Chet Atkins: Me and My Guitars is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive and enlightening book on Chet Atkins ever published. A friend of Atkins' for 40 years, Russ Cochran was privy to stories from Chet that even the most knowledgeable Chet fan would never know about. Chet tells it all in his own words about his childhood, his playing influences and early struggles to find work, along with insight into the guitars he used and endorsed along the way. The book includes full-color photos of Chet and his guitars, many only previously seen in a limited collector's edition. Photographer Wolf Hoffman manages to expertly capture the images of some very famous guitars played by Chet, including his first Sears Roebuck Silvertone, custom made D'Angelicos, the Gretsches, and the prototype models of the current Gibson Country Gentleman guitars. Over 60 guitars in Chet's private collection are photographed in Chet's home and his office on Music Row. Chet speaks about each of his important guitars - including the Gibson L-10 which his brother Jim gave him - telling the story of his career as seen through his guitars. More than just a pictorial review of his guitars throughout the years, it's a fascinating look inside the mind of history's greatest guitar player. This book will appeal to guitar collectors and Chet Atkins fans everywhere. Full-color and B/W photos throughout.

(Guitar Recorded Versions). Features 14 fingerstyle favorites transcribed in notes & tab from this unparalleled player: Arkansas Traveler * Blue Echo * Chinatown, My Chinatown * The Claw * Lady Madonna * Lover, Come Back to Me * My Little Waltz * Oh By Jingo, Oh By Gee, You're the Only Girl for Me * Slinkey * Trambone * When You Wish upon a Star * Wobegon (The Way It Used to Be) * Yankee Doodle Dixie. Includes a note from Chet Atkins, tips on playing his music, photos and a guitar notation legend.

(Book). The high standards set by Chet Atkins as a performer, recording artist, and record producer continue to inspire others. Complementing the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player , this book honors one of America's most influential musicians. To provide insight on the legend and his music, the Country Music Hall of Fame invited several experts to prepare essays, including Michael Cochran, Rich Kienzle, Walter Carter, and John W. Rumble. Chet only bestowed his degree of "Certified Guitar Player" on four other guitarists over the years: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner. Reed passed away in 2008, but the other musicians have shared special memories of Chet in these pages. Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player is a heartening read of essays and reminiscences that provide a revealing picture of Chet Atkins and his extraordinary life.

This tribute contains twenty-two of Chet's greatest solos and duets along with interviews with his daughter, Merle Atkins Russell and close friends such as Jerry Reed, Vince Gill, Eddy Arnold, Don Mclean and many others. This book offers touching insight into the character of an American original, who did much to shape the course of music history and the guitar. Most importantly, Chet Atkins helped thousands of people over the course of his life through kindness and generosity. To quote Jerry Reed, "There is only one." This book is a tribute to a special man, a special artist... a hero to the millions of lives he touched. The Atkins Family has shared many rare photographs which are presented in a special eight-page color insert. Selections include, "Heartaches, Caravan, When You Wish Upon a Star (live version), Music to Watch Girls by, Stars and Stripes Forever, Jerry's Breakdown, Nashtown Ville" and many others. All music is in standard notation and in tablature. Please visit www.ChetLicks.com for more information.

Learn Travis picking and country guitar soloing with Levi Clay

"Breau's astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships and happiness. When he was found dead in his apartment building's pool in 1984, police suspected his wife, but no one has ever been charged. Despite Breau's fascinating life story and his musical importance, however, no full-length biography has yet been published - until now. Forbes-Roberts has interviewed more than 200 people, including family members, fellow musicians, and the luthiers who created his instruments, and closely analyzed his recordings. The result is a detailed biography that sheds light on all areas of Breau's fascinating life with a particular emphasis on his evolution as a musician."--Jacket.

During the 1920s, a visit to the movie theater almost always included a sing-along. Patrons joined together to render old favorites and recent hits, usually accompanied by the strains of a mighty Wurlitzer organ. The organist was responsible for choosing the repertoire and presentation style that would appeal to his or her patrons, so each theater offered a unique experience. When sound technology drove both musicians and participatory culture out of the theater in the early 1930s, the practice faded and was eventually forgotten. Despite the popularity and ubiquity of community singing—it was practiced in every state, in theaters large and small—there has been scant research on the topic. This volume is the first dedicated account of community singing in the picture palace and includes nearly one hundred images, such as photographs of the movie houses’ opulent interiors, reproductions of sing-along slides, and stills from the original Screen Songs “follow the bouncing ball” cartoons. Esther M. Morgan-Ellis brings the era of movie palaces to life. She presents the origins of theater sing-alongs in the prewar community singing movement, describes the basic components of a sing-along, explores the unique presentation styles of several organists, and assesses the aftermath of sound technology, including the sing-along films and children’s matinees of the 1930s.