Country Star Honors Late Mentor Chet Atkins
Grammy Winner and Guitar Virtuoso Steve Wariner Releases Tribute CD
Aug 24, 2009
Award-winning country artist Steve Wariner has long been considered a guitar virtuoso by fans and fellow musicians alike. But for the accomplished singer-songwriter, the ultimate compliment came when his late idol and mentor, Chet Atkins, declared him to be one of only four "c.g.p." designees.
Since then, the Atkins-created reference, which stands for "certified guitar picker," has made its way to the performer's brand-new CD, Steve Wariner, c.g.p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins,, which was recorded for Wariner's own SelecTone Records label. The 11-song offering will be available via music retailers and online outlets beginning Nov. 10, 2009. (Originally, CD was slated for Aug. 25 availability but date was moved after story was written.)
Country Star Steve Wariner Honors Guitar Legend's Music with Tribute CD
According to Wariner, who hails from Noblesville, Ind., the tribute project is not merely an album featuring some of Atkins' best-loved songs, but rather, an homage to the genuis of his idol. Atkins (1924-2001) recorded more than 100 instrumental albums in his lifetime, and Wariner grew up worshipping and inspired by the guitar extraordinaire's virtuosity and wide-ranging musical style, which spanned from rockabilly, pop and folk, to mountain music, jazz and swing.
"Chet was an amazing man," Wariner said in a May 18, 2009, interview. "Nobody who plays the guitar has ever forgotten him. He played with so much heart. In doing this project, I found myself playing some of his performances over and over, listening closely and wondering, 'How in the world did he do that?'
"Until you put the microscope on it, you kind of take his playing for granted," he continued. "He'll do this backward roll on the strings of someting. It might go right by your ear, but then you try to imitate it. It sounds simple, but it's not simple. Try to do what he does technically. Then try to do it with his touch, tone and feeling, and you're reminded that you can't out-Chet Chet. He was something else."
Guitar Virtuoso Credits Chet Atkins for Shaping His Own Hit-Song Career
The Wariner-Atkins connection began long before the latter ever realized his influence. Wariner was reared on Atkins' playing and first met his hero at 18 while touring Europe with country singer Dottie West for whom he played bass.
"My dad (Roy) had all his albums, and I'd grown up putting the needle down on the tunes over and over again, trying to figure out how Chet did what he did," Wariner recalled. "Just like I'm still doing today."
Several years later, after Wariner left West's band and was playing with Bob Luman, guitarist Paul Yandell heard Wariner during a recording session for Luman. From there, Yandell shared a tape of Wariner with Atkins, who eventually produced Wariner's initial records as a solo artist at RCA Studio B.
Steve Wariner Scores First Hit-Country Song, Country Radio Airplay After Chet Atkins 'Firing'
After Luman's death in 1978, Atkins retained Wariner as the bassist for his own band in 1979, and it was during this time that the Wariner was "fired" by Akins after he notched his inaugural country hit with Your Memory.
The song "immediately became my first top-10 hit, bang, right out of the chute," Wariner said. "Chet called back in and said, 'Your record is going into the top 10 next week. You're fired. ... You need to go out and do your own thing and get your own band. Get out of here.'"
In that moment, Wariner remembered, "I thought, 'Holy crap! I've just been fired by Chet Atkins!' Chet loved to tell that story. He used to tell it all the time."
Grand Ole Opry Member Accrues Hit Records & Grammy Awards
Following his formal dismissal from Atkins' band, Wariner went on to record for RCA for seven years before moving to MCA and then Arista Nashville, creating hit after country hit and garnering industry accolades along the way. Currently, he has more than 30 top-10 songs to his credit, including 14 No. 1 singles, and he's accrued a trio of Grammy trophies for "Best Country Vocal Collaboration" and "Best Country Instrumental Performance," among other honors.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1996, the blue-eyed artist's latest album is nothing short of a labor of love and likely his most cherished project to date. In addition to recording a few songs that Atkins made wrote or performed on, such as Blue Angel, Back Home Again in Indiana and John Henry, Wariner took it upon himself to write a variety of songs in the styles that Atkins made famous for this CD.
"I've been thinking about doing this (Atkins' tribute) for a long time," Wariner remarked. "Chet meant so much to me, so much to the world. Aside from his body of work as a player, a great artist and musician, look at his work as a record producer and (RCA) label executive. It's astounding. There will never be anybody who will touch what he did on all levels."
Writer's note: In addition to Wariner, the late Atkins considered Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles to be the only players worthy to receive his "certified guitar pickers" designation.
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