Chet Atkins

Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential country guitarist and record producer in country music. His virtuoso picking style inspired by Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes and Les Paul, brought him of admirers both within and outside the country scene. Atkins produced records for Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson Jim Reeves, Connie Smith and Waylon Jennings to name a few. Atkins created, along with Owen Bradley, the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country music's appeal to include adult pop music fans as well.

See also

• List of best-selling music artists