Before the guitar, I played accordion. I was already finding chords with my left hand. Dad didn't always hold my music, but he and mom backed me 100%. |
I spent my high school years with Gene and Barry. As the Surfriders, we each earned $15 a night on weekends. I wish I still had the Gretsch... and the shirt. |
That's me performing Chet's "Blue Echo" on my Gretsch 6120. The necktie, hair and thumbpick are real.
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Chet and I share a Grammy grin after "The Entertainer" won
"Country Instrumental of the Year." |
Chet took Lenny and I over to meet Les Paul. First we picked ... then we grinned.
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Jerry wouldn't show me how to play his tunes…but he would tell me when I was wrong. |
Chet and I swap tunes and stories in his RCA office.
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Chet helps me learn to perform under pressure. I'm playing my Hascal Haile classical while Chet backs me up on a custom axe from his personal collection. |
Chet, Elizabeth Pearson, Will Mason and I take a break after recording the soundtrack for “Get Started on Guitar,” our instructional video.
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Kirk Sand, Chet and I check out the prototypes of Kirk's electric nylon-string guitars. |
Chet caught me off guard when he awarded me the first honorary CGP degree at the 1996 Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville
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Chet gives last minute instructions to our 100-guitar marching band at the groundbreaking for the new Country Music Hall of Fame. |
Tommy Emmanuel and I double up at Mark Hanson's Accent on Music Seminar 2004.
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I felt honored to be inducted into the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame for a second time in August of 2004. |
