For Chet Atkins, his technique and style came from unusual places. There’s evidence that he was inspired by James P. Johnson, the stride piano player.

“I remember, Chet Atkins gave me a [call],” he remembers. “Because we were both pickers in that sense – but, of course, Chet was otherworldly.

June 30 -- Chet Atkins, whose guitar style influenced a generation of rock musicians even as he helped develop an easy listening country style to compete with it, died Saturday. He was 77.

April 10 (UPI) -- CMT will explore the making of the Chet Atkins tribute album ' We Still Can't Say Goodbye' - A Musicians' Tribute to Chet Atkin s in a new documentary. The one-hour special 'We ...