Country Country
GentlemanGentleman
The life,
achievements,
and guitars of
Chet Atkins
are back in the
spotlight at the
Country Music
Hall of Fame.
BY CRAIG HAVIGHURST
Refinement. It’s a word we’ve come to associate
(sometimes incorrectly) with luxury brands
and upscale dining. Musically, maybe the
term conjures up a string quartet. It’s not
what you see emblazoned on welcome signs
to little Appalachian Mountain towns like
Luttrell, Tennessee.
But to properly consider the career of
Chester Burton Atkins, native son of said
mountain town, the true meaning of refinement (“to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions,” says Webster)
could prove more than a little useful. Chet’s
not the only small-town kid to become a
major-league musician, cultural force, and
executive, though few have achieved so
much with such humility. But on the guitar,
where nails meet strings, Chet stands pretty
much alone. He didn’t just create new techniques, à la Earl Scruggs and the banjo. He
brought refinement from a most improbable place to a most improbable genre. His
genius was in taming the wild hillbilly guitar
Chet Atkins: Certified
Guitar Player, is the first
exhibit upon entering
the Country Music Hall
of Fame. Photo by Donn
Jones Photography
