Will our kids appreciate Chet?

[Jade]

I was goofing around last night trying to play Mr Sandman, and ended up watching some Youtube vids of the one, and only Country Gentelman, and as is always the case when I hear, or see Chet play, I'm just mesmerized at his tallent.

Growing up in the 80's, I never had much appreciation for his music, untill I grew up, and realized there was more to playing guitar than wearing spandex pants, and playing as fast as possible. :rolleyes:

My 19 yr old son, who's been playing since he was 7, is a really good guitar player in his own right, but I seriously doubt he even knows who Chet Atkins is. I suppose it's partially my fault, but I'm doubting wether he'd be interested in that style of music enough to give it a chance.

So whadda ya think... Will future generations find, and appreciate these true masters, or will they be forgotten, and replaced by guitarists of today? What a crying shame that would be.

Jade

[re-animator]

relax man.


I'm 19, and a bigger chet atkins fan I have not met :)

[jiml]

Usually if someone else comes along who is playing in the same vain, someone will inevitably say "You think he/she is great, you should have heard Chet Atkins play".

[blood5150]

33 here... love him... dont forget Jerry Reed!!!!

[Guitar Dave T]

My 9 year old son, who up until recently lumped "jazz" and "hip hop" in his same basket of "likes", now makes me replay certain CD tracks of "Chester and Lester" when in the car, so I think they probably will, though never on the same level as whoever is the Britney-Pop-Trash (BPT) at the time.

[Bassomatic]

No.

[dets1]

i think we're having a tough enough time getting the younger folks to appreciate the beatles by the looks of some other threads, let alone chet atkins.

[re-animator]

way different story. Chet is mr. guitar, in case you didn't know :p

[stout-hearted]

My kids are a tad older than most mentioned in this thread, but from their early days they listened to about everything I threw on the stereo system.

My oldest girl (22) plays the guitar and mandolin. She loves the Beatles, classis rock. Really enjoys Tom Petty - and has listened to my Chet albums too. She loves all kinds of guitar and has a fondness for bands like Nickel Creek.

My son (19) plays guitar and has had access to my CD collection for ages now. He messes a little with fingerstyle and although he doesn't jump to buy Chet's recording, he is amazed at what he sees on my "All Star Guitar Night" DVDs. He knows Chet inspired all these players and his dad.

If anything - I taught my kids to have a diverse taste in music and at least one of them will inherit my music collection, so Chet will live on.

[thewhit]

If they ever try to play Chet's riffs they'll appreciate him particularly if they can restrain themselves from tossing their axe in frustration. I think the great lesson from Chet is that he was hugely generous with other musicians and loved sharing the stage which benefited all.

[Bryan T]

When you say "our kids" do you mean all of them? If so, then no. Some of them? Of course.

[Jahn]

all roads lead to Chet. i grew up totally not listening to Chet, and playing almost 20 years worth of guitar without listening to Chet. it might take your kid three decades, but eventually he'll check Chet out and go "what the heck have I been missing here? YIKES!"

[JRenn]

Usually if someone else comes along who is playing in the same vain, someone will inevitably say "You think he/she is great, you should have heard Chet Atkins play".

Absolutely.

[skydog]

Some of them will, some of them won't. Same as our generation, our father's generation, our ........

[JLaps]

I'm 17 and I love his playing. I especially love his version of Summertime on a fretless guitar and his version on Vincent

[sanhozay]

I think if the teacher is up to the task then the student will be a good learner.

Some people find their own way to the promise land because they're natural Magellan’s but others need more than just a compass. Children are malleable and need very little encouragement if the getting is good. And Chet’s pretty damn good. So - yes. Most 'def.

[8Painting]

a big NO.

[DStefani]

My Kids listen to everything, especially my 11 year old. One day in the truck I gave him the detailed explanation of the dynamics of Freebird... "wait for it...wait... yeah!".

He digs all the greats. One day I overheard him telling his little sister about it, along with his explanation of EC & BB's 'riding with the King', "hear that guitar that sounds real fat, you can tell that's BB King, Clapton has the thinner strat sound".

Haven't burned him any Chet yet, that's a good idea! Thanks!!!

School them kids!

- D

[daddyo]

Kids suprise you. My 20 year old niece is into Arty Shaw. My 18 year old daughter digs everyone from Bob Dylan to Simon and Garfunkel to Billie Holliday. My 16 year old likes fingerstylists like Elizabeth Cotton. How long can it be till she discovers Chet. If a person digs a certain type of music, they'll find the greats.

[re-animator]

lets just say Wildwood Flower changed my life.

[The Guy]

isnt gibson going to sue him for using their name?

[PUCKBOY99]

I take it upon myself to sit down with my girls (8-6-4) & play them a CD of music completely different from the drivel they're exposed to on a daily basis.

We listen to the whole thing & discuss it at the end.

I'm guessing my kids are the only ones...or at least very few... in their peer group who know who Chet is.

Or Danny Gatton
Or Jim Croce
Or Jimi Hendrix
Or The Beatles
Or Rory Gallagher
Or Thin Lizzy
Or Aerosmith
Or John Coltrane
Or BB King
Or Miles
Or Jaco
Or Parliament
Or Kool & The Gang (the Funky Jungle Boogie Kool & The Gang)
Or Brad Paisley & Keith Urban
Or Hank 1
Or Rimsky-Korsakov
Or Segovia

OR ...............

Music education (or atleast appreciation), my friends....starts in the home :AOK

[Beagle1]

As long as there is someone like Tommy Emmanuel out there, who plays Chet's music at every show and talks about Chet's influence on his playing and life, Chet's music will live on. Guys like Tommy (and Doyle Dykes, Richard Smith, etc) are inspiring a new generation of young guitar players who will keep Chet's legacy alive.

[Thwap]

Maybe...if they're players.

Otherwise, no.

[re-animator]

I take it upon myself to sit down with my girls (8-6-4) & play them a CD of music completely different from the drivel they're exposed to on a daily basis.

We listen to the whole thing & discuss it at the end.

I'm guessing my kids are the only ones...or at least very few... in their peer group who know who Chet is.

Or Danny Gatton
Or Jim Croce
Or Jimi Hendrix
Or The Beatles
Or Rory Gallagher
Or Thin Lizzy
Or Aerosmith
Or John Coltrane
Or BB King
Or Miles
Or Jaco
Or Parliament
Or Kool & The Gang (the Funky Jungle Boogie Kool & The Gang)
Or Brad Paisley & Keith Urban
Or Hank 1
Or Rimsky-Korsakov
Or Segovia

OR ...............

Music education (or atleast appreciation), my friends....starts in the home :AOK

You just listed some of my favorite musicians of all time :BEER

there is hope for the youth :cool:

[PUCKBOY99]

You just listed some of my favorite musicians of all time :BEER

there is hope for the youth :cool:

Some of their comments are pretty funny, but they really enjoy just chillin' with dad & learning to listen :AOK

[Guitar Slinger6]

There is a difference in a pop culture musician that appeals to the current generation, and a musician that transcends all pop culture trends.

[skydog]

Puckboy99: Hopefully, you set a good example and every once in a while you let them pick the music.

[Brett Valentine]

One of the things I loved about Prairie Home Companion was that Chet sat in with the band every week.

I think the superficial music listeners will most likely stay oblivious, but as long as there are guitarists who list him as an influence, there will be those who go back to see who this "Chet" was.

And isn't it interesting that he is so pervasive in our generation that we can refer to him still by only his first name?

[Jon C]

taste is taste, and in the end I have to think it will win out ... I remember first seeing & hearing Chet on TV in the 60s and being mesmerized by his tone & technique (without realizing then that's what it was) ... all I knew/thought was that it sounded so cool, I wished I could do that.

40 yrs.+ later I still wish I could do that like he did.

[PUCKBOY99]

Puckboy99: Hopefully, you set a good example and every once in a while you let them pick the music.
You'd be AMAZED at the ...stuff... I'm forced to listen to !!! ;)

Every now & then, I wanna be Avril's drummer :D

[bluesjunior]

Kids nowadays appreciate chit so there's no hope for Chet.:banana

[twinrider1]

He won't disappear completely. But there will be a slow decline as those that were around to see him live pass away. After a few generations it will level off to a pretty low level among everyone except some players.

Go to a mall and ask 100 kids if they've heard of Chuck Berry.

As was mentioned, it's up to us to share it with our kids.

[slippyknees]

If you teach them to have an appreciation of different things when they're young, yes.

If you let MTV get a hold of them and let them educate your kid's taste....well, sorry pal.

It's just called parenting. Expose your kids to culture other than what's hot on the Internet, Television, and the Radio right now and we'll all be better off!

(Trust me, I teach guitar a few days a week and you'd be shocked at what kids don't know; I'm talking teenagers - "What's Sgt. Peppers? If it's not on iTunes I probably don't know it." "What is this tune again? The Wind Cries....who? Is there any shredding in it?" I was literally told/asked that by more than one kid - G*d help us!):rotflmao

[Flyin' Brian]

If they play guitar then maybe. But they need to be exposed to his music. On the other hand many kids who are into more modern music have absolutely no clue as to the roots of any of it, so most won't.
People who like the Black Crowes for instance have to hear the Rolling Stones, which means they have to heard Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Most don't make that connection at all.
Every once in a while somebody like Brian Setzer comes along and reconnects today to yesterday, much like the British Blues invasion made people aware of the blues masters. But the connection has to be made for people.

[re-animator]

He won't disappear completely. But there will be a slow decline as those that were around to see him live pass away. After a few generations it will level off to a pretty low level among everyone except some players.

Go to a mall and ask 100 kids if they've heard of Chuck Berry.

As was mentioned, it's up to us to share it with our kids.

I think that number raised up a little bit after the back to the future trilogy came out.