Bluegrass in the halls of North Campus
Carly Blahnik
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Campus Life
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Martin, 84, started his group back in 1954 with fellow Dixie Traveler Mike Carson, and they are the only original members in the group today. Norman Azinger, Jake Abrams and Bob, Martin's youngest son, help comprise the present group of the music-loving Travelers.
Six CDs and several performances later, this group of very talented men know a thing or two about how to handle an instrument. Martin, formerly an accountant for Volkweins music store, plays the mandolin and guitar. He acquired a very rare Lloyd Loar F5 mandolin, which is an exquisite instrument that was made from 1923-1924.
Martin's son plays lead guitar and also lends his deep and well-tuned voice to many of their songs.
Abrams, the group's occasional banjo player of one year, finds himself occupied most of the time with his own band, Timber Ridge, which his wife is also a member.
Carson, taught himself to play the fiddle many years ago and brilliantly lights up the melody with his fast strumming. Azinger, supported by his wife, Joann, joined the group in 1972. He brings the huge bass fiddle to life and brings a unique characteristic to the group's sound.
"This group works together as a team and over the years has become family," Mac said when asked about the group's dynamic. "It's great to play with these talented people that can really keep up with our music's tempo."
While the group does function as family, Mac Martin (formally William Colleran) knows a thing about family himself. Married for 57 years with five children, and add to that a passion for music, Martin has been a very busy man. The group performs around 30 shows a year, most of them in the summertime at festivals and fairs.
Mac and his Travelers focus on traditional bluegrass music with a bit of blues mixed in. They vocally and instrumentally back up their excellent music and have had enough success to produce their CDs, available to the public on Itunes and their website at www.thedixietravelers.com.
The group will continue to perform in the area for as long as they are able. Mac, their fearless leader, is energized about his upcoming trip to Ireland where he will visit family and, of course, keep playing his music.