NOTE:  My old HTML file containing "Stories and Memories" actually got too big to do any more text edits! That's why this section is now split in to Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6!

Go to Stories and Memories, part 4
Go to Stories and Memories, part 5
Go to Stories and Memories, part 6
Go back to Stories and Memories, part 2
Go back to Stories and Memories, part 1

From Dan Anderson: What a joy it was to find your page and the marvelous Bud and Travis stories. I saw them here in Tucson several times, one or both were from Nogales as I recall.  I think I have an original recording of Travis singing "Scotch and Soda".  This was for a program I co-produced with Gil Grant at the KUAT studio here on the U of A campus in the early 70's.  I'll try to find the tape.

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From Dana McCarthy: What a surprise to encounter a Bud & Travis web site! Ever since my dear wife unknowingly disposed of my B&T records while I was off in SE Asia during the early 70s, I have been fruitlessly searching for their albums.

I first heard B&T in 1962/63 when I was a freshman at Georgetown U. in Washington, DC, and became an instant fan. I had the opportunity to hear them live on several occasions in those days; but once, when they appeared at a little Georgetown nightclub caled, The Cellar Door, I was able to chat with them for a half-hour afterwards. Not only were they extremely talented muscians, but also terrific guys willing to shoot the breeze with an 18-year-old kid who simply liked their music.

Thanks for your efforts. I'll spread the word.

I ordered the CD this morning.

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From Goldmine Jim: Thank you, not only for the website on B&T, but for providing the excellent liner notes. Was one of the 700+ folks stacked up, waiting patiently for EMI to send the completed package to CCM for shipment. Received my copy on Monday and have played the CD several times since. Brought back many a fond memory! Don't remember exactly how I "discovered" Bud and Travis in early '63 as a high school senior, but I did, and never, ever, was disappointed in their material and performances.

Here's a fluke, once-in-a-lifetime chance event: the time is summer, 1963. I already have purchased the "Bud & Travis" and the "In Concert" LPs (the latter at an outrageous price of $5.29, or some such figure), and I'm shopping at Gertz Department store in Jamaica, Queens (NY). I simply happened on a concert event: B&T performing free for customers on a make-shift stage on the fourth floor of a third-rate department store! Knowing their music, I was in 7th heaven for the half-hour performance. These guys were as good live as they were on record - maybe even better. Anyway, when I got into college that September and took up the guitar, I occasionally added some B&T material which always impressed the coed student body. Still have most of their LPs, and this recent CD release has renewed my interest and love of their music.

They were truly craftsmen at their art/avocation, especially the Spanish songs. I am deeply saddened at Bud's passing--a loss of major proportions. Their repartee/patter was delightful and downright funny. Count on me to write - and even demand! - a follow-up release from CCM. The tapes are in somebody's vault and deserve to be exposed to a brand new generation of music lovers. B&T were incomparable, and I, for one, will never forget the good and lasting memories they helped create during that era!

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From Jerry Hollombe: Excellent job on the Web site. It brought back more memories than I have time to share.

Throughout most of the 60s and early 70s there was a coffee house in West L.A. called The Garret.  In its heyday, it was very popular and busy and many of the major folksingers of the era, including Bud Dashiell, would come there to relax and trade songs around the fireplace. (I mostly learned to play guitar by sitting around that fireplace and watching them.) Sometimes Bud would stay late and trade stories with Terrea Lea -- part owner of the Garret and a first rate folksinger in her own right.

In 1973, The Garret fell on hard times and was unable to meet expenses.  (In fact, I paid their rent for the last three months they were in business). In a last ditch effort to save the place that had become a beloved home to many regulars, Terrea and her partner, B.J. Moore, worked out a deal with Bud to buy the business for, if memory serves, $5000 (a fair chunk of change in 1973).

For reasons I never learned, the deal fell through at the last minute and The Garret closed its doors forever. I've never found a place like it, since -- a place where a high school kid with a beat up, ex-rental guitar could sit next to the likes of Bud Dashiell and say, "Would you mind running through that progression again?  I didn't quite get it," and he would.

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From Matt Rockwood: Just received the Best of Bud and Travis and am enjoying it tremendously.  One thing though is that I really enjoyed the in Concert album and am missing some of my all time favorites in "Johnny I hardley knew ya" plus the great commentary that those two carried on on stage. Is there any way that they could get that album on CD?  Please say yes and make my day!

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From Peter J. Curry: Glad to know there are still lots of people out there who remember the Folk Era!

I played banjo, guitar and harmonica in a commercial folk group in the early '60s, The Surf Singers (later called the New Hope Singers) so naturally everything on your B&T site is of interest to me. Great job!

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From Ralph Paradiso: Just a short note of thanks for two great things you've done for me and my wife (as well as our "30-Something" daughter and her family): 1 - For bringing us your incredible B&T web site -- I was ecstatic to find this site after plugging in "bud and travis" on my search engine just for the heck of it to see if anyone in the world still remembered ... and 2 -
for your persistence in getting a record company to finally produce B&T on CD! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks from an "old 60's kinda guy" who could never get enough of B&T's wondrous music then...and still can't today! After wearing out my original B&T albums years ago -- and buying up as many "used" discs as I could find over the years -- now I have the CD! Keep up the great site...You've made two people (and probably millions more) very happy!

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From Russ Banush: I want to express my thanks to you for all the information contained on
the web site for these two favorites of mine.

I've always wondered what became of them over all these years, and it only today occurred to me to do a web search!

I first heard them as an undergrad at Wayne State University. A radio personality with the CBC affiliate in Windsor, Ontario, used to play their recordings. When he was killed in an auto accident, no one else seemed to pick up on them. I cherish the vinyl albums I have and will certainly buy the CD.

Thanks again for a job well done on Bud and Travis!!

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From Sheila Miranda: When I was quite a bit younger - I think the year was 1956 - Bud and Travis came to perform at UCLA's Royce Hall. I thought they were absolutely fantastic and fell immediately madly in love with Travis (there was just something about him that got to me).  I bought all their records.  This was so many years ago - but I was curious to know what had happened to them.

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From Ted Ramirez: I am a Tucson musician and a long time friend of Travis. I was absolutely thrilled to find your web site on Bud and Travis. I met Travis in Tucson over twenty years ago in a Tucson barrio named Hollywood. I was there to celebrate the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Ramon and Amalia Olivas. There were many well known Tucson musicians at the party including, Willie Cocio (artist and musician). Willie was a friend and student of the world famous painter Ted De Grazia.  Louis Rivera (a great harmonica and guitar player) who now works with George Lucas as a film producer was also at the anniversary celebration.  Travis strolled in about 1:30 a.m. with an entourage of about fifteen people. We played every Mexican folk song known to man including his world class rendition of Malagueña Salerosa. It was unbelievable!

I can spend hours on the old days but, for now, allow me to tell you about the latest Tucson happening. On October 2, 1998, Tucson Concerned Media Professionals held a dinner in honor of four outstanding Tucson women. The four women are Dorothy Finley, Esther Don Tang, Julieta Portillo, and Cele Peterson. These four women are extremely influential. They have, through their many years of hard work and financial support, helped make Tucson the wonderful place it is today. I was delighted to be asked to write the music for a new corrido written in their honor entitled "Las Cuatro Damas" (The Four Ladies) (the lyric had been written by Dr. Celestino Fernandez from the University of Arizona).

A couple of months earlier Travis traveled down from his home in Mesa, Arizona to visit and connect with some of his Tucson friends. We talked about music and many other things. One month later, I ran into the legendary Tucson musician Lalo Guerrero and got the chance to tell him about how great Travis was doing and, pass along his phone number. Lalo was happy to hear about Travis and wanted to get together with him. Somewhere along the end of September 1998, Travis received a call from Lalo who invited him to a small get together in Tucson planned for October 1, 1998 the day before the dinner for Dorothy, Cele, Esther and Julieta.

I was busy writing the music for the corrido when I was informed Travis was thinking about attending the party and maybe even the dinner. It was also suggested Travis might consider performing at the event. Well I called him to check it out. Travis was thrilled about the whole idea and was eager to perform.

That night, center stage with the spotlight on, we sang, to a packed house, the original corrido "Las Cuarto Damas". Jose Luis Ibarra played guitarron, Cristobal Burton Jacome, played guitarra, I sang the lead vocal and played guitar and, Travis sang the sweetest harmony you ever heard! The combination of the Lyrics, melody and Travis created a once in a lifetime moment for everyone lucky enough to be there. As we descended from the stage Lupita Murillo announced a special surprise guest, Lalo Guerrero! He had been brought in to help celebrate the accomplishments of the Four Great Ladies of Tucson!

Wow, what an evening! It was great to hang out with Travis again! To hear him tell his fantastic stories and, to hear him laugh! May the Lord continue to bless him! I'm sure he knows how much Tucson loves him!

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From Tom Pickles: Art Podell forwarded your good news to me. I produced the Collector's Choice reissue, "The Definitive New Christy Minstrels."  It's doing quite well. Gordon Anderson of CCM had asked me my opinion about a Bud And Travis collection, so your efforts must have gotten to him. I reiterated that there is indeed an audience of Sixties Folkies alive and kicking out there. I hope the B &T release does at least as well as the Christy product, It might encourage Gordon to release other products in a similar style.  I'd lind of like to see him release a compilation by the Womenfolk, the Tarriers, and the Back Porch Majority.

Thanks for your diligence.

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From Tony Severino: This morning I heard a latin song on radio and it reminded me of Bud and Travis, whom I always loved and hadn't heard of for a long time.

On a whim I got on the Internet not expecting too much and, wow, I was overwhelmed. All that information about Bud and Travis, and a new CD to boot. I ordered it on the spot.

I was saddened to hear that Bud passed away. What a great team. Convey to Travis how much joy he and Bud have given my wife and I over the years with their music.

I have almost all those old Liberty albums, and from time to time, I pull them and play them. But like for most people, it is a convenience is to play CDs. I'm glad they finally "made it". And thanks to you, Tom, for this wonderful page as a tribute to them.

What a treat this discovery has been!

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From Bill Hunt: Thanks for the info on the new B&T CD. I missed out on Bud and Travis in my youth, but was introduced to them later by my college pal, fraternity brother, and former roommate George Jensen.  He must be B&T's greatest fan, and has some fairly mint condition original vinyl LP's.

He and I and our wives were in a place called "Daddy's Money," in Dallas, TX, during Xmas in 1973, and George recognized one of the 2 guitar-singers in the band as Travis Edmondson. I asked the guy at the break if it was he, and sure enough, it was. It was a small place, and we started making requests, all of which he honored.  He was just along for the ride in this little band, but when he played our requests, the other guy couldn't play along - too much fingerwork.

My parents live in Tucson, Travis' home. Travis told us that, att the time, Bud ran a place called "Bud Dashiell's Guitar Workshop," according to Travis, a place where John Denver and others would go for tune-ups prior to going on tour. One of my favorites is " Cloudy Summer Afternoon."  I plan on ordering a couple of the CD's, one for me and one for George, who will be thrilled. My parents in Tucson send me an occasional article on Travis, although there hasn't been much recently. He was always involved in music festivals there for up and coming artists, and his real love was mariachi music, I believe.  He once got the key to the city from the mayor for all his work in Tucson.

Anyway, Tom, thanks for your efforts.

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From Charlie Anderson: I heard the tune "TRULY DO" on Northern exposure Monday. I lost the dialogue because I was so entralled by this gorgeous song. Those harmonies! And the guitar work. Great! The song is going to be buzzing around in my brain until I hear it again (without Maurice Minnefield talking over it)!

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From Name Withheld: Thanks a million.  I just can't believe my good fortune in finding your Bud and Travis Home Page.  The real thrill, however, was discovering that you and others actually got someone to put their music  on CD.  I immediately bought 1 copy, and may return for others for family/friends. I have their "In Concert", bought in the early 1960's quite by accident.  I have loved and protected that album ever since...playing it on special occassions only to preserve it as long as I can.

I will buy any Bud and Travis CD that you and others can persuade the Collector's Choice people to make, as long as there is not needless duplication of tracks from one CD to another. You may pass this on to Collector's Choice as my ringing endorsement of further Bud and Travis efforts.

Thanks again.

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From Mike Woodward: I only found out yesterday on your web site that Bud had passed away.  I truly mourn his passing.  I was frankly shocked to find out.  I still remember him young. I said a prayer. God bless him, and God bless Travis too. Well, here's my Bud and Travis story. 

I was an enlisted submarine sailor.  On March 6, 1961, I was transferred to the Hawaiian Islands having just gone AWOL four times in a row. As punishments for my absences without leave, they sequentially, restricted me on board the sub, then busted me down one grade, then shaved my head and put me in the brig and finally disqualified me from subs altogether and sent me to sea duty.  Sea duty ended up being an assignment, not to a ship, but to Hawaii. What a punishment!

So there I was right after my arrival in the islands on liberty in Waikiki.  I'm walking down famous Kalakaua Avenue and come to the equally famous International Market Place.  At that time, Duke Kahanamoku's was right up at the sidewalk and you could look through some trellises to see what was going on inside. I peeked through for a few seconds, made my decision, went around to the entrance, paid the cover and got my first full evening ever of Bud and Travis.

Duke's wasn't a concert venue, it was a club with tables and candles and drinks. I sat directly in front of them a couple tables back. Sometimes the place was packed other times not.  I was riveted by their music and their schtick.  I stared. God, what talent!  My eyes and ears were wide open just like I was video taping them with my head.  Of course, the music was extraordinary, but what got me was the whole feeling of them as an act.  They were so damned sharp, so good.  They were entertainment heroes that I went back to see every night I could get away from Pearl Harbor Naval Station.

I didn't know how to support them enough, to laugh enough for them.  They were so funny and so sophisticated.  I guess my appreciation was a little obvious. I remember Bud especially coming over to the table to talk to me.  Not to shut me up, but to just acknowledge my appreciation.  I remember him as so kind during the table visit.

Maybe you all can remember if the line is on an album or not; I can't, but I used to crack up when they said in some context or other, "...the influence of Baroque Architecture on Papago Indian dwellings." Odd thing is, I said that very line yesterday morning here at work and found your great site in the afternoon.  I'm the Production Director of ICRT Radio in Taiwan, the Republic of China.

I even used the line unashamedly on occasion during my own show biz career.  I played congoes and bongos for a group called Daystar (a title taken from the Baha'i Faith's writings) and then became a stand-up comedian in Hawaii and did shows there from1978 to 1988 as Mike Woodward, Hawaii's First Haole Stand-Up Comedian. (Haole means white guy)  I even opened for Tina Turner and Warren Zevon. I know that the great style of these two guys influenced my own love of the comedy of words.

I owned the Concert Album and the Bud and Travis album and was just like all your other contributors in listening to them again and again. I feel musically these two guys were brilliant technically with what in my memory almost seems like chamber music "con push." Good lord, I just recalled that Mexican/American term.  It was theirs, and in their act, it meant with rhythm and excitement, with just a shade of sexual innuendo.  (That's a spanish "con" by the way.) 

I feel they were pioneers in the world music arena.  I know they were ahead of their time. If two haole guys were to do the latin stuff now that they did then, they'd be on top of the charts.  Bud and Travis were like from another world.  Their whole thing was ground-breaking.  Again, God bless them both.  I can just see Bud in the next world standing there so erect with his guitar high up on his chest playing for the angels saying, "You think this is good, wait 'til Travis gets here."

Love to you all!

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From Doug Kennedy: I studied and played with Bud for a bout a year in 1968,1969 at his little place at Westwood Music. As I remember it , it was there not down the street but it was a long time ago and I could be slightly off. We used to drool over Lorca and Manzaneros guitars. He was the last person I talked to in July of 1969 when, I called him from the LA induction Center as I was being drafted out of college. I was saddened to hear of his death. Sure had a good time with him, especially all the Boss Nova chords and trying to write hit songs that fit those patterns. I miss him.

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From Bob Shane (yep, THAT Bob Shane!!!): I was introduced to your page (a great page, BTW) by my good friend Travis Edmonson. I was just at his house for dinner Sat. nite and Rose Marie pulled it up for me. It is really super that you have put together a page for the two who inspired us the most. So thanks from another folk music "afficionado"!

Keep up the good work, and thanks again.

Sincerely,
Bob Shane, leader, The Kingston Trio

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From Don Armstrong: Enjoyed discovering your Bud & Travis homepage. I have enjoyed their music for over 35 years and it is nice to see them remembered. My wife Victoria and I are musicians and tour together as a duo and sometimes with our group "Peyote Coyote." A few years back we recorded B&T's arrangement of "Cielito Lindo Son Huasteco," and have included the lyrics here, in case you don't already have them, along with another of our favorites: "Los Dos."

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From Vanessa Buchthal:  Hi!

I just wanted to let you know that you have done me a major favor, given me back a piece of my childhood, and solved a mystery that's been plaguing me for decades (literally).

When I was a small child in the early 60's, my father used to sing me an absolutely beautiful song before I went to sleep .... "she's the butterfly in my cottonwood tree, she's a sweet sip of cider in the sun, she's a bluebird's wing, she's the song I sing, when my day is done...."

I cherished that song, but after he returned from Vietnam in 67 he stopped singing to us, and by the mid 1970's, when as a teenager I asked him to write down the lyrics because I couldn't remember any more than the first verse, he claimed he'd never heard of it.

I've been singing that first verse for 30 years, never found anyone who had *ever* heard of the song, and had begun to think that I had hallucinated it. But it stuck with me, there's something about the song that resonates, and I'm now singing it to my own baby daughter... and every single time frustrated that I only have one verse and scraps of the others.

In an idle moment, I did a search for the first lyric tonight, and *bam* -- one hit. On the lyrics section of your web page -- the song "Guess I'll Just Go Home"

Wow, the entire song back for me again *sob* ... and now I know where it came from.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! (And my daughter will thank you too :) )

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From John Chaffee: I found your B&T home page while searching for lyrics to "It Was A Very Good Year" Great Job!   Thanks to you, I have them now. I actually had remembered almost all of them from when I sang in a folk singing trio in the 60's we performed that song. At any rate, I would like to learn it again.

As I read your B&T homepage, I wish that I had paid more attention to Bud and Travis's music when they were popular.  Other favorites of mine that I didn't know were attributable to them include "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya" and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon."

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From Barry: Hey, Tom, great site!  I knew Bud and Trav back in LA, used to sit around with them, sing at hoot nights and all - mainly with Bud. And my good friend and fellow B&T fan and singer, Tom Ivey, who is copied on this message and who shared your URL with me, often sing one or more of their songs just to keep them alive for folks who didn't have the privilege of hearing them. I do plan to get the CD thanks.

Thanks again for the site!\

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From Bob Baron: Wow-I was surfing net and thought I would put a search for Bud and Travis, not expecting any results. What a great web site! I have the Latin Album but I do not have a record player anymore and was surprised and grateful for the CD release.  By the way, it is listed in Amazon's web site with a release date of April 20th. The gal at Collector's Choice said I should have it in 3-5 days.

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From Charlie Thomas: I have just visited your Bud and Travis home page etc. and I want to thank you for all the great information and memories. My reason for visiting your page is I was trying to find out what happened to Travis Edmonson. I am a Spanish professor st the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and I am doing what I'm doing because of a Bud and Travis concert in 1962. I have most of the albums which I, and my Spanish classes as well, have enjoyed through the years. La Vaquilla Colorada is always a favorite!

Thanks for sharing the Bud and Travis story with the world.!!

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