Nashville's emergence as the center of country music recording in the late 1950s, and the development of the unique Nashville sound, helped to revive the industry at a time when country was losing ground to rock 'n' roll. Chet Atkins, who became a permanent fixture at the Grand Ole Opry as a talented and technically precise guitarist, was one of the pioneers of Nashville's new sound. He is also recognized as one of the more influential figures in the history of country music recording, having been responsible for both the discovery and development of many prominent country stars.

Atkins was born in 1924 in Luttrell, Tennessee, a small Appalachian town tucked away in the state's eastern corner. His half-brother Jim, a talented guitarist who played in the Les Paul Trio in the 1930s, served as a role model for Chet, who began playing the guitar...