shows. His reputation grew and he appeared with the Carter sisters at the Grand Ole Opry. Atkins recorded for RCA Victor in 1946 and had his first hit, "The Galloping Guitar," in 1949. He began working as a studio musician and played in a group that performed on most RCA country sessions. He was appointed manager of recording opera- tions in Nashville for RCA. He later buiit a recording studio in Nashville where, as a producer, he guided other country artists' careers. He arranged Elvis Pres- ley's first Nashville sessions and pro- duced artists such as Dolly Parton, Roy het Atkins, honorary AES mem- Orbison and the Everly Brothers. ber, died on June 30 at his home In the 1950s and 60s Atkins was able in Nashville, Tennessee. He was to modify the sound of country music to changing American tastes. The "up- A leading guitarist, Atkins was credit- town" sound, as he called it, was mar-
,Country Gentlemun. His grancifather and fiddles had become old-fashioned. was a champion fiddler and his father a in 1%7 Aikins became vice-president music teacher, piano tuner, and evangeli- in charge of country music for RCA. He cal singer. His hther also played guitar. found producing stressful, and after Atkins learned, to play the banjo as a three years began concert tours of youth, okn saying that he played "until Empe, Asia, Africa. His style was a the strings broke." At the age of 9 he thumbpick and fingers I.ather than a fiai ..began playing at local patties and road- pick. He fiaunied his dextenty by play- houses, after leaming the ukulele and fid- ing two melodies at the Same time on dle. He learned guitar styles by listening different strings. He began to play the tdvarious groups on radio. classical guitar and became a guest artist in 1941 Atkins was fascinated by the with many symphony mhesiras. Despite style of guitarist Merle Travis. He the offer of honorary de- hmsever- invested his salary in equipment to con- al universities, he declined acceptance, vert his acoustic guitar to electric. In an saying he wanted only to be laiown as effort to imitate the Travis style he the Guitar Picker or C.G.P. He received began to pick with his thumb and three 14 Grammy Awards and recorded more fingers. By the age of 17 Aikins was a than 120 albums. Two of his hit songs he professional musician. After the out- mte in one day: "Oh, Lonesome Me," break of World War I1 Southern nual and 'T Can't Stop Loving You." music spread. He quit high school and The AES paid tribute to him in 1999 got a job as a fiddler with the Jumpin' when it awarded hirn an honorary mem- Biii Carlisle-Archie Campbell program bership. He accepted at the 107th broadcast on WNOX, Knoxville, TN. convention in New York. The director of the radio Station put Reticent and unassuming, Atkins was Atkins on the Station's "Midday Meny- low-key and humble. He once told a Go-Round." After the Carlisle-Campbell reporter that the reason he continued show was canceled, he became rhythm playing guitar was because he was "still guitarist in the station's stat'f band. trying to get it right."
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