1924-2001
Born near Luttrell, Tennessee, from humble beginnings (it was said that he strung up an old ukulele with wire from an screen door) to later become responsible for the ‘Nashville Sound’. Atkins maintained a grounded, and self-effacing attitude that won him admirers around the World. After hearing a live radio broadcast of Merle Travis playing the guitar with his distinctive alternating-thumb-and finger style, Atkins was hooked and subsequently developed his own fingerpicking style. Associated for many years with Gretsch electric semi-acoustic guitars Atkins often played the nylon-stringed guitar. He met Segovia in 1960 and was well aware of the classical guitar. In an interview he mentioned that his favourite classical guitarist was probably Julian Bream and that Sabicas had the most impressive technique. His attitude to technique was diligent but he was keen for up-and-coming guitarists to find their own voices through constant practice and open-eared inquisitiveness. The amazing jazz fingerstylist Lenny Breau was one guitarist whom he helped in Nashville. The late Marcel Dadi was a modern exponent of the Atkins-influenced style of playing. Atkins, at one time produced a roster of around 40 artists. A multi Grammy and Country Music Association award-winning guitarist he received the ultimate honour with his election in 1973 into the hallowed Country Music Hall of Fame. His music appealed across the board because its smooth, deftly executed and understated style was accessible and unpretentious. Many guitarists who took up Atkins’ fingerstyle guitar probably went on to further investigate the classical guitar. (Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine, August 2001)