Background
Edmonson was born on September 23, 1932 in Long Beach, California, but grew up in Nogales, Arizona, just across the border from Mexico.
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Travis Edmonson
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended Tucson High School where he further developed as a singer and learned to play the guitar. After high school, Edmonson attended the University of Arizona, where he studied anthropology.
Career
At the age of 5, he briefly played the role of Curley on the Our Gang comedy short-film series. Edmonson took a strong interest in Native American tribes, including the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, helping to produce a Spanish-Yaqui dictionary. As a result, in 1948, the tribe made him an honorary member.
Travis studied other native communities, and even lived on an Apache reservation.
In the early 1950s, Edmonson served in the United States Army, before beginning his musical career in San Francisco. After singing solo, he joined a quartet, the Gateway Singers with Louis Gottlieb.
The two recorded eight albums in seven years and became quite popular, appearing at many nightclubs and on television, including a guest appearance on the show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The two played folk music, infused with the influence of Mexican styles that Edmonson enjoyed, particularly mariachi.
After seven years together, the two split up and Edmonson continued to perform solo.
Edmonson was considered a folk music "pioneer" and influenced groups such as the Kingston Trio.
Achievements
Membership
Bob Shane, the only surviving member of the trio, said in an interview that he "idolized him," saying "he had command of the stage better than anyone I"ve ever seen." Edmonson suffered a stroke in 1982, after which he experienced health problems and performed little until his death on May 9, 2009 in Mesa, Arizona.
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Born
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Died
March 9, 2009 (aged 76) -
Nationality
United States