Chet Played Steel

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 3 Jul 2001 10:00 am

TODAY AT MR.ATKINS SERVICE, GARRISON KEILLOR RELATED A STORY OF HOW MR.ATKINS PLAYED HIS HIGH ACTION SILVERTONE GUITAR USING A BUTTERKNIFE AS A SLIDE IN THE HAWAIIAN TRADITION. MR. ATKINS WAS A STEELER ALSO. SO, IN HIS HONOR, AND MEMORY I AM PLACING THIS THREAD IN THE STEEL PLAYERS SECTION FOR ALL STEELERS TO SEE. GOD BLESS CHESTER BURTON ATKINS. LARRY MILLER[This message was edited by Larry Miller on 03 July 2001 at 11:01 AM.]

John Sims · Post by **John Sims** » 3 Jul 2001 11:30 am

Chet is still one of my favorites. We love and miss you pal...

HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST

God saw he was getting tired
And a cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around him
And whispered, “Come with me.”

With tear-filled eyes we watched him
Slowly fade away.
Although we loved him deeply,
We could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard-working hands put to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

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Regards,

John

Steelin' is a way of life!

My PSG website-Carter SD-12-U, 8p/5k, Nashville 1000

[This message was edited by John Sims on 03 July 2001 at 05:01 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Jul 2001 1:22 pm

The most beautiful guitar playing I've ever heard in concert was Chet's rendition of "Vincent". It's a perfect arrangement of a wonderful ballad.

He didn't play steel at that concert, but I have no doubt that if Chet Atkins played steel, he played it well. I've never heard him do it on record, either.

We all miss you, Chet.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 3 Jul 2001 3:40 pm

Hey Larry, Janice(Busgal) is gonna getcha! Playing with a butter knife does not a steel player make! Look out!
Bobbe, the wrong section poster.
P.S. Larry, did he play Travis stuff on steel? It was a great service Larry, I saw you but couldn't get to you ,[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 03 July 2001 at 04:42 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 3 Jul 2001 5:34 pm

John Sims;

That was a beautiful "tribute" to Chet...you really touched me . Those who knew Chet had to really love the man...I did a thread on my first meeting with Chet years ago,,I beleive it is the topic "canned heat" You can go back and check it out if you would like,,,I think it was under "Bar Chatter" maybe one of the fellows can give you the topic site.

God Bless him & his loving family and also people like yourself to have such compassion.
What all of us wouldn't do to bring him back
but he is in Gods's open arms right now. I hope I will someday see him agin....bless you
for that nice tribute. Jody, had to edit I spelled your name with two mm's sorry about that....now I got it right,,,,,Im not the "swiftest" on this computer....[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 03 July 2001 at 06:37 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 3 Jul 2001 5:40 pm

Larry,,,
Ditto to you as well. You are a great bunch of guys....

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 3 Jul 2001 8:30 pm

It was a very nice service. I think we all held our breath for a moment when Eddie Arnold came out to speak. It was obviously very difficult for him, but he seemed to collect himself once he got going. WSM was the only radio station that I heard do any kind of programing related to Chester today.I find that ironic, but unfortunately not surprising. WSM played his music throughout the day, as well as some great interviews. WSM is going to broadcast the taping of the ceremony this weekend, I believe. If anyone knows the date/time, please pass it along. Here is a link to the Nashville Tennessean. If you scroll down a bit, you will find some nice articles about the man: http://www.tennessean.com/ [This message was edited by Geoff Brown on 03 July 2001 at 09:34 PM.]

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 3 Jul 2001 8:38 pm

I'm telling guys, Chet told me he had played steel and to me that qualifies him as a steel player and just because he didn't play it in public doesn't mean he does not belong here and I don't think Chet would lie about that, thanks, Gary

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 4 Jul 2001 8:51 am

Hey Gary,

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 4 Jul 2001 10:13 am

I don't doubt Chet could play (and play well) anything he wanted to.

There were(are) several closet steelers in Nashville. Marty Robbins was a Little Roy Wiggins fan, and Roy told me about going to his house and Marty had to break out his (lap) steel and play an Eddy Arnold song complete with note for note licks Little Roy did.

Winnie Winston · Post by **Winnie Winston** » 4 Jul 2001 2:15 pm

When I was doingh "the Book" I was trying to find the copyright holder on "Bud's Bounce." It turns out it was Chet Atkins-- or more rightly his wife's company. I placed a call to them, and got a phone call back.... "Chester Atkins here, what can I do for you?" I told him I was doing a book and needed permission to use "Bud's Bounce." He said that the tune was published by a copany he set up for his wife as a tax-loss. He asked how much we were willing to pay. I told him $50 flat rate, and he said, "That sounds OK. Now, mail me one of those books when you get it done, and I might learn to play one of those things."
So... he wasn't playing before 1976....

And, yes... there ARE a lot of closet steel players in Nashville. My fave has always been Sonny Osborne who has a single 10 Marlen that he plays around with.

Winnie

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 4 Jul 2001 2:48 pm

I had the privilege to play rhythym guitar for Marty, while he played Bro Oswalds Dobro in Roy Acuffs dressing room several times in the mid 70's. Me , Marty and a guy Roy Acuff called "Triune" who is a friend of mine and a star in his own right, on fiddle. Larry Miller