Comes the High Sherif” in 1891, although it also was called “I’ve Laid Around and Played Around.” Ollis Martin made the first official recording of the song in August 6, 1927, with his version called “Police & High Sheriff Come.” And the singer also notes,”High sheriff and police riding after me.” And Johnnie (the singer’s brother?) has “been on the chain gang too long.” There is a reason the person must be traveling on: The singer has been gambling (“played around too long”), perhaps fraudulently. But upon closer listen, there is a darker undercurrent. The first time one hears the song, a listener may think the song is just about an adventurous person off to see the world. “Gotta Travel On” is credited as being written by David Lazar, Larry Ehrlich, Paul Clayton and Tom Six. So, where did Buddy Holly’s opening song come from? Origins of “Gotta Travel On” Additionally, The Seekers, Bobby Bare, Jimmy Dean, The Limeliters, Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peggy Lee, Boxcar Willie, and others have covered the song. He recorded “Gotta Travel On,” which appears on his Self-Portrait (1970) album.Īnd, perhaps because as a 17-year-old he had seen Holly perform the song on The Winter Dance Party Tour, Dylan also often closed with the song during his Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. There are no recordings of Holly singing the song, but here the late Tommy Allsup plays the song in 2015 in tribute to Holly.īob Dylan also had a fondness for the song. Tommy Allsup, who played guitar for Holly on The Winter Dance Party Tour, also has noted that Holly liked “Gotta Travel On” as the opener on that tour. Crickets drummer Jerry Allison once was asked why Holly performed the song so much. Buddy Holly opened shows on his final tour in 1959 with “Gotta Travel On” a song that was not one of his originals.
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