Mac Martin

William "Mac Martin" Colleran used to listen to "hillbilly music" on WWVA and WSM Grand Ole Opry when he was young. Colleran had his first guitar at the age of fifteen. Shortly afterwards, he joined up with Ed Brozi, performing as a duo. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the island of Okinawa. In the late 1940s, Colleran formed his first group the "Pike County Boys" consisting of Bill Higgins, fiddle and Bill Wagner, bass, who began playing regularly on WHJB in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Because there were three "Bills" in the group, Colleran changed his name to Mac Martin. In 1953, the "Pike County Boys" left WHJB. In the mid 1950s, Colleran got together with Mike Carson and Billy Bryant and by 1957 the Dixie Travelers was formed. The newly formed group began performing at Walsh's Lounge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and did so until 1976. Musicians such as Earl Banner, Slim Jones, Frank Batista, Norm Azinger, Bud Smith, Keith Little and Bob Artis have all been part of the Dixie Travelers. They recorded for Gateway Records and Rural Rhythm Records.

• Pittsburgh Live.com