Chet Atkins

Born: Jun 20, 1924 in Luttrell, TN

Died: Jun 30, 2001 in Nashville, TN

Style: Country, Nashville Sound, Boogie

Instruments: Fiddle, Guitar, Vocals

Without Chet Atkins, country music may never have crossed over into the pop charts in the ’50s and ’60s. Although he has recorded hundreds of solo records, Chet Atkins’ largest influence came as a session musician and a record producer. During the ’50s and ’60s, he helped create the Nashville sound, a style of country music that owed nearly as much to pop as it did to honky tonks. And as a guitarist, he is without parallel. Atkins’ style grew out of his admiration for Merle Travis, expanding Travis’ signature syncopated thumb and fingers roll into new territory… from All-Music Guide

Known as “Mr. Guitar,” Chet Atkins is the most recorded solo instrumentalist
in music history. As a studio musician, his string-tickling work has gilded the
records of Elvis Presley, Kitty Wells, The Everly Brothers, Hank Williams and
dozens of other Nashville legends. His style influenced such pop greats as
Mark Knopfler, Duane Eddy, George Harrison, The Ventures, George Benson
and Eddie Cochran, as well as thousands of country pickers. He has
won nine CMA Awards as Musician of the Year, four Playboy jazz poll
honors and thirteen Grammies, more than any other artist in the history of
country music…
from Official Biography

A seminal album for Chet Atkins and his fans. On this album Chet departed from the 75 or more country albums he recorded for RCA and created a jazz-fusion album with famous guest artists George Benson, Earl Klugh, Mark Knopfler, Larry Carlton, and Steve Lukather. The headlines in the Nashville Tennessean after Chet premiered this album live in 1983 were: “Chet Atkins Transforms Nashville Once Again.” A must-have album of true artistry. Includes “Sunrise” with George Benson.

Following the huge success of “Stay Tuned” this album continued the R&B/jazz dimension for Chet Atkins. Chet’s unique version of “Classical Gas” is included.

Co-produced with Chet by Toto’s original bassist David Hungate this album is considered one of Chet’s most beautiful ever. He is joined on this album once again by Mark Knopfler and Earl Klugh. Includes Knopfler’s song “Why Worry, the haunting title track “Sails”, and an original Chet tune “Wobegon (The Way It Used To Be) dedicated to Chet’s new friend Garrison Keillor. This album was a Grammy winner for Chet and Mark.

In the tradition of contemporary beauty found on “Sails” Chet performs, for the first time, his now-famous remembrance of his father “I Still Can’t Say Good-bye”, as well as John Lennon’s “Imagine” and 8 other songs. Chet loves this album.

He named it after himself!

By far Chet’s biggest selling album for Columbia Records, Chet and Dire Straits’ “rock” guitarist Mark Knopfler team up to deliver a guitar-lover’s dream album. This was another Grammy winner for Mark and Chet. You can listen to this album 10 times straight and never tire of it’s great musicianship, musical beauty, and the obvious joy two great players had with each other. Chet’s favorite reaction to this album was a fan’s asking “Did you guys know the mike was on when you recorded that album?” A must-have album for Chet’s fans, and fans of the guitar in general.

Another duet album for Chet, this time with guitar original Jerry Reed. Over the years Chet has recorded over 30 tunes written for guitar by Jerry Reed. On this album you get to hear Reed’s mastery of rhythmic melody on his famous “The Claw”, plus “Summertime” recorded as only Chet and Jerry could play it, Reed’s unique “Major Attempt at a Minor Thing” and 8 other gems.

This album combines the contemporary music of many of Chet’s Columbia albums with a return to his country roots by featuring country friends Steve Wariner and Suzy Bogguss as well as rock’s own Eric Johnson. TNN did a 1 hour Chet Atkins special based on this album. Chet’s famous version of “Vincent” is included here, as well as his Grammy winner “Young Thing”. Some of Chet’s diversity is well represented on this must-have album.

This newly recorded album features Chet Atkins as some like him best – almost alone. With many of the 11 tunes performed by Chet solo in his unique thumb-picking finger style Chet fans from around the world will love this reminder of the unique style that originally made Chet famous. Includes a live rendition of Chet singing his soon-to-be-a-classic “I Still Write Your Name In The Snow”.