Duane Eddy and you go, “Ok, I get where Rock
‘n Roll came from”. From the Everly Brothers to
Chuck Berry, it’s all connected for sure. But my
influences were my father’s influences.
My Uncle Jimmy, my Dad’s younger brother,
was a cool Fender guy. He bought a Jaguar
brand new when I was a little kid. He played a
white Jaguar. He was real cool. He was a little
older than me. He looked cool. He wore cool
clothes. I always wanted to be my Uncle. He
played cool. He really influenced me. My Dad
was teaching me the people they loved. Speedy
West playing that Western Swing. That’s Jimmy
Bryant, him and Speedy was playing that stuff.
My Dad was teaching me because he saw
I was interested, I was soaking it up. That’s
Luther Perkins playing with Johnny Cash, he’s
playing a Tele, he’s playing an Esquire. I learned
it from my Dad, he knew it all too. I don’t know
how he kept it straight, no Social Media at all.
Just radio and buying records. That’s why liner
notes on records were so important back then.
That was Social Media back then. Even the
artwork. I liked when you put out the booklet
and somebody would go the extra mile and
put extra print to tell stories. I couldn’t wait
to soak up the next album. Especially when
they went the extra mile and made a great
package. I remember when Jimmy Bowen
would say when you arrange your albums it’s
an experience from the first song to when they
turn it over and listen to the very last song. Think
of it like a show, a live show. I never thought of
that before. But no one really does projects like
that anymore. I learned a lot from him, and I am
so lucky. I was looking through an album, one
of my favorite Glen Campbell albums the other
day. I’ve listened to this album 4,000 times, and
I didn’t even know that Bowen produced it. I
worked with him for years and didn’t know he
did that album.
[WM] I’ve read that you initially met your hero
humble honor to carry that mantle!
Chet Atkins while visiting London, England, on
the CGP originally formed and started. I know
exactly when and how that happened and I saw
tour with Dottie West and band. Years later you [Steve] You said it perfectly. It is a humbling it. Paul Yandelll played with Chet for 30 years,
would become only one-of-four players in the honor to try and carry on that legacy, that finger but he’s gone now too. He was the ultimate
world to receive Chet’s blessing with his CGP picking, that “thumb style”, as Chet would call Chet and Jerry Reid expert. He probably knew
Award (Certified Guitar Picker). It must be a it. I was there when all that happened. When more about their stuff then they did. Chet started
December 2019
Subscribe for Free...
25