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WE FIRST MET CHET ATKINS AFTER HIS CONCERT IN PORTLAND, ORE. THAT WAS IN 1985 THEN IN 1986 I LEFT AN AFTERNOON MOTION PICTURE IN VANCOUVER, WA. AND RACED TO MY CAR SO I COULD LISTEN TO CHET HOST THE PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION. HE WAS FILLING IN FOR GARRISON KEILER. HE PLAYED ONE SONG: "SAILS" SO BEAUTIFY THAT I INSTANTLY CHOKED UP AND SHED MAJOR TEARS. SO I WROTE TO CHET AND SAID HOW "SAILS" AFFECTED ME THAT DAY ON MY CAR RADIO, AND HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS TO HEAR HIM FOR TWO HOURS! ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER WITH A NASHVILLE RETURN ADDRESS AND I TORE IT OPEN HOPING IT MIGHT BE FROM MY BIGGEST HERO...AND IT WAS. I WAS BEYOND DELIGHTED. CHET WROTE: " DEAR BILL....THANKS FOR WRITING...YOUR LETTER AND 2 OR 3 OTHERS POURED IN"". GLAD YOU LIKED IT". I ALSO GOT TO MEET CHET IN 1988 ONCE AGAIN IN PORTLAND ALONG WITH MY WIFE. WE TALKED WITH HIM ON THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM, AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. HE DIDN'T LEAVE UNTIL EVERYONE GOT THEIR CHANCE. THE LAST FAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WAS PUSHED UP TO CHET, AND THE GUY PUSHING THE WHEELCHAIR SAID: "CHET, THIS BOY IS LEARNING HOW TO PLAY GUITAR...AND WE BOTH SURE LOVE YOUR MUSIC!" CHET LEANED DOWN TO THE BOY AND SAID: "NOW, YOU KEEP PRACTICING...AND YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY." THE JOY IN THE YOUNG MAN'S FACE WAS VERY APPARENT. HE JUST GOT A PEP TALK FROM MR. GUITAR. WHAT A WONDERFUL REWARD FOLLOWING THE CONCERT. THEN I SAID TO MYSELF AS I SHOOK CHET'S HAND ONE MORE TIME.. NOT WANTING TO LET GO: :" GOD, I LOVE THIS GUY!"

A FAN FROM 1954 TO FOREVER.

- Bill Davis



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