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The Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention
(continued)
Day Three - Friday:
It's amazing to witness the pickin' that just starts
up around the hallways and in the rooms. Harp guitarist
Stephen Bennett began playing his harp guitar sitting
outside the hotel coffee shop, as a woman knelt at his
feet, her ear close to the sound hole. I have no idea
why she felt compelled to get so close, as the guitar
sounded great from where I was standing.
On Friday afternoon I asked
John Knowles
for an interview and he agreed. John has been teaching and
transcribing Chet's music for years and is known
worldwide as one of the best instructors in Chet's style.
We borrowed a room key and went upstairs to chat in a
more quiet atmosphere and John told me about how he first met Chet and how they had become friends over the
years and how they came to be collaborators on tunes
such as "Honolulu Blue and "East Tennessee Christmas."
Friday night's headliners included Steven King, John Knowles and the "String Dusters" - Jim, John, and Morning Nichols.
I ran into a guy I have seen every year over the years, Rod Robin from Texas who had made me a nice present by videotaping himself playing a few tunes so that I could take the tape home and learn them too. Perhaps we can pick them together next year.
Day Four - Saturday
On Saturday I slept in a little late and after a big Waffle House breakfast headed in to the hotel and found a quiet corner. I took out my guitar and tuned it and began to play. I spent about two hours working on old songs I hadn't played in a while. Being that I was alone and no one would be tuning to me, I chose tunes that had alternate tunings, such as "Wheels" and "Steeplechase Lane." I couldn't remember much but a few bars, but each time I picked a little more would come back to me until I remembered the whole song. I'm certain they came back to me quicker now in this environment. I'm not sure exactly why but my playing was getting better just from being here.
I spent the rest of the day playing with various folks on and off and tried to rest up for the big Saturday night concert. The program said we would get a concert from Chet Atkins and "friends" followed by a performance from Tommy Emmanuel. The program also hinted that we would see "special" guests. At about 4 the line began to form in front of the main auditorium door as folks hoped to get closer by waiting for the doors to open for the 8PM show. I had waited in line in previous years but had decided that I would hang out in Buster's Office and play and chat and not get worn out waiting in line. I had brought a telephoto lens for my camera so I knew I could get a close up view even if I wasn't so close. In his "office" Buster showed us some right hand picking patterns and I couldn't wait to order his instructional tape when I got home.
The concert began around 8PM and I was able to get in and situated so that I could zoom in and take pictures of those on stage. Mark Pritcher kicked off the evening and handed over Emcee duties to Bill Spann who told a great joke about how doctors like Mark Pritcher have great jobs because what they do is "get the ladies to take off their clothes then they send the husbands the bill!"
continued....
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