<p>&#8220;<em>Years from now, after I&#8217;m gone someone will listen to what I&#8217;ve done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they&#8217;ll hear my guitars speaking for me.</em>&#8221; -Chet Atkins</p>
<p><strong>Chet Atkins</strong> has often been credited with being &#8220;one of the key architects of the <strong>Nashville Sound</strong>&#8220;. His influence extends from the country-music realm into rock and roll, as well. As a studio musician, he appeared on records by <strong>Elvis Presley</strong>, the <strong>Everly Brothers</strong>, <strong>Hank Williams</strong>, <strong>Roy Orbison</strong>, and countless country musicians. Atkins thumb-and-fingerpicking style influenced <strong>George Harrison</strong>, <strong>Duane Eddy</strong>, the <strong>Ventures</strong>, <strong>Eddie Cochran</strong>,<strong> Eric Clapton </strong>and <strong>Mark Knopfler</strong>, as well as innumerable country pickers. Even the likes of <strong>Ted Nugent</strong> has credited Atkins with inspiring him to take up the instrument. Some of his best work was particularly his collaborations with Les Paul (&#8220;Chester and Lester&#8221;) and Merle Travis from the mid-70s.</p>
<p>Atkins received numerous awards, including eleven <strong>Grammy Awards</strong> (including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993), and nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards. Billboard Magazine awarded him their Century Award, their &#8220;highest honor for distinguished creative achievement&#8221;, in December 1997. In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame. His award was presented by <strong>Marty Stuart</strong> and <strong>Brian Setzer</strong> and accepted by Atkin&#8217;s Grandson, Jonathan Russell. The following year, Atkins ranked #28 in CMT&#8217;s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Chet passed away at 76 very full years following a long struggle with cancer, but his memory, influence and music live on.</p>
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<p>Country Music Photo Gallery</p>