There are some names you never forget. Names like Narvel Felts, Felton
Jarvis, Elvis Presley...Good Southern names for self-styled boys that made
some of rock-n-roll’s great wild records. Such a name and such a man is
Travis Wammack. Born in Walnut, Mississippi, he began his professional
music career when he wrote and recorded his first record at the tender age of
eleven, and also became the youngest member ever voted into the musicians
union. After moving to Memphis, Tennesse, the young guitarist made his mark
on the music world at the age of sixteen with his 1963 number one hit
“Scratchy”. He was the first to develop and use the fuzz tone for an electric
guitar. By 1969, Wammack’s skills landed him in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
where he teamed with legendary producer Rick Hall at Hall’s FAME Records.
Travis’ guitar licks can be heard on hit records that have sold over 'SIXTY
MILLION' copies!…songs recorded by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson
Pickett, Little Richard, Mac Davis, Clarence Carter, the Osmond Brothers,
Bobbie Gentry, Candi Staton, Delbert McClinton, Liza Minnelli, Narvel Felts
and many more. Wammack’s solo artist career (produced by Hall) also sky
rocketed with the release of albums in 1971 and 1975. He traveled the world
as Little Richard’s band leader from 1984 until 1995, performing on several
nationally syndicated television programs as well as President Bill Clinton’s
inauguration party. Wammack became known as the “Fastest Guitar Player In
The South”, where he was described by Rolling Stone’s Greg Shaw as “the
fastest guitar player I have ever heard in my life, and not just fast but good.
Brilliant, even. His stage show is flamboyant and exciting.” In 1998, Wammack
released his live CD "Still Rockin’". It contains a collection of rock and soul
classics from the 60's and 70's. In 2000, his “Snake, Rattle & Roll in Muscle
Shoals” CD was released. This release contains a collection of Travis’ best
original material and is sure to rock you with a touch of soul. In 2002
Wammack released another live CD “Rock-N-Roll Party" which showcases
everything from his soul vocals on ‘Dreams To Remember’, his dazzling guitar
work and voice-box on ‘Rocky Mountain Way’, to the swampy slide work on
his original ‘Rock-N-Roll Shoes’. In 2008 Travis released the CD "Memphis +
Muscle Shoals = Travis Wammack" which includes more of his original rock-n-
soul tunes, including a medley of "Scratchy" & "Firefly". In 2008 he also
released his first gospel CD "Almost Home". In 2009 he released his fist
country CD "Country In My Soul". In 2010 Travis released "Rock-N-Roll Days",
an acoustic show of oldies but goodies and in 2011 released "Rock-N-Roll
Days Vol. II". Travis now works with Muscle Shoals Music Marketing, and has
added “Producer” to his already impressive resume. He is a member of the
‘Memphis Music Hall of Fame’, and in 1999 Wammack received the
Professional Musician Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. In 2005 he
was inducted into The Southern Legends Entertainment And Performing Arts
Hall Of Fame. In May 2006, Gibson Guitars presented Travis with a new
Gibson ES-335 guitar as part of their documentary honoring legendary Gibson
ES series players. In 2011 Travis was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of
Fame.
