Chet often said of his being fired, "I got fired a lot because everybody knew two chords and I knew three!"

 
"I wrote the song "The Next Time I'm In Town" [Neck & Neck]...I was always pleased that Chet would finish his set by closing with this tune. When he played it, it became a really beautiful thing!"

     -- Mark Knopfler interview from the book: "Chet Atkins - In Three Dimensions, Vol.2"
      Mark Knopfler & Chet performing on
      Cinemax Sessions "Best of Chet Atkins
      & Friends: Music From The Heart" 1987

"I've often been asked which I like better, acoustic or electric guitar. My answer has always been that I like them both. With electric, you don't have to struggle to be heard, and you get much better sustain. You can make a lot of beautiful sounds with electric guitar. For the pure guitar sound, the acoustic is where it all starts, that's where the history of the instrument, the romance of it, comes into play. Acoustic or electric, the guitar has always been my favorite instrument, and a mystery I've spent a lifetime trying to solve."

     -- Chet from the Michael Cochran book "Chet Atkins: Me & My Guitars"

 
"During 1965 I toured the major cities of Japan along with Skeeter Davis, The Browns and Hank Locklin. It was a memorable visit and I enjoyed meeting and visiting with the people. My only regret was that I had not the time to learn any of the traditional Japanese melodies. With the help of the fine people at RCA I have now fulfilled that goal by learning and recording the songs in this album. I sincerely hope you will enjoy and appreciate my rendition of them." -- from the original liner notes written by Chet in 1973 for his album Discover Japan

"I always say some people should live forever. Chet was one of these people - so was John Wayne. They have so much to give. Chet was like a second father to me, my best friend. Ever since I was twelve years old, that was all I thought of, playing the guitar like Chet!"
-- Paul Yandell, 2004 interview from the book: "Chet Atkins - In Three Dimensions, Vol.2"

In a featured interview in the October 1979 issue of Frets magazine Chet was asked if he was still struggling to make himself better and his reply was:   "I've never been happy with my playing. Never will be. You know, there's so many great players around now who have come along and taken what I've done and gone on with it, and just done all the things that I wish I had done. But I was busy producing artists, and don't know if I could have done it either, anyway - what Jerry Reed's done, and a lot of other guys. It's gotten so now that when I play my old tunes - people say play "Freight Train", you know - it's like a parody I'm doing of myself."

"Tommy Emmanuel is a native of Melbourne, Australia. He is very popular in his own country and is on his way to becoming famous all over the world. I first met him about fifteen years ago and upon hearing him play, I was amazed by his impeccable musical time and coordination. He is, without doubt, one of the greatest guitarists on the planet and working with him on our project [The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World] was one of my most exciting musical journeys." -- Chet Atkins, c.g.p. 1997

"From the first time I heard him, Nato Lima [Los Indios Tabajaras] has been one of my favorite guitar players. He plays in a classic style, but doesn't conform to the rigid classical technique, and he can play with a lot more feeling than most classic players. His style was a good influence on my playing. I think he has the most beautiful acoustic vibrato I've ever heard. He wrote a song called Blue Angel which I recorded. It turned out to be the most popular cut on my "Hometown Guitar" album. " -- Chet from the Michael Cochran book Chet Atkins: Me & My Guitars

"It was a long time ago when somebody attached the moniker "Mr. Guitar" to my name. There have been times when that title made me uncomfortable, when I thought it was overused and probably undeserved, and other times when I was proud of it. Right or wrong, after all these years, I've gotten used to it and accepted it as a part of who I am, and who the guitar has helped me become." -- Chet Atkins, c.g.p. 2000

"Early on in his guitar career, Chet decided that he wasn't interested in playing guitar as fast as he could which was expected of guitarists back in the '40's". You were supposed to perform these feats of almost vile and virtuosity - playing "Under The Double Eagle" so fast it just stunned people and they'd all gasp and throw their babies up in the air. What Chet developed instead was this very lyrical and soulful style of guitar and is really the reason his career has lasted so long. -- Garrison Keillor as guest host of the 1998 Austin City Limits broadcast of the tribute episode "The Best of Chet Atkins"

A young Richard at age 11 onstage with his idol Chet, playing "Little Rock Getaway" "When I was young and at my peak, I was doing things that were considered amazing at the time. Other generations have come along since then, absorbed what I did, and have expanded on it. A good example of this can be found in Richard Smith, the gifted young player from England. Richard was playing my arrangements note-for-note when he was ten years old. Now, in his late 20's, he has developed a tremendous fingerstyle technique. He plays my tunes better than I ever did, with more flair and command, and has added elements to the arrangements that are beyond anything I ever did. He has a great future with the guitar, and I know his own style will continue to grow, based on all the musician's he's listened to, just as mine did." -- Chet Atkins, c.g.p. 2000, excerpt from the Michael Chochran book Chet Atkins - Me & My Guitars

"God was in him, God speaking to the human race through music, when Chet played. It was ethereal...I was transported, swept up in the music." -- Jerry Reed

In memory of Terry McMillan 1953-2007

A young Terry onstage with his mentor Chet, playing the Dylan classic "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" "I brought some great musicians with me from Nashville and I have a boy now I want you to meet that I always say 'I discovered on the street' about 5 years ago playing harmonica. Great percussionist and harmonica player and love him like a brother... his name is Terry McMillan." -- Chet Atkins, introducing Terry before their performance in 1978     "Music is all about time. The space between the notes is everything. Time is nature's way of seeing everything doesn't happen all at once." -- Chet Atkins   GO TO TOP OF PAGE   ¹ FunkyJunkMusic.com (Funky Junk Entertainment) is not affiliated, in whole or part, with the the Estate of Chester Burton Atkins (Chet Atkins Estate).