Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an American guitarist, occasional vocalist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins' signature picking style was inspired by Merle Travis. Other major guitar influences were Django Reinhardt, George Barnes, Les Paul and later Jerry Reed. His trademark picking style and musicianship brought him admirers within and outside the country scene, both in the United States and internationally. Atkins produced records for The Browns, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Perry Como, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings and many others.Among many honors, Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
June 30, 2001, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Place Of Birth
Luttrell, Tennessee, USA
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Profession
Soundtrack, Actor, Composer
Nationality
American
Spouse
Leona Johnson (m. 1946–2001)
Children
Merle Atkins Russell
Parents
Ida Sharp, James Arley Atkins, Yakety Sax, I'll See You in My Dreams, Mister Sandman
Awards
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance, Country Music Association Award for Instrumentalist of the Year, Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, Country Music Association Award for Musician of the Year, Billboard Music Century Award...
Music Groups
The Carter Sisters
Nominations
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year, Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year, Yakety Sax, I'll See You in My Dreams, Mister Sandman
Movies
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music, A Tribute to Chet Atkins, Webb Pierce & Chet Atkins, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed: In Concert, Chet Atkins: Rare Performances 1955-1975, Hank Williams: In the Hank Williams Tradition, Guitar Odyssey: Wired for Sound
TV Shows
Jethro And Friends
Star Sign
Gemini
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Quote
1
I was more interested in my guitar than the fiddle and I'd fool around practicing whenever I could. One time the radio-station boss heard me playing my guitar in the back seat of his car. He told me to throw away the fiddle for good and he'd give me a job playing guitar.
2
Once when I was on a cruise ship I was practicing on deck and drew a little crowd. When I was done, one lady told me "You're good but you're no Chet Atkins."
3
Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre.
4
[on producing records with Jim Reeves, aka "Gentleman Jim", who joined RCA in 1955 after recording several years for Abbott Records] When I first met and started working with him, he was singing too high. He was a great baritone, but he wasn't a very good tenor. I always tried to keep him down in a low key, because when he did that, he sounded wonderful to me. He knew I liked it when he sang in that low key, but occasionally he'd kid me a little and pitch it up a little too high.
5
[on the first time he heard Hank Garland] I was in Knoxville, and I heard this chorus. I don't recall the artist now, but I remember then that I thought it was the greatest guitar chorus I'd ever heard, so I checked around and found out it was Hank Garland who played it.
6
Hank Garland was very outspoken and he had a lot of ideas. He didn't take any talk from any producer. If they said something smart to him, his face would get real red and he'd say something back. But he was such a good musician that everyone had a terrible amount of respect for him, so nobody stepped on his toes. He could only help you: he was so good, he could never hurt you.
7
I realized that what I liked, the public would like, too, 'cause I'm kind of square.
8
Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they'll hear my guitars speaking for me.
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Fact
1
Designed electric guitars for the Gretsch Company, including the one George Harrison played the first two times The Beatles performed on CBS's The Ed Sullivan Show, "The Chet Atkins Country Gentleman". That guitar, among others he designed for Gretsch, are still available today.
2
Covered the song "Sugarfoot Rag" by Hank Garland, for his album "Guitar Country" (1964)
3
Was a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator with the call sign W4CGP. His call is now owned by a young musician who is a big admirer of the late star.
4
Brother of singer/radio personality Jim Atkins.
5
Was the brother-in-law of Jethro of the country-music comedy duo Homer and Jethro.
6
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (under the category Side-Men).
7
Daughter, Merle (named after Merle Travis), born 1947.
8
Recorded 100+ albums.
9
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973, at age 49.
10
Won 14 Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.
11
Played guitar on many classic recordings, such as Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel", Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart", and the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up, Little Susie".
12
Country music guitarist and record company executive.
$1.6 Million
