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i first met chet in chautauqua new york in 1973. i was 12 and amazed that the great chet atkins was in the same town i was. i met him at the backstage door and was enraptured that evening at the show. he came back the following year, and my father and i stalked him at his hotel-webb's captains inn for those taking notes. chet obliged a us photo and pleasantries, and then he was gone. we watched as the polaroid developed in our hands, but it came out blurry and dark and i was devastated. that evening's show was even better than the year before and i was able to meet chet again. he remembered me from that morning's "photo shoot". my father felt nearly as bad as i did-about the photo-so he bought us 2 tickets to chet's workshop the following day. $60 in 1974 was alot for us. the workshop was amazing and i had my guitar epiphany that day. it was as if i learned 5 years worth in that 3 hour session-being able to see the man's hands close up for 3 hours!!! anyway i met chet several times after that, and he remembered chautauqua and was always gracious and encouraging to me. tonight monday july 2nd, 2001, i stood in front of chet's casket at a nashville funeral home and said a silent prayer to the man who along with my wife, my mother and late father, jimmy webb, bob dylan, brian wilson, paul mccartney, and johnny rivers are the reason i am a professional songwriter in nashville today. thank you chet atkins for my love of music that will be with me until my last breath.

thanks chet!

- Jim Reilly



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