Did Chet Atkins ever play Steel??

Ed Naylor · From: portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.

AS a Thumbpicker Chet was one of my idols. In all my years I have never heard anyone mention if Chet ever fooled around with a Steel.Most of his records had very little or no Steel but,did he ever try it personally? Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works.

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

A few of his 50's recordings contained a few guitar & steel duets (The Bells of St Mary's, to name one), but I believe that was Jerry Byrd playing the steel. I can't imagine such an inventive player as Chet NOT fooling around with a steel once or twice.

[This message was edited by Per Berner on 19 August 2004 at 07:10 AM.]

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

No, Chet never played steel. Jerry Byrd DID record several songs with Chet. In the 1950s Chet had a 30 minute live broadcast from studio B at WSM featuring Jerry Byrd on steel and "Lightning" Chance on upright bass.
"Lightning" had a small frame mounted on his bass which held a drumhead. He held a drumbrush with his 2nd 3rd and 4th finger. He did a good job of playing bass and drums this way.
Chet also had some fine recordings with "Homer&Jethro" on rythmn guitar and mandolin. Chet was married to Jethros sister, Leona Burns.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I understood Chet arrived in Nashville as a "FIDDLE" player and did so for some time prior to making the switch to guitar.....

He also record a vocal or two on RCA back in those earlier days.

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Chet borrowed the now famous Jerry Byrd S-8 Fender lap steel guitar one time. After a month Chet called Jerry and said, "Come over and pick this thing up, I can't learn how to play this damn thing." ha ha

Roger

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Atkins did not come to Nashville as a fiddle player. George Morgan came to Springfield to do a gig and heard Atkins on guitar with the Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters. They were invited to come to Nashville and do the Opry. They were a big hit, and were asked by WSM to come to Nville and join the opry under one condition----that Chet Atkins not come with them!!!!! Seems the Musicians Union thought there were too many guitar pickers there already. WSM contacted Ezra Carter several more times and his answer was allways the same "The Carter family comes with Chet Atkins or we don't come". Atkins got in touch with Fred Rose to see if Rose could help him get some sessions if he did come to town and Rose told him that he would take care of the union and get Atkins some sessions. Finally WSM relented and that is how Chet Atkins got to Nashville. He had not been playing any fiddle for years.

This info can be backed up by Atkins own telling of this in several books about him.

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 09:25 PM.]

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

I have a DVD called "Chet Atkins - A Life In Music". They interview Bill Carlisle, who gave Chet one of his first playing jobs, playing fiddle. Bill says he heard Chet and some others sitting around jamming one day and that was the end of his fiddle playing in the band, he had him switch to guitar and the rest is history.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Al Johnson · From: Sturgeon Bay, WI USA

sorry but Chet and Jethro were married to sisters. Chet and Jerry
Byrd recorded a lot together.
Al

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

-----and a partridge in a pear tree------->

Doug Seymour · From: Jamestown NY USA (deceased)

Al Johnson confirms the information I always had from Jack Dunnigan. Chet & Jethro married the Johnson sisters who had a duet act at one time.

Earl Erb · From: Old Hickory Tenn

Chets album from around 1966-67?,called Hometown Guitar, Weldon played steel on that album. The tune Huntin' Boots comes to mind and I remember Weldon played some good licks on it.
I used to have every album Chet recorded up to 1975. That same year my apt.was broken into and half of my record collection and instruments were taken. I was playing the Opry the night it happened.

[This message was edited by Earl Erb on 19 August 2004 at 06:42 PM.]

Chris Scruggs · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

It was not that there were to many guitarists in Nashville that WSM didn't want him. It was because he, quote unquote, "played it wrong".

His first Nashville road gig was playing fiddle with Johnny and Jack. Not because he was a fiddler, just because he owned a fiddle and needed a some work. I hear he wasn't very good at all on the fiddle. Johnny Wright always jokes that Chet was a MUCH better guitar player.

Ever notice on the Country Allstar records how you can hardly tell Byrd and Chet apart sometimes? There tone is so similar. They must of been plugged into the same amp, or something like that. I bet if he did play steel, it would be like Jerry Byrd, and if Byrd played guitar, it would be like Chet.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Interesting observation Chris, and you're right about Chet's and Jerry's tone, they blended perfectly together. One of the best examples of this ( IMO ) is The Bells Of St Mary's, the part where Jerry plays harmony with harmonics.
The fiddle player on "Session With Chet Atkins" is Dale Potter, the steel player is Bud Isaacs.

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

Roger, you're correct. Once while talking to Chet, he began cleaning his finger nails with a finger pick and I asked him if he was fooling around with the steel and he said "a little bit."

Winnie Winston · From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.

When I was woirking on my book, I needed permission to use "Bud's Bounce." Turns out it is owned by Athens Music which is Chet's wife. So I was able to get Chet on the phone and ask for permission to use it.
He asked why, and I told him.
He said, "Go ahead. And mail me a book when you get it done. I might learn to play one of those things."

JW

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I always loved Chet's dry sense of humor. During a concert at Dollywood after he was getting up there in years, he picked up the fiddle to play. As he picked it up he said: "This is a Strativarius. I bought it new." I cracked up.

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