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I started playing the guitar when I was about 13 years of age. I had been
given an old Gretsch acoustic by my older brother, and been shown a few
chords by him, and soon developed a love for the "sound" of the instrument.
When I was 15 years old I put a "nickle" in a juke box in a cafe in
Spenard, Alaska, and punched the button which brought up a recording of
"Chester Atkins" playing "The Old Spinning Wheel". I believe this was in
1955, and it was at this point that I realized that I was "doing it all
wrong", and I immediately threw away my flat picks, and finally found a
music store that sold thumb picks. Talk about an "awkward" transition! I
eventually obtained an instructional booklet on Chet's style, and began a
lifelong love affair with fingerstyle, or what I refer to as the "Chet
Atkins" style of guitar.
It was not until I believe 1964 however, that I
finally was able to meet the Master. I attended one of the great "Music
Master's Festivals" in Denver, Colorado, which featured Chet, Boots
Randolph, Floyd Cramer, in conjunction with the Denver Symphony Orchestra,
and this particular one also featured a kid from Georgia, by the name of
Jerry Reed!
After the great show, (and these were great shows, for any of you who
weren't fortunate enough to have seen them), I somewhat apprehensively
walked back to the dressing room area, hoping to perhaps just catch a
glimpse of this unbelievable musician up close. A security person asked me
what I was "looking for" and I said "Mr. Atkins" and he said "go down that
hallway." and to my amazement I turned a corner and there was Chet, Jerry
Reed, and another gentleman talking! I was totally petrified of course, and
must have seemed like a real jerk, because Chet said "yes sir, what can I
do for you?" I simply said I wanted to "meet you", and told him how much I
appreciated his music, and I was impressed by his humility, and his obvious
kindness, as he invited me into the dressing room, and didn't seem in any
hurry to terminate the conversation! I spoke briefly with Jerry Reed, and I
was impressed with the fact that even though the "show" was over, Jerry was
still playing the guitar, sitting off in a corner of the room! That's what
you call dedication to your art!
Several years prior to this, I had
written to Chet, and had suggested several songs to him, which I felt would
be ideal for his style. I had received a reply from him, and he had
"assured" me that the tunes appealed to him also, and that he would
definitely consider them in an upcoming recording session. I thought at the
time of course, that he was just being kindly, but I was thrilled when he
indeed included them in a LP album which he recorded for RCA. Apparently we
have similar tastes in music!
In conclusion, I would like to say that while there are an unbelievable
number of up and coming fingerstyle guitarists at this time, and some of
them totally intimidate this "old guitar picker" when I attend the CAAS
Convention, but when I listen closely, and when there is nothing to hear
but the beautiful sound of that most sacred of instruments, I am reminded
always of the words of the great Lenny Breau, when he said... and how true
it is, "THERE'S ONLY ONE CHET"!
- David Elliott
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