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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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