Chet Atkins – The Most Incredible Country Music Guitarist Ever – Part 1
Guitarist Chet Atkins holds a place in musical history reserved for a really select few! His contributions to country music tunes are tremendous as is his influence on guitar players worldwide. Merely put, country tunes would not be the same today if it weren’t for Chet Atkins. Chet is likely the most recorded instrumentalist in the history of popular music! His guitar playing has graced the recordings of Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, Jerry Reed and Les Paul to name but a few. Initially a pupil of country fingerstyle guitar legend Merle Travis, Chet’s ground breaking guitar work throughout his recording profession of over 50 years has in turn influenced the styles of such notable guitar players as Mark Knopfler, Eric Johnson and George Harrison. Although his virtuosity on the instrument is well acknowledged, his abilities were not limited to the guitar alone. As a producer for RCA Victor records he is frequently credited for single-handedly producing the “Nashville Sound” as we know it nowadays – fusing the twang of classic country with a pop sensibility. His list of producer credits reads like a “who’s who” in well-liked country music which includes Patsy Klein, Waylan Jennings, Charlie Pride, Elvis Presley and Jerry Reed. He also found and signed such legendary artists as Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson, and Steve Wariner while also finding the time to release collection books of his own country guitar tabs.
Chester Burton Atkins was born on June 20th, 1924 in Luttrell, Tn about 20 miles northeast of Knoxville. His first musical influence was his older brother Jim, a highly accomplished guitar player who eventually went on to play with Les Paul. Chet’s mother and father separated when he was ten and he moved to Georgia to reside with his father, who was a music instructor and song coach for several traveling evangelists. At his brother’s suggestion, the fiddle became Chet’s first instrument but it wasn’t long before he obtained a Sears Silvertone guitar and started learning how to perform on it. He advanced quickly and by the time he left high school in 1941 at the age of 17, he had made up his mind to make a profession for himself in music.
Chet’s sophisticated guitar style was a difficult sell at first. He held a couple of performance slots at a variety of radio channels in Knoxville and Cincinnati, but he was frequently dismissed because his style wasn’t hillbilly enough. During this time while working with Homer and Jethro, Chet met his future wife Leona Johnson and they married in 1946. Later on that year Chet finally received a break when he made his first appearance at the Grand Old Opry where his ear grabbing style was greatly received! Several more radio positions followed in Virginia and Missouri but in 1947 with the delivery of his first daughter and poor job prospects, Chet moved back to Knoxville to work with Homer and Jethro. Eventually a tape of Chet’s radio performances was despatched to RCA Victor’s office in Chicago and made its way to the desk of Steve Sholes, the label’s head of country music. Soon after getting a now historic call from Sholes, Chet moved his loved ones to Nashville.
Peabody Conservatory trained guitarist Steven Herron helps guitar players become better guitarists. His company ChordMelody.com features an enormous selection of country guitar tabs as well as instructional DVDs by Chet Atkins himself. Find out more and claim Steven’s popular free monthly guitar lesson e-course available at: =>
http://www.chordmelody.com/Chet-Atkins.htm
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