Chet Atkins Biography

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Chet Atkins
Country Music | 3 CD Set
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Most country music fans probably know Chet Atkins as one of the genre's leading guitarists. However, Chester Burton Atkins is not only an accomplished guitarist, he has been an influential record producer and executive for RCA Records. Born in 1924 in Tennessee, Chet learned early from his guitar-playing father Jim Atkins, who, ironically, had played with guitar wizard Les Paul. In later years, Les Paul and Chet Atkins made albums such as CHESTER AND LESTER. Chet began playing fiddle with the Dixieland Swingers in Knoxville, Tennessee, and in 1946 moved to Cincinnati, making his first record for a small label before signing with RCA in 1947. His initial work on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville was in 1948 in a band that also included satirists Homer & Jethro. He then took on a tour with Maybelle Carter and recorded with the Carter Family, deciding to concentrate on studio work with other artists. His work was mainly with MGM Records artists and one of his major gigs put him on 24 Sides, recorded by Hank Williams. He later recorded on many of the Everly Brothers hits. In 1952, Atkins gained the job of increasing the RCA artist roster, making him a talent scout, too. But as the'50s wore on, he was making his own LPs as well as acting as producer for dozens of others. He has recorded some 100 albums under his own name while working with a wide variety of artists, both country and pop, including Elvin Presley, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow and Perry Como. Atkins is pretty much said to be the guy who made the "Nashville Sound" what it was (a step away from the traditional country sound) and along the way helped the Gretsch Guitar Company do major business by playing and endorsing its instruments. Over the years, Chet Atkins has made a slew of albums with many big names, including Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Hank Snow, Les Paul and others. He was named a Vice-President of RCA in 1968 but retired from that in 1979, moving to Columbia to resume performing and recording. He has won several Grammy awards and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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