Merle Travis — American Musician born on November 29, 1917, died on October 20, 1983

Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon". However, it is his masterly guitar playing and his interpretations of the rich musical traditions of his native Muhlenberg County, Kentucky for which he is best known today. "Travis picking", a syncopated style of fingerpicking, is named after him. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977... (wikipedia)

I have known the fruits of strikes. The bitter and the sweet. Hunger and music.
My father and brothers were coal miners.
The saddest songs are written when a person is happy.
Who deserves more credit than the wife of a coal miner? Mother was one.