Comer “Moon” Mullins

The late Merle Travis left an indelible and distinctive mark on the vast world of guitar playing inspiring the likes of Chet Atkins and the Everly Brothers' father, Ike. Lots of country boys grew up thinking that was the only way to play the guitar. None of its impact faded on Comer "Moon" Mullins, after he sold enough garden seeds at age 11 to buy his first guitar. It's that one-man combo sound the guitar gets when the thumb lays down a steady rhythm on the bass strings while its neighboring fingers swing a melody on the higher strings. Moon calls this style "thumb-picking," because a lot of players wear a pick on their thumbs for emphasis. He has won several contests in this popular style of guitar, and since 1985 has headquartered at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Ark., where he has found himself on stage with Pee Wee King and the cowboy sweetheart, Patsy Montana. And you know, he sings pretty well, too.