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Celebrated guitarist Chet Atkins, whose guitar style influenced a generation of rock musicians even as he helped develop an easygoing country style to compete with it, died Saturday. He was 77.
Atkins recorded more than 75 albums of guitar instrumentals and sold more than 75 million albums. He played on hundreds of hit records, including those of Elvis Presley ("Heartbreak Hotel"), Hank Williams Sr. ("Your Cheatin' Heart," "Jambalaya") and The Everly Brothers ("Wake Up Little Susie").
As an executive with RCA Records for nearly two decades beginning in 1957, Atkins played a part in the careers of Roy Orbison, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Waylon Jennings, Eddy Arnold and many others.
Chet Atkins is the most recorded solo instrumentalist in music history. He has won nine CMA Awards as Musician of the Year, four Playboy jazz poll honors and thirteen Grammies, more than any other artist in the history of country music.
"It's impossible to capsulize his life - due to the profound impact he's had as a wonderful human being and incredible member of our industry," said Joe Galante, chairman of the RCA Label Group in Nashville. "His artistry and his influence as an industry leader have impacted so many. "There is no way to replace him nor what he has meant to music and our Nashville community."
Atkins helped craft the lush Nashville Sound, using string sections and lots of echo to make records that appealed to older listeners not interested in rock music. Among his notable Skeeter Davis and "He'll Have to Go" by Reeves.
"I realized that what I liked, the public would like, too," Atkins said in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. '"Cause I'm kind of square."
He collaborated with a wide range of artists on solo albums, including Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Eric Johnson, George Benson, Susie Bogguss and Earl Klugh. The funeral will be on Tuesday morning, July 3rd, at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry.
God Bless you Chet. You were truly a Legend in your time!
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