Travis Linville was born in Chickasha, OK in Feb 1978. After hearing him sing and play a few notes, you will not be suprised to find out Linville comes from a musical family. His father was the youngest member of the Linville Family Band in the 1950's, performing at dances, parties, and live on KWCO radio in Chickasha. It was his dad's guitar that Travis found in the closet as a child, and it was the songs of the family gatherings and home-made recordings that inspired Travis to pursue music. After showing an exceptional talent for learning to strum and sing songs from Hank Williams to Fats Waller, at age 15 Linville submersed himself in the guitar. Through his music mentor Joe Settlemires (ella fitzgerald-texas playboys), Travis learned to master the art of classic guitar improvisation from Jazz to Jerry Reed. He moved to Norman, OK in 1996 to study art and music at the University of Oklahoma and later at University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Linville ended up spendng more time on the road making a living and paying dues playing a unique and gritty telecaster style in country music dancehalls. In 1999 Linville was hired to play guitar for Texas crooner legend Claude Gray and 1971 CMA entertainer of the year Freddie Hart. July 4 1999 at age 21 Travis Performed with Willie Nelson and Claude Gray at Willie Nelson's Picnic. This event inspired Travis and longtime friend bassist Jamie Kelley to record a homespun album of all original music titled "Travis Linville and the Burtschi Brothers - Uncertain Texas". the popularity of this underground release led to the formation of of the then fictional band.
The Burtschi Brothers became the hottest alt/americana/folkrock/jamband to arrive on the regional college scene. The Burtschi's (not really brothers) went on to release two more albums and performed live all over the central and southern US for the next five years. The 2001 release "Ain't Being Treated Right" is considered by many, the ultimate Burtschi album, featuring 17 well crafted original songs, the core band of Kelley, Kevin Webb, and Chris Foreman, plus, the slick steel guitar of Cindy Cashdollar. Other fans see the 2003 "Live in Oklahoma", with "over the top" guitar duo of Linville and Webb, and rhythm section of Foreman and Mike Phenix, blasting away in the local bars as the album that defines the band. The Burtschi Brothers played their last show December 31, 2005 and split just before the release of "Hometown Blues". This album marks Travis' transition from band leader to solo artist, showcasing ten Linville songs, with a stellar band. Webb, Foreman, Rick Fogarty, Warren Roach, and the cool harmonica of Mickey Raphael back linville as only they could. In 2006 Travis continued to tour as a solo artist, as well as sitting in and popping up as a lead guitarist/multi insturmentalist for many successful groups in the "texas music" scene. Also in 06, Linville bought a house in the woods near Norman and opened the newly infamous DirtyBird Recording with Okie rocker Mike McClure. When not on the road, Linville is often in the studio engeneering and producing albums for other artists. For most of 2007 Travis became a regular lead guitar player with singer/songwriter, Hayes Carll(Lost Highway), touring the US, Canada, and Europe. Recnetly, Linville released his first truely solo record, "See You Around". Recorded at the Dirtybird, in live "demo" fashion, "See You around" offers Travis at his most fundamental...an extraordinary guitar picker and songwriter. 2008 finds the 30 year old okie revitalized and returning to his own work. You can find Travis on the road promoting his new record at festivals and original music venues across the states and beyond.
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06/06/2009 - Norman's Summer Breeze features state singer, songwriter -
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05/28/2009 - Travis Linville to play at Lions Park June 7 -
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