Biography
Without Chet Atkins, country music might do not have crossed over in to the pop charts within the ’50s and ’60s. Although he documented hundreds of single information, Atkins’ largest impact came being a program musician and an archive producer. Through the ’50s and ’60s, he helped create the Nashville audio, a method of nation music that owed almost just as much to pop since it do to honky tonks. So when a guitarist, he was without parallel. Atkins’ design grew away from his admiration for Merle Travis, growing Travis’ personal syncopated thumb and fingertips roll into brand-new territory. Oddly enough, Atkins didn’t start his musical profession by playing electric guitar. On the suggestion of his old sibling, Lowell, he started playing the fiddle at a kid. Nevertheless, Chet was still drawn to the guitar, with age nine he exchanged a pistol to get a guitar. Atkins discovered his instrument quickly, becoming an achieved participant by enough time he still left senior high school in 1941. Utilizing a variety of connections, he finished up performing in the Costs Carlisle Present on WNOX in Knoxville, TN, in addition to becoming area of the Dixie Swingers. Atkins caused Homer & Jethro while he was at the air place. After 3 years, he shifted to a radio place in Cincinnati. Helping Crimson Foley, Atkins produced his initial appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1946. That same season, he produced his first information, documenting for Bullet. Atkins also started producing regular performances in the WRVA radio place in Richmond, VA, but he was frequently terminated because his musical plans differed from your expectations from the station’s professionals. He eventually relocated to Springfield, MO, doing work for the KWTO train station. A tape of 1 of Atkins’ shows was delivered to RCA Victor’s workplace in Chicago. Ultimately, it worked well its method to Steve Sholes, the top of nation music at RCA. Sholes experienced noticed Atkins previously, and have been looking for him for quite some time. By enough time Sholes noticed the tape, Atkins experienced relocated to Denver, and was using Shorty Thompson & His Rangers. Upon getting the decision from RCA, he relocated to Nashville to record. Once he found its way to Nashville, Atkins documented eight songs for the label, five which presented the guitarist performing. Impressed by his playing, Sholes produced Atkins the studio room guitarist for every one of the RCA studio’s Nashville periods in 1949. The next season, Mother Maybelle as well as the Carter Sisters employed him as a normal in the Grand Ole Opry, producing his put in place Nashville’s musical community protected. While he proved helpful for RCA, he performed on many strike information and helped style the Nashville audio. RCA valued his function and produced him a expert to the business’s Nashville department in 1953. That season, the label begun to issue several instrumental albums that showcased Atkins’ significant talents. 2 yrs later, he have scored his first strike with a edition of “Mr. Sandman”; it had been accompanied by “Metallic Bell,” a duet with Hank Snow. From the past due ’50s, Atkins was known through the entire music industry like a first-rate participant. Not only do his information sell well, he designed guitars for Gibson and Gretsch; the recognition of these versions continues for this day. Sholes remaining for NY in 1957 to do something as mind of pop A&R, departing Atkins because the supervisor of RCA’s Nashville department. Nevertheless, the guitarist didn’t forego performing, and through the entire early ’60s his celebrity continued to go up. He performed the Newport Jazz Celebration in 1960; in 1961, he performed on the Light House. Atkins acquired his first Best Five strike in 1965 using a reworking of Shoes or boots Randolph’s “Yakety Sax,” retitled “Yakety Axe”; not only is it a sizable nation hit, the melody crossed to the pop graphs. Atkins’ function behind the moments was thriving aswell. He produced strikes in most of RCA’s Nashville serves, including Elvis Presley and Eddy Arnold, and uncovered an abundance of skill, including Don Gibson, Waylon Jennings, Floyd Cramer, Charley Satisfaction, Bobby Bare, and Connie Smith. Due to his consistent background, Atkins was advertised to vice chief executive of RCA’s nation department when Sholes passed away in 1968. The next yr, Atkins experienced his last main hit solitary, “Nation Gentleman.” In the past due ’60s and early ’70s, many minor hits adopted, but only 1 music, “Prissy” (1968), managed to get into the Best 40. Rather, the guitarist’s main musical contribution in the first area of the ’70s was with Homer & Jethro. Beneath the name the Nashville String Music group, the trio released five albums between 1970 and 1972. Pursuing Homer’s loss of life, Atkins continued to utilize Jethro. Atkins continuing to record for RCA through the entire ’70s, although he was creatively stifled with the label by the finish of the 10 years. The guitarist wished to record a jazz record, but he was fulfilled with resistance with the label. In 1982, he still left the label and agreed upon with Columbia, launching his first record for the label, Function It Out With Chet Atkins, in 1983. During his period at Columbia, Atkins departed from his traditional nation root base, demonstrating that he was a vivid and tasteful jazz guitarist aswell. He do return to nation on occasion, especially on duet albums with Tag Knopfler and Jerry Reed, but more often than not, Atkins’ Columbia information demonstrated a far more ambitious guitarist than once was captured on his RCA albums. Unfortunately, Atkins was identified as having tumor, and in 1997 doctors eliminated a tumor from his mind. In his last weeks, the cancer got produced Atkins inactive, and he finally dropped the fight on June 30, 2001, at his house in Nashville. Throughout his profession, Chet Atkins gained numerous honours, including 11 Grammy honours and nine CMA Instrumentalist of the entire year honors, and a Life time Achievement Honor from NARAS. Although his honor list is amazing, it only starts to mention his contribution to nation music.
Quick Facts
Full Name Chet Atkins
Died June 30, 2001, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Profession Guitarist, Singer, Music Producer, Songwriter, Session musician
Nationality American
Spouse Leona Johnson
Children Merle Atkins Russell
Parents Ida Sharp, James Arley Atkins
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, Academy of Country Music Awards Cliffie Stone Icon Award, Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Performance, Academy of Country Music Award for Guitar Player of the Year
Music Groups The Carter Sisters
Music Songs Yakety Sax, Mister Sandman, I'll See You in My Dreams, The Entertainer, Jerry's Breakdown, Yakety Axe, Trambone, Poor Boy Blues, Orange Blossom Special, Windy and Warm, Wildwood Flower, Autumn Leaves, Cannonball Rag, Baby's Coming Home, Snowbird, Black Mountain Rag, There'll Be Some Changes Made, I Still Can't Say Goodbye, Wheels, Music to Watch Girls Go By, Jam Man, Yankee Doodle Dixie, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, Classical Gas, Dill Pickles Rag, Vincent, Mr. Bojangles, Jitterbug Waltz, To 'B' or Not to 'B', The Next Time I'm in Town, I Still Write Your Name in the Snow, Sleep Walk
Albums Neck and Neck, Chet Atkins Picks on Jerry Reed, Almost Alone, Christmas with Chet Atkins, Chet Atkins' Gallopin' Guitar, Hometown Guitar, Hi-Fi in Focus, Solo Sessions, Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles, Lover's Guitar, Me & Jerry, Guitar Monsters, Simpatico, The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World, The Atkins – Travis Traveling Show, Chet Atkins Plays Back Home Hymns, Chet Atkins in Hollywood, Yestergroovin, Me & Chet, Class Guitar, Teensville, The Other Chet Atkins, Read My Licks, Chet Atkins' Workshop, Chet Atkins at Home, A Session with Chet Atkins, Guitar Country, Alone, Reflections, The Pops Goes Country, From Nashville with Love, Down Home, Street Dreams, Mister Guitar, Chet, Floyd & Boots, Chet Atkins Goes to the Movies, The Night Atlanta Burned, Jazz from the Hills, It's a Guitar World, Stringin' Along with Chet Atkins, Pickin' My Way, And Then Came Chet Atkins, World's Greatest Melodies, Play Guitar with Chet Atkins, Solid Gold 70, Christmas Guitar, Songs for Christmas, Feelings Guitar, Nashville Sound (100 Recordings Remastered), Countrypolitan Classics - Chet Atkins, New Dimensions
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
Movies Chet Atkins: A Life in Music, A Tribute to Chet Atkins, Stroszek, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed: In Concert, Webb Pierce & Chet Atkins, Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story, Chet Atkins: Rare Performances 1955-1975, Non-Willer, Hank Williams: In the Hank Williams Tradition, Guitar Odyssey: Wired for Sound
TV Shows Jethro And Friends
- Facts
- Filmography
- Awards
- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
# | Fact |
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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. |
13 |
5th cousin thrice-removed of Scott Trimble. |
Soundtrack
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Wild |
2014/I |
writer: "How's the World Treating You" |
|
Dolly: A Collection of Hits & Duets |
2014 |
Video performer: "I Can't Stop Loving You" |
|
Some Jerk with a Camera |
2012 |
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode |
|
Halloween Season |
2010 |
Short performer: "Mr. Sandman" |
|
Country's Greatest Stars Live: Vol. 1 |
2010 |
Video performer: "Winter Walking" |
|
Katastrofin aineksia |
2008 |
Documentary performer: "Mr.Sandman" |
|
Opry Video Classics: The Hall of Fame |
2007 |
Video performer: "Yakety Axe" |
|
American Masters |
2007 |
TV Series documentary 1 episode |
|
Best of Country Live! |
2006 |
Video performer: "Poor People of Paris" La Goualante du Pauvre Jean |
|
Surviving Christmas |
2004 |
performer: "Jingle Bell Rock" |
|
Cold Case |
2004 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Michael |
1996 |
arranger: "Ave Maria; Op.52, No.6" 1825 / performer: "Young Thing" 1994, "Ave Maria; Op.52, No.6" 1825, "Sweet Dreams" 1955, "Dream" 1944 / producer: "Young Thing" 1994, "Ave Maria; Op.52, No.6" 1825, "Dream" 1944 / writer: "Young Thing" 1994 |
|
Fly Away Home |
1996 |
performer: "Yakety Axe" |
|
Neil Diamond: Under a Tennessee Moon |
1996 |
TV Special documentary "Blue Highway" |
|
Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary |
1996 |
TV Special performer: "Oh, Lonesome Me" |
|
Ralph Emery on the Record |
1994 |
TV Series performer - 1 episode |
|
Josh and S.A.M. |
1993 |
performer: "Hot Mocking Bird" |
|
Dolly |
1988 |
TV Series performer - 1 episode |
|
Stroszek |
1977 |
performer: "On the Way Down to Phoenix", "The Last Thing on My Mind" / writer: "On the Way Down to Phoenix" |
|
9th Annual Country Music Association Awards |
1975 |
TV Special performer: "Bicentennial Medley" |
|
In Concert |
1975 |
TV Series performer - 1 episode |
|
The Porter Wagoner Show |
|
TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1973 - 1974 writer - 1 episode, 1973 |
|
The Partridge Family |
|
TV Series lyrics - 1 episode, 1973 music - 1 episode, 1973 |
|
The Johnny Cash Show |
1970-1971 |
TV Series performer - 2 episodes |
|
Mondo Trasho |
1969 |
performer: "Oh Lonesome Me" |
|
The Best on Record |
1968 |
TV Special performer: "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" |
|
The Jimmy Dean Show |
1964 |
TV Series performer - 1 episode |
|
Country Style, U.S.A. |
|
TV Series short writer - 1 episode, 1959 performer - 1 episode, 1959 |
|
Grand Ole Opry |
1956 |
TV Series performer - 1 episode |
|
Actor
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story |
1995 |
TV Movie |
Chet Atkins |
Nashville 99 |
1977 |
TV Series |
|
Composer
Composer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
About Us |
2006 |
TV Series documentary 1 episode |
|
Stroszek |
1977 |
|
|
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Mark Knopfler: A Life in Songs |
2011 |
TV Movie documentary archive - as Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player |
|
Self
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music |
2000 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Genius of Lenny Breau |
1999 |
Documentary |
|
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story |
1999 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
Elvis: His Life and Times |
1997 |
TV Special |
|
George Winston: Seasons in Concert |
1996 |
Video |
Himself |
America's Music: The Roots of Country |
1996 |
TV Mini-Series documentary |
Himself |
Late Night with Conan O'Brien |
1996 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest |
The Grand Ole Opry Musical Salute to Minnie Pearl |
1996 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
An Evening of Country Greats: A Hall of Fame Celebration |
1996 |
TV Special |
Himself |
The Life and Times of the Everly Brothers |
1996 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
Neil Diamond: Under a Tennessee Moon |
1996 |
TV Special documentary |
Himself - Guest Artist |
Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary |
1996 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Lost in Music |
1995 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Elvis: The Tribute |
1994 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself - Performer |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |
1994 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Ralph Emery on the Record |
1994 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Roots of Country: Nashville Celebrates the Ryman |
1994 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Austin City Limits |
1993 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Webb Pierce and Chet Atkins |
1991 |
Video documentary |
Himself |
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts |
1991 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Grand Ole Opry 65th Anniversary |
1991 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Guitar |
1991 |
Video documentary |
Chet Atkins |
An All Star Salute to Country Music |
1990 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Pat Sajak Show |
1989 |
TV Series |
Himself |
A Prairie Home Companion: The Second Annual Farewell Performance |
1988 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour |
1988 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Dolly |
1988 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Cinemax Sessions |
1987 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Secret Policeman's Third Ball |
1987 |
Documentary |
Himself |
Presley |
1987 |
TV Mini-Series documentary |
Himself |
Grand Ole Opry 60th Anniversary |
1986 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
Elvis: Memories |
1985 |
Video documentary |
|
Arena |
1984 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Country Comes Home |
1982 |
TV Special |
|
Roy Acuff... 50 Years the King of Country Music |
1982 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Nashville on the Road |
1981 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest |
Today |
1957-1978 |
TV Series |
Himself |
50 Years of Country Music |
1978 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Val Doonican Music Show |
1977 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Spotlight |
1977 |
TV Series |
Himself |
That's Country |
1977 |
|
Himself |
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl |
1977 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The 19th Annual Grammy Awards |
1977 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Dinah! |
1974-1976 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Numéro 1 |
1975 |
TV Series |
Himself |
9th Annual Country Music Association Awards |
1975 |
TV Special |
Himself - Performer |
In Concert |
1975 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Hee Haw |
1974 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest |
8th Annual Country Music Association Awards |
1974 |
TV Special |
Himself - Presenter |
The Porter Wagoner Show |
1973-1974 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest |
Dean Martin Presents Music Country |
1973 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |
1963-1973 |
TV Series |
Himself / Himself - Guest |
The Jerry Reed When You're Hot You're Hot Hour |
1972 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The David Frost Show |
1971 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Kraft Music Hall |
1968-1971 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Johnny Cash Show |
1969-1971 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guitarist / Himself |
Evening at Pops |
1970 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
The Ed Sullivan Show |
1970 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guitarist |
This Is Tom Jones |
1969 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
The Joey Bishop Show |
1968 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Best on Record |
1968 |
TV Special |
Himself |
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall |
1967 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest |
Middle West Show |
1965 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Jimmy Dean Show |
1964 |
TV Series |
Himself / Himself - Guitarist |
Western-Songs 'Marke Nashville' |
1964 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guitar player |
Country Style, U.S.A. |
1959 |
TV Series short |
Himself - Guitarist |
Grand Ole Opry |
1956 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guitarist |
Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour |
1954 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Eddy Arnold Show |
1952 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Archive Footage
Archive Footage
Nominated awards
Nominated awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
---|
1989 |
ACE |
CableACE Awards |
Performance in a Music Special |
Cinemax Sessions (1986) |
|
Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!
# | Quote |
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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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