Travis Wammack

Travis Wammack
Born
Travis Lavoid Wammack Sr.

November 19, [1]1944
Walnut, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 2026(2026-02-27) (aged 81)
Alabama, U.S.
GenresRock and roll
Occupations
  • Guitarist
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1957–2026
Websitetraviswammack.com

Travis Lavoid Wammack Sr. (November 19, 1944 – February 27, 2026) was an American rock and roll guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee.

Described as an "instrumental genius"[2] and "a precursor to guitar-hero shredding",[3] he is known for his "magnificent guitar pyrotechnics",[4] "hot and speedy guitar chops",[2] and "wild guitar workouts"[5] featuring early use of fuzztone and distortion.[4] A child prodigy, Wammack's first recording was made when he was 12 years old, [6] and released in 1957 on Fernwood, and at the age of 19 he hit the American chart with "Scratchy", an instrumental which peaked at No. 80 in 1964. [7] He also charted briefly in 1966 at No. 128 with an instrumental version of "Louie Louie".[8]

Life and career

Wammack was born in Walnut, Mississippi, on November 19, 1944.[9]

He worked as a session guitarist at Sonic Recording Service[10] and Hi Records in Memphis and at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in the 1960s.[11][12] He released his first album, Travis Wammack, in 1972 and appeared on the charts with "Whatever Turns You On" (No. 95; written by George Jackson and Raymond Moore) and "How Can I Tell You" (No. 68; written by Cat Stevens). In 1975 he released his second album, Not For Sale, which generated two additional hits: "Easy Evil" (No. 72; written by Alan O'Day), and "(Shu-Doo-Pa-Poo-Poop) Love Being Your Fool" (No. 38; written by Jerry Williams, Jr. and Charlie Whitehead).[13][14]

He was Little Richard's band leader from 1984 until 1995. He wrote "Greenwood, Mississippi" which Richard recorded in 1970, featuring Wammack on lead guitar. In 1988, Richard recorded Wammack's "(There's) No Place Like Home", planned as a new single, but shelved. Live versions were included on Giants of Rock and Roll, an Australian DVD of a 1989 concert, and on compilations Live in Europe 1993 and The Quasar of Rock.

Still performing, Travis worked with Muscle Shoals Music Marketing and added record producer to his resume. In 1999 Wammack received the Professional Musician Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and in 2005 was inducted into The Southern Legends Entertainment & 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, he was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame as a rockabilly "legend".[7]

Wammack performed with Billy Lee Riley and with Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers at Newport, Arkansas's annual Depot Days Festival on September 27, 2008. On August 30, 2009 at the Silver Moon in Newport, Arkansas, he again played with Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers, and with other bands, at the Billy Lee Riley benefit concert. Wammack continued to perform live at the Depot Days Festival and other venues. [7][15][16]

Wammack died in Alabama on February 27, 2026, at the age of 81.[17]

Discography

Albums

  • Travis Wammack (Fame Records, 1972)
  • Not For Sale (Capricorn, 1975)
  • A Man...and a Guitar (Phonorama, 1982)
  • Follow Me (Phonorama, 1982)
  • Still Rockin (Snakeman Records, 1998)
  • Snake, Rattle & Roll in Muscle Shoals (Snakeman Records, 2000)
  • Rock-N-Roll Party (Travis Wammack, 2002)
  • Scratchy (Travis Wammack, 2006)
  • The Psychedelic Years - Live (Travis Wammack, 2006)
  • Memphis + Muscle Shoals = Travis Wammack (Travis Wammack, 2007)
  • Almost Home (Travis Wammack, 2008)
  • Country In My Soul (Muscle Shoals Records, 2009)
  • Shotgun Woman (Monaco Records, 2010)
  • Rock-N-Roll Days (Travis Wammack, 2010)
  • Rock-N-Roll Days Vol. II (Travis Wammack, 2011)
  • Blues, Soul & Rock-N-Roll (Travis Wammack, 20??)

Compilations

  • That Scratchy Guitar from Memphis (Bear Family Records, 1987)
  • Scr-Scr-Scratchy! (Zu Zazz Records, 2000)

References

  1. ^ https://www.colbertmemorial.com/obituaries/Travis-L-Wammack?obId=47436631
  2. ^ a b Koda, Cub. "Travis Wammack Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  3. ^ Wake, Matt (July 3, 2018). "Meet the unsung Muscle Shoals guitarist who's also a snake hunter". Al.com. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Smith, Michael B. (May 2001). ""Scratchy" Was Just The Beginning - Travis Wammack is Still Rocking". Memphis Tech High. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Travis Wammack Biography". lastfm.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/travis-wammack-mn0000013593#biography
  7. ^ a b c "Travis Wammack". Traviswammack.com. 2014. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1992). Bubbling Under The Hot 100 1959-1985. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-082-2.
  9. ^ https://www.colbertmemorial.com/obituaries/Travis-L-Wammack?obId=47436631
  10. ^ Woodward, WL (7 July 2020). "Travis Wammack – Memphis Royalty". Copper. No. 116. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 1229/30. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  12. ^ "Travis Wammack biography". Birmingham Record Collectors. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  13. ^ "The Staple Singers/The Staples: Unlock Your Mind - Track Listing - (Shu-Doo-Pa-Poo-Poop) Love Being Your Fool". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  14. ^ "Song: Easy Evil". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  15. ^ "Photo Archive". Depot Days Festival. 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  16. ^ "Depot Days Festival Schedule of Events". Depot Days Festival. 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  17. ^ "Alabama music legend who played on rock, R&B and country hits, has died". Al.com. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
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