Probably the best-known song about the life, trials and tribulations of coal miners came from the pen of Merle Travis. He based it on the life of miners in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States.Travis recorded the song in 1946. It didn’t become a number one hit on the Billboard country music charts until 1955 when Tennessee Ernie Ford made another version of it.
The song “16 Tons” has become extremely popular with singers such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Bo Diddley, Tom Jones and many more.Incredibly talented bassist Geoff Castellucci made his version of it. Using the miner’s tools as an accompaniment while performing A Capella is a brilliant decision.
