I was introduced to Chet Atkins for the first time at the famous club,
the Bottom Line, in New York City. I was introduced by Jerry Reed. I
moved to Nashville about one year later and had numerous meetings with
Chet after becoming friends with his manager at the time, Fred
Kewley.
The first time I met Chet, Jerry walked into his dressing room about one
hour before the show and woke him up to introduce Chet to me and my
two sons, David and Chip.
Even though we had awakened him, Chet was so nice and gracious to us.
I did not see Chet for almost a year, when Pat Bergeson invited me to a
dress rehearsal for a Shelby Lynn tour beginning at a rehearsal hall in
Nashville. About half way through the show, Chet walked in with Faith
Hill and nodded courteously over at me. After the show, I walked over
to him to tell him who I was and remind him of our first meeting. After
I finished talking, Chet said, "I remember you. Jerry Reed introduced
us and your two sons. You had on a gray suit and a pretty red tie. We
had dinner at the Deli after the show." I have never met anyone with
such a memory.
Only appropriate for a man who has given us so many wonderful memories!