A Tribute to Chet Atkins

Famed Nashville musician Steve Wariner plays host in this one-hour documentary tribute to the legendary Chet Atkins, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the relationship between Atkins and Gretsch Guitars.
The documentary was filmed in Nashville's historic RCA Studio B - home to Atkins, and pop music giants Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers, among others. Artists Steve Wariner, John Knowles, Doyle Dykes, Duane Eddy, Jimmy Capps, Pat Bergeson and Richard Smith reflect on the greatness of Atkins, his music, his role as producer, and how his influence lives on today.

[@lightningabove]

This is an absolute masterpiece and I am very thankful to all those who helped put it together. ❤️⚡️

[@joemapes1525]

Aman

[@taperecorder3]

I got to see the great Doyle dykes about 15 years ago the best $10 I ever spent, when I can get to his playing level then I can say I finally can really play guitar,still ain't at his level yet 🤬🤬🤬

[@davidjessee7701]

Steve Wariner brought Chet to my little hometown in ky, for a concert at my old highschool!! It was a night to remember!! Steve has put on several concerts in this little ky. Town. It’s the same town that his mom and Dad lived in .. and his brother Terry Wariner lives there still. He’s actually a good friend of mine… I bet no one can guess wich town it is

[@billgreen6263]

Doyle is my hero in many ways!

[@tito.tarantula]

What a fantastic ode to Chet… and the playing 👌 The Chet Atkins Gretsch models are all stunning in their own right but Doyle’s double cut, wow 🤩

[@jjock3239]

I like what Les Paul said about Chet when they would play around at the rehearsals and on the stage. He said, "I could play my stuff, but Chet could play his stuff as well as mine". What a compliment.

[@rocklee8929]

It’s crazy how people were mind blown by him back then but it still holds up til today

[@claudehopper9813]

As a kid my Mom would say " come listen to this " It was Chet on the Ed Sullivan show . He was playing " Apache " . I ended up playing guitar for 50 years and still consider Chet my favorite guitarist and inspiration .

[@rockindavidcroucher]

How could ONE man play SO many notes at once ?? He was indeed a genius 👏

[@garybryson1900]

I first began to admire Chet Atkins because I became a Jim Reeves fan in my teens and I found out that Chet produced Jim's records. Later on, as I learned more about Chet and listened to him play the guitar, I grew to admire him for his guitar playing and his personality, in addition to his record producing. In my opinion, Chet Atkins was the most influential man in the history of country music in Nashville.

[@DUGGER1947]

Not only produced Jim's records, but also played background guitar on many of Jim's hits. "Welcome to my World" comes to mind.

[@huntncover]

I really enjoyed this . What a great tribute to Chet . I'm sure him , Jerry , and Roy were smiling as they looked down and watched and listened to this , among others who have gone before . 🙂

[@jerryprice5275]

need sound

[@jerryprice5275]

need sound 23:31 23:33 😅

[@johnjenkins7101]

I grew up listening to Mr Atkins, which is why I still play today 🎸Great tribute

[@mflazar]

What an amazing man. He was my inspiration more than 60 years ago and I've loved him ever since.

[@user-wy9xc6mi6q]

Grandma loved listening 2 him, he remembered songs... he played everything... Chet had an older brother, whom played, & got him his first guitar

[@frankiez3652]

Fantastic tribute. Thank you.

[@TheCream14]

This is the biggest reason I have Gretsch guitars in my collection.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

What kind it is? It is a electromatic?

[@walterbriggs272]

Chet is the guitar player everyone wants to accomplish and if we get close, it’s like being in Heaven God bless all thumb pickers

[@terence874]

Absolutely unique guitar player, a master of the fretboard, and such a nice guy,

[@ramiroalvarez5397]

Great unique music that's enjoyable and fun to listen in all aspects. Cool 😎 Chet Atkins as a MASTER Guitarist.

[@Poopbutt2134]

My uncle had one eye n one leg,I will never forget him putting Chet atkins on and telling me listen to these guys together lol

[@markbrown7103]

Two of the best guitars I ever knew or Chad Atkins and George Harrison. These two guitars gave society great music Chad, of course being by himself, was unbelievable. George Harrison, on the other hand with the Beatles, and he was also on believable. The Beatles were my favorite band of all times. Chad Atkins was my favorite solo instrumental, guitarist. Nobody could come close to him he was unbelievable. May Chet Atkins and George Harrison rest in peace. I sure miss them. 😢😭🎸🎵🎶🎼 I owe them a lot for encouraging me and inspiring me to play guitar. Started in 1974 and steel play today. I am a former student of Johnny fortune. The one that died soul surfer back in 1964. He was my best friend for 30 years he died in 2006 at the age of 60 that was a heartbreaker to, I must say if it wasn’t for these three people I would’ve never picked up a Guitar. God bless their souls.👼👼😪🎸🎼🎶

[@georgetebbens3524]

I absolutely loved George's solo records! Especially the self-titled 1979 "George Harrison" record. I learned to play extended chords on guitar by the chord symbols in a George Harrison music book I bought from the Carl Fisher sheet music store here in Chicago on Wabash in the 1980s. Thing is, I wasn't aware that George used a capo on many of his songs. So I learned to voice complex chords up and down the fingerboard without a capo. That's my greatest attribute as a guitar player -- I know all the inversions of all the chords up and down the neck.

[@thomasprice1320]

Every guitar player idolized Mr. Atkins. You all who knew him personally are blessed indeed. I didn't know him like that, but man, I loved that man. I loved his and Mr. Paul's "Chester and Lester " gig. All of the friendly barbs they shot at each other is classical. We all miss Chet and he will live in my memory until life is over. Maybe I can finally meet him then.

[@fabieneldridge3414]

Chet was the Guitar King of the Whole World, to me anyway. I don’t think there was anything he couldn’t do with a guitar. He made so much music ! G D Bless Chet ! We know he is Happy !

[@garynokes729]

Great tribute to my overall favorite guitarist of all time.

[@777bigbird]

Always Loved Chet . Especially the Peanut Vendor.

[@royhanson3335]

Wonderful....loved it!

[@johnhendershot1617]

Amazing!!

[@chirilas5217]

This is a very artistic treasure, listening these virtuosos guitar player, how they master the finger style technique. Chet must be proud the legacy he left. Congratulations guys, you are the best. I am still learning the “freight train”, but it is worst than the American Amtrak ….😂😂😂😂

[@DUGGER1947]

I wish they would have talked about what Chet had to go through in order to get an RCA recording contract for Charlie Pride, back in the day there were literally no nationally-known African-American country artists. That was 1965, just less than a year after the repeal of "Jim Crow Laws." Charlie was so thankful to RCA, and Chet in specific, for making his recording contract and international musical success possible.

[@MrBsteve47]

Loved it, Great job everyone!!!

[@wayemer]

No words from Tommy Emmanuel?

[@davidkellymitchell4747]

Mr. Guitar !

[@fredclarke801]

Thanks for the video. I think Doyle is the man to succeed Chet.

[@newnoggin2]

Too bad they didn't get Tommy Emmanuel to comment. He probably was touring somewhere.

[@finleytron]

It's a shame Chet didn't live long enough to see his name back on a Gretsch. Chet never sounded right on a Gibson. There was only one Country Gentleman Guitar and it was a Gretsch. Maybe in heaven the harps are built by deceased Gretsch craftsmen

[@JackTheSkunk]

It must have been so cool and interesting for Chet's friends, like Buster DeVault, to listen to Chet as he grew from a poor farm kid banging on his brother's guitar to become "Mr. Guitar". What a shame there weren't cellphone cameras back then to record Chet learning new tunes, working up arrangements, experimenting with jazz chords, perfecting his technique etc.

[@oddjobs3025]

WOW

[@knowmusicman157]

The greatest tribute to Chet today is Doyle Dykes.

[@gtrrobster]

DD!!!

[@olleolsson4123]

He vas❤ the best . RIP

[@lynnhudson838]

I played onstage with the man who taught Merle Travis to play thumb and finger style. We were in western KY near where the old man lived at Lake Malone. I can't remember his name. Merle taught Chet. Chet did NOT invent it!! He was just the best at it by far!!

[@DEW-N-ASHES]

Does anyone know the name of the song that is playing at the very beginning?

[@user-so3cc1ww2y]

グレッチカッコいい❤

[@robertlee8042]

He didn’t play the guitar; he let the guitar play.

[@PaulSmith-ri2cm]

Chat didn't want his name or another dretch

[@emilychristoff9404]

The Eastman is nice but the strings across aren’t as balanced volume wise, I’m not a not a D-35 fan always had a D-41, HD-28 Adirondack custom shop torrified top that was my favorite should not have sold it…had 71 D-18 it was a Banjo Killer bear claw top that one went to pay for the HD-28 custom. Double mistake…

[@swavekbu4959]

What is the first song right from 0:00, anyone know?