Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Background information
Birth name	Chester Burton Atkins
Also known as	Mr. Guitar The Country Gentleman
Born	June 20, 1924(1924-06-20) Luttrell, Tennessee, USA
Died	June 30, 2001 (aged 77)
Genre(s)	Country, Classical, Folk, Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter, Producer
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1942 - 2001
Label(s)	RCA Records Columbia Records
Website	Official Website
Notable instrument(s)
Country Gentleman Tennessean 6120

Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Luttrell is a town in Union County, Tennessee, United States, with a population of 915 as of the 2000 census. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Gretsch is a US Musical instrument manufacturer currently being distributed by Guitar company Fender and Drum craft company Gretsch is a US Musical instrument manufacturer currently being distributed by Guitar company Fender and Drum craft company Gretsch is a US Musical instrument manufacturer currently being distributed by Guitar company Fender and Drum craft company Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing

His picking style, inspired by Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes and Les Paul, brought him admirers both within and outside the country scene, both in the U.S.A. and internationally. Merle Robert Travis ( November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American Country and western singer songwriter Jean "Django" Reinhardt ( January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Gypsy jazz Guitarist George Barnes may refer to George Nicoll Barnes (1859&ndash1940 &mdash Scottish politician Leader of the UK Labour Party George Barnes (actor Les Paul (born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9 1915) is an American Jazz guitarist and Inventor. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Atkins produced records for Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Waylon Jennings, and others. Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como ( May 18 1912 &ndash May 12 2001) was an Italian-American singer and television personality Richard Edward Arnold (known as Eddy Arnold) ( May 15, 1918  &ndash May 8, 2008) was an American Country music Donald Eugene Gibson ( April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American Songwriter James Travis "Jim" Reeves ( August 20 1923 &ndash July 31 1964) was an American country and Pop singer Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American Skeeter Davis (born Mary Frances Penick December 30, 1931 – September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador 14 August, 1941, in Elkhart Indiana) is an American Country music singer Waylon Arnold Jennings ( June 15, 1937 &ndash February 13, 2002) was an influential American Country music Singer

He created, along with Owen Bradley, the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country music's appeal to include adult pop music fans as well. Owen Bradley (c October 21, 1915 - January 7 1998) was an influential American Record producer Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. The Nashville sound arose during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American Country music, replacing the chart dominance of Honky tonk music which was

Biography

Chet Atkins was born on June 20, 1924, in Luttrell, Tennessee, near the Clinch Mountains, and grew up with his mother, two brothers and a sister—he was the youngest. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Luttrell is a town in Union County, Tennessee, United States, with a population of 915 as of the 2000 census. His parents divorced when he was six. He started out on the ukulele, later moving on to the fiddle, but traded his brother Lowell an old pistol and some chores for a guitar when he was nine. The ukulele (ˌjʉːkəˈlɛɪli from ʻukulele /ˌʔukuˈlele/ variantly spelled ukelele (particularly in the UK) or alternatively abbreviated uke ^[1] He stated in his 1974 biography, "We were so poor and everybody around us was so poor that it was the forties before anyone even knew there had been a depression. " Forced to relocate to Georgia to live with his father due to a near-fatal asthma condition, Chet was a sensitive youth who made music his obsession. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Asthma is a chronic Condition involving the Respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict become inflamed, and are Because of his illness, he was forced to sleep in a straight-back chair in order to breathe comfortably. On those nights, he would play his guitar until he fell asleep holding it, a habit that lasted his whole life. ^[2]

Stories have been told about the very young Chet who, when a friend or relative would come to visit, and if that person played a guitar, would crowd in and put his ear so very close to the instrument that it became difficult for that person to play. ^[2] This was an early demonstration of his affinity for the instrument that would later become his life, and that he would take around the world, playing packed concert halls from Nashville to the Boston Pops.

Atkins became an accomplished guitarist while he was in high school. ^[1] He would use the restroom in the school to practice, because it gave better acoustics. ^[3][4] His first guitar had a nail for a nut and was so bowed that only the first few frets could be used. ^[5] He later purchased a semi-acoustic electric guitar and amp, but he had to travel many miles to find an electrical outlet since his home had no electricity. ^[6]

Atkins did not have a strong style of his own until 1939 when (while still living in Georgia) he heard Merle Travis picking over WLW radio. Merle Robert Travis ( November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American Country and western singer songwriter WLW is a Clear channel radio station located in Cincinnati Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications and broadcasting on 700 kHz AM. ^[2] This early influence dramatically shaped his unique playing style. Whereas Travis's right hand utilized his index finger for the melody and thumb for bass notes, Atkins expanded his right hand style to include picking with his first three fingers, with the thumb on bass. The result was a clarity and complexity that became his unmistakable sound.

Later in life he lightheartedly gave himself (along with John Knowles, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Wariner and Jerry Reed) the honorary degree CGP, standing for "Certified Guitar Player". Tommy Emmanuel (born 31 May 1955) is an Australian Guitarist, best known for his incredibly complex Fingerpicking style energetic Steve Wariner (born Steven Noel Wariner, December 25 1954, Noblesville Indiana) is an American Country music singer Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American ^[5] His half-brother Jim was a successful guitarist who worked with the Les Paul Trio in New York. Les Paul (born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9 1915) is an American Jazz guitarist and Inventor. ^[2]

Career

Early career

After dropping out of high school in 1942, he landed a job at WNOX radio in Knoxville. WNML, WNML-FM, and WNRX (branded as The Sports Animal) are Sports radio stations serving the Knoxville Tennessee area There he played fiddle and guitar with singer Bill Carlisle and comic Archie Campbell as well as becoming a member of the station's "Dixieland Swingsters," a small swing instrumental combo. Archie Campbell was a writer and star of Hee Haw, a popular long-running country -flavored television variety show After three years, he moved to WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Merle Travis had formerly worked. WLW is a Clear channel radio station located in Cincinnati Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications and broadcasting on 700 kHz AM. After six months he moved to Raleigh and worked with Johnnie and Jack before heading for Richmond, Virginia, where he performed with Sunshine Sue Workman. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Atkins's shy personality worked against him, as did the fact that his sophisticated style led many to doubt he was truly "country. " He was fired often but was soon able to land another job at another radio station due to his unique playing ability. ^[2]

Traveling to Chicago, he auditioned for Red Foley, who was leaving his star position at the WLS National Barn Dance to join the Grand Ole Opry. Clyde Julian "Red" Foley ( June 17 1910 – September 19 1968) was a Country music Singer. The National Barn Dance was a Country music Radio program first heard on WLS (AM in Chicago Illinois and later on NBC The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee ^[7] Atkins made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in 1946 as a member of Foley's band. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He also recorded a single for Nashville-based Bullet Records that year. That single, "Guitar Blues," was fairly progressive, including as it did, a clarinet solo by Nashville dance band musician Dutch McMillan with Owen Bradley on piano. Owen Bradley (c October 21, 1915 - January 7 1998) was an influential American Record producer He had a solo spot on the Opry for a while but when that was cut Atkins moved on to KWTO in Springfield, Missouri, and despite the support of executive Si Siman, soon was fired for not sounding country enough. KWTO refers to two Radio stations in Springfield Missouri, USA Springfield is a city in Christian and Greene Counties in the U ^[2]

RCA Victor signs Atkins

While working with a Western Band in Denver, Colorado, Atkins came to the attention of RCA Victor. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. Si Siman had been encouraging Steve Sholes to sign Atkins, as his style (with the success of Merle Travis as a hit recording artist) was suddenly in vogue. Stephen H Sholes ( February 12, 1911 &ndash April 22, 1968) was a prominent recording executive with RCA Victor. Merle Robert Travis ( November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American Country and western singer songwriter Sholes, A&R director of country music at RCA, tracked Atkins down to Denver. He made his first RCA recordings in Chicago in 1947. They did not sell. He did some studio work for RCA that year but had relocated to Knoxville again where he worked with Homer and Jethro on WNOX's new Saturday night radio show the Tennessee Barn Dance and the popular Midday Merry Go Round. Homer and Jethro were an American Country music team with a long career from the 1940s through the 1960s sometimes known as "the thinking man's hillbillies Still, it was a hard way to make a living for a family man for by then he had a wife and daughter. He even contemplated tuning pianos as a sideline. In 1949 he left WNOX to join Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters back at KWTO. Valerie June Carter Cash ( June 23, 1929 &ndash May 15, 2003) was a Singer, Songwriter, actress, comedienne This incarnation of the old Carter Family featured Maybelle Carter and daughters June, Helen and Anita. The Carter Family was a Country music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956 Their work soon attracted attention from the Opry. The group relocated to Nashville in mid-1950. Atkins began working on recording sessions, performing on WSM and the Opry. ^[2]

Hank Snow and Chet in the RCA Nashville studio.

While he hadn't yet had a hit record on RCA his stature was growing. He began assisting Sholes as a Session Leader when the New York-based producer needed help organizing Nashville sessions for RCA artists. Atkins's first hit single was "Mr. Sandman," followed by "Silver Bell," which he did as a duet with Hank Snow. "Mr Sandman" is a popular song written by Pat Ballard which was published in 1954 and first recorded in that year by The Chordettes Clarence Eugene Snow ( May 9, 1914 &ndash December 20, 1999) better known as Hank Snow, was a Hall of Fame Country music His albums also became more popular. In addition to recording, Atkins became a design consultant for Gretsch, who manufactured a popular Chet Atkins line of electric guitars from 1955-1980. Gretsch is a US Musical instrument manufacturer currently being distributed by Guitar company Fender and Drum craft company Atkins also became manager of RCA's Nashville studio eventually inspiring and seeing the completion of the legendary Studio 'B'. This studio was the first studio built specifically for the purpose of recording on the now famous 'Music Row'. ^[5]

Performer and manager

When Sholes took over pop production in 1957 — a result of his success with Elvis Presley — he put Atkins in charge of RCA's Nashville division. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) With country music record sales in tatters as rock and roll took over, Atkins and Bob Ferguson took their cue from Owen Bradley and eliminated fiddles and steel guitar as a means of making country singers appeal to pop fans. For other uses see Bob Ferguson Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson Sr ( December 30, 1927 &ndash July 22 Owen Bradley (c October 21, 1915 - January 7 1998) was an influential American Record producer This became known as 'The Nashville Sound' which Chet said was a label created by the media attached to a style of recording done during that period in an effort to keep country (and their jobs) viable. The Nashville sound arose during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American Country music, replacing the chart dominance of Honky tonk music which was Atkins used the Jordanaires and a rhythm section on hits like Jim Reeves' "Four Walls" and "He'll Have to Go" and Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" and "Blue Blue Day. The Jordanaires are an American singing group formed in 1948 in Springfield Missouri. James Travis "Jim" Reeves ( August 20 1923 &ndash July 31 1964) was an American country and Pop singer Donald Eugene Gibson ( April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American Songwriter " The once rare phenomenon of having a country hit "cross over" to pop success became more common. Crossover is a term applied to Musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the Record charts which track differing musical tastes or genres He and Bradley had essentially put the producer in the driver's seat, guiding an artist's choice of material and the musical background.

Atkins made his own records, which usually visited pop standards and jazz, in a sophisticated home studio, often recording the rhythm tracks at RCA but adding his solo parts at home, refining it all until the result satisfied him. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States ^[5] Guitarists of all styles came to admire various Atkins albums for their unique musical ideas and in some cases experimental electronic ideas. In this period he became known internationally as Mister Guitar (also the name of one of Atkins's albums). His trademark "Atkins Style" of playing, which was and is very difficult for a guitarist to master, uses the thumb and first two — sometimes three — fingers of the right hand. He developed this style from listening to Merle Travis occasionally on a primitive radio. He was sure no one could play that articulately with just the thumb and index finger (which actually was exactly how Travis played) and he assumed it required the thumb and two fingers — and that was the style he pioneered and mastered. He enjoyed jamming with fellow studio musicians which led to them being asked to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960. The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every August in Newport Rhode Island, USA. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Although that performance was canceled due to rioting, a live recording of the group (After the Riot at Newport) was released. Atkins performed by invitation at the White House for presidents Kennedy through George H. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence W. Bush.

Before his mentor Sholes died in 1968, Atkins had become vice president of RCA's country division. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He had brought Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Bobby Bare, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed and John Hartford to the label in the 1960s and inspired and helped countless others. Waylon Arnold Jennings ( June 15, 1937 &ndash February 13, 2002) was an influential American Country music Singer Willie Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country Singer-songwriter and Actor. Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador 14 August, 1941, in Elkhart Indiana) is an American Country music singer Bobby Bare (born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton Ohio) is an American Country music singer and songwriter Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Country music Singer / Songwriter, Author, actress Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American John Cowan Hartford ( December 30 1937 &ndash June 4 2001) was an American folk, country and bluegrass ^[8] He took a considerable risk during the mid-1960s, when the Civil Rights Movement sparked violence throughout the South by signing country music's first African-American singer Charley Pride, who sang rawer country than the smoother music Atkins had pioneered. See also Protests of 1968 Historically the civil rights movement was a concentrated period of time around the world of approximately twenty years (1960-1980 in Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938) is a Country music artist But Atkins's hunch paid off. Ironically, some of Pride's biggest fans were from the most conservative country fans, many of whom didn't care for the pop stylings Atkins had added.

Atkins's own biggest hit single came in 1965, with "Yakety Axe," an adaptation of his friend saxophonist Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax". Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III ( June 3, 1927 &ndash July 3, 2007) was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone " Yakety Sax " is a 1963 45 rpm single written by Boots Randolph and James Q He rarely performed in those days, and eventually had to hire other RCA producers like Bob Ferguson and Felton Jarvis to alleviate his workload. For other uses see Bob Ferguson Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson Sr ( December 30, 1927 &ndash July 22 Felton Jarvis, (1934 – 1981 produced most of Elvis Presley 's recordings from 1966-1977 ^[5]

Atkins retires from management

In the 1970s, Atkins became increasingly stressed by his executive duties. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. He produced fewer records but could still turn out hits such as Perry Como's pop hit "And I Love You So. Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como ( May 18 1912 &ndash May 12 2001) was an Italian-American singer and television personality " He recorded extensively with close friend and fellow picker Jerry Reed, who'd become a hit artist in his own right. Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American A 1973 bout of colon cancer, however, led Atkins to redefine his role at RCA, to allow others to handle administration while he went back to his first love, the guitar, often recording with Reed or even Homer & Jethro's Jethro Burns (Atkins's brother-in-law) after Homer died in 1971. Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes Cancerous growths in the colon, Rectum and Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American Homer and Jethro were an American Country music team with a long career from the 1940s through the 1960s sometimes known as "the thinking man's hillbillies ^[5]

By the end of the '70s, Atkins's time had passed as a producer. New executives at RCA had different ideas. He first retired from his position in the company, and then began to feel stifled as an artist because RCA would not let him branch out into jazz. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States At the same time he grew dissatisfied with the direction Gretsch (no longer family-owned) was going and withdrew his authorization for them to use his name and began designing guitars with Gibson. The Gibson Guitar Corporation of Nashville Tennessee, USA is a manufacturer of acoustic and Electric guitars The company's most popular guitar He left RCA in 1982 and signed with Columbia Records, for whom he produced a debut album in 1983. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) ^[7] While he was with Columbia, he showed his creativity and taste in jazz guitar, and in various other contexts. Jazz had always been a strong love of his, and often in his career he was criticized by "pure" country musicians for his jazz influences. He also said on many occasions that he did not like being called a "country guitarist", insisting that he was a guitarist, period. Although he played 'by ear' and was a masterful improviser he was able to read music and even performed some classical guitar pieces. When Roger C. Field, a friend (in Atkins' book "Me and My Guitars"), suggested to him in 1991 that he record and perform with a female singer he did so with Suzy Bogguss. Roger C Field (born July 31, 1945) is an inventor with over 100 patents an industrial designer and a well known guitarist Suzy Bogguss (born Susan Kay Bogguss, December 30, 1956) is an American Country music Singer. He did return to his country roots for albums he recorded with Mark Knopfler and Jerry Reed. Mark Knopfler OBE (born August 12 1949 Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Jerry Reed Hubbard ( March 20, 1937 &ndash August 31, 2008) known professionally as Jerry Reed was an American ^[5] On being asked to name the ten most influential guitarists of the 20th century, he named Django Reinhardt to the first position on the list, and placed himself at fifth position. Jean "Django" Reinhardt ( January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Gypsy jazz Guitarist ^[9]

In later years he even went back to radio, appearing on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, and even picking up a fiddle from time to time. A Prairie Home Companion is a live Radio Variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. ^[5]

Legacy

Atkins received numerous awards, including fourteen Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993), and nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who during their lifetimes have made creative contributions of outstanding The Country Music Association (CMA was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ^[7] Billboard magazine awarded him their Century Award, their "highest honor for distinguished creative achievement", in December 1997. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry ^[10]

Atkins expanded the universe for guitarists — and lovers of guitar music — in a way no one did before. His love for numerous styles of music can be traced from his early recording of stride-pianist James P. Johnson's "Johnson Rag," all the way to the rock stylings of Eric Johnson, an invited guest on Atkins's recording sessions who, when Chet attempted to copy his influential rocker "Cliffs of Dover," led to Atkins's creation of a unique arrangement of "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy). James Price Johnson ( February 1 1894 &ndash November 17 1955) was an African-American Pianist and Composer. Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is a Guitarist and recording artist from Austin Texas. "

Chet's recordings of "Malaguena" inspired a new generation of Flamenco guitarists; the countless classical guitar selections peppering almost all his albums were, for many American artists working in the field today, the first classical guitar they ever heard. Flamenco is a Spanish term that refers both to a musical genre known for its intricate rapid passages and a dance genre characterized by its audible footwork He could certainly play as jazzy or bluesy as he wanted, even recording smooth jazz guitar still played on American airwaves today. Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation

While he did more performing in the 1990s his health grew frail as the cancer returned and worsened. He died on June 30, 2001 at his home in Nashville.

Atkins was quoted many times throughout his career, and of his own legacy he once said:

A stretch of Interstate 185 in southwest Georgia (between LaGrange and Columbus) is named "Chet Atkins Parkway". The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule LaGrange is a City in Troup County, Georgia, United States. It is named after the country estate near Paris of the Marquis de Columbus is a City in Muscogee County, Georgia, United States. ^[11]

In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States ^[8] His award was presented by Marty Stuart and Brian Setzer and accepted by Atkin's grandson, Jonathan Russell. John Marty Stuart (b September 30 1958, Philadelphia Mississippi) is an American country music singer known for both his traditional Brian Setzer (born April 10 1959, Massapequa, New York) is an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter The following year, Atkins ranked #28 in CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Country Music Television, or CMT as it is usually called is an American Country music -oriented Cable television network The 40 Greatest Men of Country Music is a three hour television special that first aired on March 28 2003 on CMT.

Discography

Further information: Chet Atkins discography

References

• Kienzle, Rich. (1998). "Chet Atkins". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 26-7.

External links

• Chet Atkins Official Website
• Chet Atkins Fan Club
• A-Team Musicians
• Chet Atkins Interview - Vintage Guitar Magazine - June 1996
• AMG Entry for Chet Atkins
• Chet Atkins side man - Paul Yandell
• Chet Atkins keyboardist
• Chet Atkins' Gravesite