Obit: Farewell, Chet Atkins.... (1924-June 2001)

Subject: OBIT: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Paul G.
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 05:27 PM

More sad news...this from AP

Guitarist Chet Atkins Dies at 77

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Chet Atkins, whose guitar style influenced a generation of rock musicians even as he helped develop an easygoing country style to compete with it, died today. He was 77. Atkins died at home, a funeral director said. Atkins had battled cancer for several years. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in June 1997, and had a bout with colon cancer in the 1970s.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 05:34 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOO aw shit.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 05:39 PM

Oh no...damn, what is it with this week?!

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 05:44 PM

Sad news indeed. There can be very few guitarists who were not influenced by Chet Atkins .

Murray

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:11 PM

Aw, nuts! One less real musician to help stem the tide of mediocrity and banality.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Rob Dale
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:11 PM

So long Chet

You were one of the greatest!

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Chip2447
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:12 PM

Farewell Chet, you will be missed.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Dancing Mom
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:16 PM

OH, MY GOODNESS, I hadn't heard this one yet. What a surprise, I didn't know he had been ill. Wow... Goodbye...Sharon

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Banjer
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:17 PM

Sorry to hear of Chet's passing. I guess the Lord is trying to put together a top notch band and needed someone with his abilities.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:32 PM

A true giant. This one is hitting me especially hard.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,rambam99
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:43 PM

Here are the full detail from AP. Geez this sucks!

Guitarist Chet Atkins Dies at 77 Musician Played on Hundreds of Hit Records, Including Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel'

By JIM PATTERSON .c The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 30) - Chet Atkins, whose guitar style influenced a generation of rock musicians even as he helped develop an easygoing country style to compete with it, died Saturday. He was 77.

Atkins died at home, a funeral director said.

Atkins had battled cancer several years. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in June 1997, and had a bout with colon cancer in the 1970s.

Atkins recorded more than 75 albums of guitar instrumentals and sold more than 75 million albums. He played on hundreds of hit records, including those of Elvis Presley (''Heartbreak Hotel''), Hank Williams Sr. (''Your Cheatin' Heart,'' ''Jambalaya'') and The Everly Brothers (''Wake Up Little Susie'').

As an executive with RCA Records for nearly two decades beginning in 1957, Atkins played a part in the careers of Roy Orbison, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Waylon Jennings, Eddy Arnold and many others.

Atkins helped craft the lush Nashville Sound, using string sections and lots of echo to make records that appealed to older listeners not interested in rock music. Among his notable productions are ''The End of the World'' by Skeeter Davis and ''He'll Have to Go'' by Reeves.

''I realized that what I liked, the public would like, too,'' Atkins said in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. '''Cause I'm kind of square.''

Chester Burton Atkins was born June 20, 1924, on a farm near Luttrell, Tenn., about 20 miles northeast of Knoxville. His elder brother Jim Atkins also played guitar, and went on to perform with Les Paul. Chet Atkins' first professional job was as a fiddler on WNOX in Knoxville, where his boss was singer Bill Carlisle.

''He was horrible,'' Carlisle said at a tribute concert to Atkins in 1997. ''But I heard him during a break playing guitar and decided to feature him on that.''

Atkins' unusual fingerpicking style, a pseudoclassical variation influenced by such diverse talents as Merle Travis and Django Reinhardt, got him hired and fired from jobs at radio stations all over the country. Atkins sometimes joked that early on his playing sounded ''like two guitarists playing badly.''

During the 1940s he toured with many acts, including Red Foley, The Carter Family and Kitty Wells. RCA executive Steve Sholes took Atkins on as a protege in the 1950s, using him as the house guitarist on recording sessions.

RCA began issuing instrumental albums by Atkins in 1953. George Harrison, whose guitar work on early Beatles records is heavily influenced by Atkins, wrote the liner notes for ''Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles.''

Sholes put Atkins in charge of RCA Nashville when he was promoted in 1957. There, he helped Nashville survive the challenge of rock 'n' roll with the Nashville Sound. The lavish sound has been criticized by purists who prefer their country music raw and unadorned.

Atkins was unrepentant, saying that at the time his goal was simply ''to keep my job.''

''And the way you do that is you make a hit record once in a while,'' he said in 1993. ''And the way you do that is you give the audience something different.''

Atkins quit his job as an executive in the 1970s and concentrated on playing his guitar. He's collaborated with a wide range of artists on solo albums, including Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Eric Johnson, George Benson, Susie Bogguss and Earl Klugh.

At the time he became ill, Atkins had just released a CD, ''The Day Finger Pickers took over the World.'' He also had begun regular Monday night performances at a Nashville club.

''If I know I've got to go do a show, I practice quite a bit, because you can't get out there and embarrass yourself.'' Atkins said in 1996.

''So I thought, if I play every week I won't be so rusty and I'll play a lot better.''

Survivors include his wife of more than 50 years, Leona Johnson Atkins, and a daughter, Merle Atkins.

The funeral is Tuesday morning at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:49 PM

So once again we celebrate a man and his music and say a sad goodbye...aw crap!

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:49 PM

A wonderful humble cum humorous quote above - 'like two guitarists playing badly'. Another of the people I wish I'd had the privilege of knowing. RIP Chet Atkins, playing fine in the band.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Jeep man
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 07:03 PM

As you said Banjer, Maybe the Good Lord Likes a Little Pickin Too.

Chet Akins has been one of my heroes since the early fifties. The first record I ever bought was his. I remember it had "Kentucky Derby", "Lover Come Back to Me" and more.

The originals are going away and I fear for the future of good solid enjoyable music. Jeep is sad

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 07:16 PM

I remained fairly ignorant of Chet Atkins until I listened to the album he did with Mark Knopfler. Great stuff. Chet lived a long and wondrously creative life, and made a huge contribution to music and to life. I will remember him fondly.

- LH

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Justa Picker
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 07:35 PM

I'm just about speechless. Chet was and will continue to be a major influence on my playing.

They say these things happen in 3's. (John Hartford, John Lee Hooker, and now Chet.) I pray we'll have Doc with us a good while longer.

My deepest condolences to Chet's family, friends, and fans.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Cobble
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 07:50 PM

Deepest Regrets. But I think he will be waiting with all the others to play for us on the other side. God Bless.

Cobble.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 08:25 PM

That bastard!!! I never got a chance to see him play live!

Yer gonna owe me ONE HELL OF a show when I see ya next, Chet!

*reaches fo his beat up copy of Neck And Neck*

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 08:27 PM

Well, if S/He is looking for a band S/He ought to have it by now. Maybe we can keep the Doc for a while longer.....when he goes I am just going to sit down and bawl.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 08:28 PM

Thanks for the music, Chet. God be good to you. See you on the next leg of the trip.

Mick

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 09:44 PM

I remember watching the "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" back in the late Sixties when Chet Atkins was a frequent guest. Everybody is (or should be) familiar with his guitar style, but one night on the Glen Campbell show, he walked out wearing a tux and carrying a Jose Ramirez classic. He sat down, propped his left foot on a low footstool, set the guitar on his left leg, and proceeded to play Tarrega's Requerdos de la Alhambra (tremolo study) as well as I have ever heard anyone play it. Chet Atkins was one hell of a guitarist.

So long, Chet, and thanks for the music.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,khandu
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 10:01 PM

I am deeply grieved. Chet was one of a kind. My dad's favorite guitarist and one of mine.

"I was on the front porch listening, taking lessons from my Dad

When he tried to teach me Freight Train Blues on the old flattop he had

He would tell about the men who made the music on the frets

But in his mind, the best you'd find was a guitar man named Chet

He talked about old Merle and Doc and Mississippi John

About the magic in the six-strings that they turned into a song

Then for a while he'd sit and smile as he smoked his cigarette

He'd say 'Take my word, the best I've heard is a guitar man named Chet'

Now Chet would play his guitar with his unblemished style

Dad would play it rough as hell but he always made me smile

When he would play he'd laugh and say 'Son, you ain't heard nothing yet

Till you lend an ear so you can hear a guitar man named Chet'."

(from "A guitar Man Named Chet" by Ken Whitfield)

Rest well, Dear Chet. You are a mountain!

khandu

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Bert
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 10:50 PM

Clinton, I hate to correct you but I think you meant to say "ONE HEAVEN OF A SHOW"

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 11:02 PM

The only thing that makes me smile tonight is the thought that my brother is going to get to play with him.

Good night, Chet.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 12:18 AM

Will it never end? Who is going to replace these giants?

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 12:18 AM

Just too damn sad, but he has been failing pretty badly for awhile and at least his pain is gone now. The great guitarist that he was, let's not forget the monstrous shadow he threw over Nashville as a producer. Not everyone agreed with his decisions, but very few had the power to change a Chet Atkins decision. The general course of Country Music was controlled and manipulated by him for many years.

He will be missed to say the very least and I hope Kim checks in here because I will guarantee that the city of Nashville will be virtually closed down for days. When a major luminary passes it is a significan event there and I recall the death of Marty Robbins and how the town could not focus on anything else. When Sarah Canon (Minnie) died it was simply unbelievable.

Thanks for everything Chet, but especially for your rendition of one very special song, you know the one.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: rangeroger
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 12:28 AM

My voiced comment at the title of the thread was the NOOOOOOOO uttered by Sorcha.

I bought my first guitar in 1960,an acoustic archtop.I then proceeded to buy some albums with guitars on the cover as I really didn't know of any guitarists other than Duane Eddy and the lead guitarist for the Shadows (Marvin Welch?).Naturally Iwas drawn to those beautiful Gretsches on the covers of Chet's albums.

The same as Jeepman,my first albums.

The sheer mastery of his playing reduced me to listening only as I felt he was far beyond my capability.

I still have those albums and will get them out now to commerate his passing.

Oh, Angel Band

rr

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Marion
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:33 AM

Just earlier today (coincidence? maybe) I read an old article about Chet Atkins, and it ended with these paragraphs:

"My advice to young players just starting out, is for you to remember that a guitar is very easy to play simply, but as a solo instrument, it must be one of the most difficult to master. So it takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any short cuts, and I've been looking for a long time. It just takes practice, practice, practice. I believe if you set your goals and decide what you want to do in this world, you can do it. I have accomplished my goals, and I can tell you I didn't do it sitting around envying other guitarists. I did it by devoting my life to the instrument. I will admit there was luck and help from a lot of folks, but these things only come if you give it a hell of a try."

(Chet Atkins, as told to Jim Crockett)

I think each person should approach his guitar intelligently, and if there are limitations don't deny them. Work within your restrictions. Some things you can do better than others, some things you can't do as well. So accentuate the positive, work hard and use your intelligence and maybe things will happen your way.

Someone once said, if the Lord really loved you, he would see that you were born in the country or a small town, and would see that you had a guitar in your hands at an early age. So in that repect, the Lord has been good to me. I've had a great life, and I've enjoyed all the good things that have come my way. I sincerely appreciate all the things people have said and done for me.

It's not over yet. I will play guitar as long as I have the strength to pick it up, and I will still try to come up with new things. Maybe there won't be a lot of friends and neighbors to love it when I'm old, but I'll still be playing for my own enjoyment, cause that's why I started in the first place.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Marion
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:39 AM

Excuse my late night editting skills - all of the above post, except for the introductory sentence, is quoted from the article.

Marion

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Proudson
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:46 AM

Great talent..nothing else to say.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: texastoolman
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:26 AM

ebbie..what a wonderful sentiment
all my dead guitar buddies can play with chet
he was one of the first
i ever heard of
who could really make a guitar sing
i saw segovia once
they were both on same page
the really greats never tire of practicing
it's a real joy to them
i think that swometimes we forget
the joy of making that "special sound"
that drew us into becoming musicians
in the first place
god i hope i get to play in that band
god bless you chet atkins
please say hi to everybody for me
tex

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:28 AM

Emmylou Harris sang his spirit home tonight...it put goosebumps all along my body...and put tears on my cheeks...

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Quincy
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 05:14 AM

An influence on so many......

God bless.

Yvonne

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: paddymac
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 07:29 AM

I've been just sitting and remembering the great joys brought to us in the jungles of southeast asia listening to Chet's records. At the time, his was the unique sound of home that seemed to reach across the differences and speak to the commonalities of all the guys in the outfit.

It's hard to pick out a "favorite" tune from his vast legacy of recordings, but a piece called "Bo Bo Stick Beat" keeps popping up in my mind. Thanks to the gods for letting us have him here for awhile.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Fiolar
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 08:47 AM

The first verse of "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaughnessy would seem relevant to Chet, methinks. "We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers, and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems." He will be in good company this week - "Good night, sweet Chet."

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Whistleworks
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 09:18 AM

I was lucky to have lunch with Chet Atkins in 1990. He told me this story: He was practicing his guitar on the upper deck of a cruise ship as this man, a jogger, passed him by every few minutes. After a few passes, the jogger stopped and listened to him finish a tune. The jogger then said "You're pretty good, but you're no Chet Atkins." Absolutely true. So long, Chet.

Bob Pegritz

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Alice
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 09:45 AM

I was very sad when I heard this news yesterday. In the 1950's, my older brother bought an electric guitar, and wrote a letter to Chet Atkins, telling him that he wanted to learn how to play like Chet. My brother received a personal letter in reply, encouraging him to keep playing. What a gentleman and sweet musician.

Alice Flynn

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: RangerSteve
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 10:14 AM

I have nothing to add to the above messages, except to say that I feel pretty much the same as everyone.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:05 PM

Chet wasn't the FIRST of the great fingerpickers, but he WAS the one who brought that style to AM. radio (Most of Merle's pop songs were vocals) God Bless him. He was probably responsible for a lot of kids looking much deeper into the music.

Rick

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:34 PM

... sad to see another music jewell pass, but he left behind such a legacy, such a gift! Thank God for Chet, thanks Chet for your music!

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: grumpy al
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:12 PM

another musical GIANT gone. OH well! dont know what to say really a sad sad day grumps

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Mudlark
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:34 PM

Oh man, it is so hard to lose these people! I've admired this man, not just for his faulous virtuosity but also for his spirit, for as long as I can remember. I remember hearing him on Prairie Home Companion, a perfect foil for Keillor, funny, humble, always willing to play the straight man, but getting most of the laughs.

My first "good" guitar was a relatively inexpensive production model but made by the man who made a guitar for Chet Atkins. Tho I rarely play this guitar anymore, being nylon stringed, I will always keep it on that association alone.

What a loss....and how lucky we were to have him at all....

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 02:53 PM

rangeroger, the lead guitarist in the Shadows was Hank Marvin. Bruce Welch played rhythm.

Murray

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: rangeroger
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:02 PM

Thank you, Murray. Igot both last names right.

Paddymac, I still have the 45 of Boo Boo Stick Beat,which I played for myself last night. I can stll remember my mother's consternation when I bought.She thought it was a stupid name for a song and saw no redeeming qualities in my purchase. Until she heard it and liked it.

rr

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: marty D
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:31 PM

Great player, STRAGE album covers. For years I thought he was a beautiful woman!

R.I.P Chet

marty

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: beachcomber
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:48 PM

What terribly sad news. Chet Atkins seemed to have been there "forever", did,nt he? What pleasure his playing gave to so many over all those years. For a long time I never knew that he was anything other than a brilliant musician who played on records with just about anyone whose records I happened to buy. One evening some years ago, on some kind of awards show on TV, I heard and saw him sing a very sentimental but lovely song about "Dad". It was around the time my own father died and I'm not ashamed to say , it moved me beyond belief. Does anyone know if a recording of that song exists? I believeI still have the video that I recorded of the show. RIP Chet your legacy will be your world wide memorial.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: GUEST,Frogmore
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:56 PM

A rare guy. It's impossible for ANYONE to not love the guitar playing of this man. R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: vindelis
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 03:56 PM

Just heard the news, my condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: bobby's girl
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 06:28 PM

So sad - I loved his album with Mark Knopfler and wanted to know more.

Subject: RE: Farewell, Chet Atkins....
From: Lanfranc
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 06:49 PM

The first guitar instrumental I ever essayed was "Windy and Warm", inspired by the playing of Chet Atkins. Thirty-five years on I still haven't quite got it right!

One of my first tastes of Country Music was from the "Country Side of Jim Reeves", produced by Chet Atkins.

One of may all-time favourite albumns is "Neck and Neck" - I played it again today to remember him.

Another hero gone. I only knew the man by his music, and that only from records, and the humour (and humility) that shone through in that collaboration with Mark Knopfler and in the interviews and articles as quoted above.

Like millions more, I'll miss him. We have his legacy in recorded form, but it is sad that there will be no more.

Vaya con dios, Chet.