CMT Blog: Archive

Steve Wariner has a new album coming that salutes his mentor and friend Chet Atkins, and he shared some of it during a Saturday afternoon (Aug. 29) performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Wariner led his set with "Leaving Luttrell," followed by "Sails," with its beautiful melody brought to life by Wariner's tender touch. Along with the exceptional picking, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Wariner and fellow c.g.p. (certified guitar picker) John Knowles swap stories about Atkins' wry sense of humor, his humble nature and his desire to keep learning. It made me wish I had met him. Fortunately his legacy is evident in My Tribute to Chet Atkins (due Nov. 10), which balances Atkins' songs with Wariner's new compositions.

Wariner wrote one new tune, "Reeding Out Loud," for another c.g.p., Jerry Reed. He had a chance to play it for Reed, who listened to it on headphones, then muttered, "And that's why I hate you." Funny stuff. That anecdote reminded me that Wariner really is a link to country music's past. At 17, Dottie West hired him to play bass. His next gig was with Bob Luman ("Lonely Women Make Good Lovers"). When Luman died, Atkins casually picked up Wariner for a tour. Thus, Wariner went from a kid in Indiana to a world-traveler in a relatively short amount of time.

After several misfires, Wariner finally landed a Top 10 hit for RCA Records in 1981 with "Your Memory" -- and was promptly fired from Atkins' band. No hard feelings, of course, since Atkins is the one that signed Wariner to RCA in the first place. Naturally, they remained friends until Atkins' death in 2001. At the Hall of Fame, Wariner emphasized, "You can't out-Chet Chet." That's true. But luckily you can make sure his music lives on.