ditto kat's and Davey's comments......an amazing quote from someone who described a typical day in so many words that essentially could be summed up: woke up... grabbed my guitar and started playing; fell asleep sixteen hours later with guitar in hand.
I have heard that Chet's inspiration, Merle Travis, was as equally self-deprecating. On occasion he would muse to his audience, "I don't know much about guitar. Now that Chet Atkins, he can play. I wonder if he's onstage somewhere tonight saying good things about me?" He probably was.
Chet Atkins was "da man" around our house when I was growing up. My dad played his records and copied his thumbpicking style in his own playing. Chet's music was probably my first introduction to guitar.
Get well soon, Peter T. Thanks for the quote.
Regards, Neil