Gretsch tribute to Chet Atkins.

[Billyboygretsch]

Doyle Dyke one of my favourite players. Good sense of humour too. You might enjoy the link
http://youtu.be/dBRluhR6v8U

[Keith Bateman]

Thanks for the heads up on this Alan; a really enjoyable tribute with some great stories and playing. I too have made a dvd copy using Jim's recommended program.

Chet has been my main guitar hero since a friend played me the 'Best Of' LP back in 1965 and 'Main Street Breakdown' made my jaw drop. I've collected all his recordings and seen him whenever he has been to the UK (opening the Nashville Rooms, performing on the Val Doonican Show at the BBC, heading a concert in Bristol and coming over to the CA Guitar Society in 1983). I've been able to speak to him on a couple of these occasions and he played and signed my Gretsch Tennessean in 1983 (read about it here http://misterguitar.us/metchet/bateman.html)

Chet and me.JPG

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I'm also pleased to have known Richard Smith who appears in the video and followed his early career in the 1990s in a trio with his two brothers. He still remembered me when he came back to the UK a couple of years ago and I saw him at a gig in Swindon.

I remember Hank citing Chet as an influence in the NME around 1961 but he never mentions him in interviews these days.

Keith

[JimN]

Brilliant stuff, Keith!

[AlanMcKillop]

Chet was the one artist that I never got see live, that I wished I had, he was the master.

[JimN]

Chet was the one artist that I never got see live, that I wished I had, he was the master.

A friend of mine, up in Liverpool - a lifelong Chet Atkins fan - bought a ticket to see a Nashville show, including Chet, which was on tour in the UK. This was for the Liverpool Empire.

He was sitting in his seat with his wife just before curtain-up and overheard someone in the next row saying "Isn't it a shame that Chet Atkins isn't on?".

It turned out that Chet only did the London shows, but was billed for the whole tour...

Still, they had the honour of hearing those Nashville superstars Bobby Bare, Dottie West and Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass.

From what he said about the crowd's reaction, the whole show should have led to a mass refund.

[roger bayliss]

Great tribute by some of the people who knew him well ... enjoyed it

[Phil McGarrick]

That was amazing - thanks for the link Alan.
Phil