Chet Atkins: Difference between revisions

{{Redirect|Chester Atkins|the former U.S. congressman|Chester G. Atkins}}

{{Redirect|Mr. Guitar|the album by Charlie Byrd|Mr. Guitar (album)|the album by Chet Atkins|Mister Guitar}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

| birth_place      = [[Luttrell, Tennessee]], U.S.

| death_date        = {{death date and age|2001|6|30|1924|6|20}}

| genre            = {{flatlist|

* [[jazz]]

* [[classical music|classical]]

| occupation        = {{flatlist|

}}

| instrument        = Guitar

}}

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' credited Atkins with inventing the "popwise 'Nashville sound' that rescued country music from a commercial slump" and ranked him number 21 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins">[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 "Chet Atkins"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827202538/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 |date=August 27, 2017 }}. ''Rolling Stone''.</ref> In 2023, Atkins was named the 39th best guitarist of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-10-13 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Among many other honors, Atkins received 14 [[Grammy Award]]s and the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. He also received nine [[Country Music Association]] awards for Instrumentalist of the Year. He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]], and the [[Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum]].

Stories have been told about the very young Chet who, when a friend or relative would come to visit and play guitar, crowded the musician and put his ear so close to the instrument that it became difficult for the visitor to play.<ref name="CG" />

Later in life, he lightheartedly gave himself (along with [[John Knowles (guitarist)|John Knowles]], [[Tommy Emmanuel]], [[Steve Wariner]], and [[Jerry Reed]]<ref>{{YouTube|M8AXs6oRPnQ|'Interview of Chet Atkins'}}</ref>) the honorary degree CGP ("Certified Guitar Player").<ref name="mamg" />

| url-status = dead

}}</ref>

While he had not yet had a hit record for RCA Victor, 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 Victor artists. Atkins's first hit single was "[[Mr. Sandman]]", followed by "Silver Bell", which he recorded as a duet with [[Hank Snow]]. His albums also became more popular. He was featured on ABC-TV's ''[[The Eddy Arnold Show]]'' in the summer of 1956 and on ''[[Ozark Jubilee|Country Music Jubilee]]'' in 1957 and 1958 (by then renamed ''Jubilee USA'').

Atkins returned to his country roots for albums he recorded with [[Mark Knopfler]] and Jerry Reed.<ref name="mamg" /> Knopfler had long mentioned Atkins as one of his earliest influences. Atkins also collaborated with Australian guitar legend [[Tommy Emmanuel]]. On being asked to name the ten most influential guitarists of the twentieth century, he named [[Django Reinhardt]] to the first position, and also placed himself on the list.<ref name="OfficialSite">{{Cite web |date=December 17, 1999 |title=Chet names the century's most influential guitarists |url=http://www.misterguitar.com/news/chetsten.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712192238/http://www.misterguitar.com/news/chetsten.html |archive-date=July 12, 2008 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Chet Atkins: Mister Guitar |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Death and legacy==

Atkins received numerous awards, including 14 Grammy awards and nine Country Music Association awards for Instrumentalist of the Year.<ref name="RollingStone" /> In 1993, he was honored with the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine awarded him its [[Billboard Century Award|Century Award]], its "highest honor for distinguished creative achievement", in December 1997.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080205081628/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chetatkins/biography "Biography&nbsp;– Chet Atkins"]. ''Rolling Stone''. Accessed on May 10, 2008.</ref> In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref name="RockHall" /> His award was presented by [[Marty Stuart]] and [[Brian Setzer]] and accepted by Atkins's grandson, Jonathan Russell. The following year, Atkins ranked number 28 in [[Country Music Television]]'s "40 Greatest Men of Country Music". In November 2011, [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|''Rolling Stone'']] ranked Atkins number 21 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins"/>

The classical guitar selections included on almost all his albums were, for many American artists working in the field today, the first classical guitar they ever heard. He recorded [[smooth jazz]] guitar still played on American airwaves.

'''[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'''

*[[Inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]

==References==

{{CMA Musician of the Year}}

{{1970s Country Music Hall of Fame}}

{{2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

}}