Nationally Known Artist

Chester Burton Atkins, nicknamed by throngs of fans as “Mister Guitar,” changed the world of guitar music, developing and elevating an innovative guitar playing style that has inspired scores of musicians. His style and sound are often duplicated but no one has completely captured the sound of Chet. He admired and was influenced by Merle Travis, Les Paul and Django Reinhardt. Working his way from low paying radio gigs to success in the business world at RCA Nashville, he discovered and signed many talented artists of his time. As one of the most prolific record producers of all times he was a driving force in the development of what was dubbed “the Nashville Sound.”

Published in 2020

Chet Atkins

Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Winchester, Virginia and at a young age began traveling around locally singing to help support her family. A member of a band she was in suggested that she change her name so she decided to use her middle name, becoming known as Patsy Cline. Patsy's young career hit a turning point in 1957 when she landed a spot on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show. Patsy moved to Nashville to properly pursue her career in 1959. In the early 1960s, Patsy enjoyed great success on the country and pop charts. She made a way for herself in a predominately male world, and in doing so, paved the way for many of the female artists that followed her. She is considered one of country music's greatest vocalists and after her death in 1963 has received too numerous awards to be listed. Her Greatest Hits album sold over 10 million copies worldwide and spent more than 700 weeks on the Billboard charts.

Published in 2019

Patsy Cline

Jimmie Rodgers was born on September 8, 1897 in Geiger, Alabama. Jimmie traveled a lot looking for work on the railroad and any opportunity to entertain, earning as much as he could to support his family. In January of 1927, Jimmie headed to Asheville, North Carolina. Jimmie fell in with the local musicians and was part of several bands, one of which was able to secure a weekly thirty-minute spot on the local radio station WWNC. Ralph Peer with Victor Records was holding auditions in Bristol, Tennessee for new recording artists. Jimmie Rodgers headed to audition. On August 4, 1927, Jimmie Rodgers recorded his first record, “The Soldier’s Sweetheart” and “Sleep Baby Sleep.” Jimmie’s next recordings were in Camden and his first “Blue Yodel” otherwise known as “T for Texas” was recorded with “Away Out on the Mountain” skyrocketing him to stardom. As his fame grew, he cultivated dual images that permitted him to be “America’s Blue Yodeler” and “The Singing Brakeman” and a sharp-dressed dandy all at the same time. Jimmie Rodgers received many awards for his music including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Alabama Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, a United States Commemorative Stamp, the W. D. Handy Award, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Published in 2018

Jimmie Rodgers

Malcolm B “Mac” Wiseman dubbed “The Voice with a Heart” has recorded over 800 songs and was instrumental in the founding of the Country Music Association. He was born May 23, 1925, in Crimora, Va. As an infant he contracted polio and spent much of this childhood indoors listening to old country records on the family’s phonograph. After deciding to pursue a career in music, he attended the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Virginia with help from the National Foundation for infantile Paralysis, which would later become the March of Dimes. In 1946, Wiseman joined Molly O’ Day’s band, where he developed a love of classic country. In 1948, he joined Lester Flatt and Scruggs as a member of their Foggy Mountain Boys. In 1949, he joined Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys where he played the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. In 1949 he left the band for a solo career. In 1951, Mac released his first single, “Tis Sweet to be Remembered” which became a career-making song. He then went on to record other classics, including “Ballad of Davy Crockett.” Mac was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2014 he was inducted into Country Music of Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Published in 2017

Mac Wiseman

Tony Rice is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician born in Danville, Virginia. He is considered one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. Over the course of his career, he has played alongside J. D. Crowe and the New South, David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, led his own Tony Rice Unit, collaborated with Norman Blake, recorded with his brothers Wyatt, Ron, and Larry, and co-founded the Bluegrass Album Band. He has recorded with drums, piano, soprano sax, as well as with traditional bluegrass instrumentation. In 1983, Rice won a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance and was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

Published in 2016

Tony Rice

Ronnie Milsap was born Jan. 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, N.C. A congenital disorder left him almost blind, and at the age of five, he was sent to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, N.C. At the age of seven his teachers recognized that he had considerable musical talent. He began studying classical music and learned several instruments, eventually mastering the piano. In 1976, Milsap established himself solidly as one of Country Music’s biggest stars. A string of seven No. 1 hits in a row, including “It Was Almost Like a Song,” which was the most successful single of the 1970s. It paved the way for Milsap to be named Billboard’s Artist of the Year in 1976. Milsap won four CMA Album of the Year Awards, three CMA Male Vocalist of the Year trophies, and the coveted CMA Entertainer of the Year Award. In addition he won five Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal performance and one Grammy for Best Country Collaboration. With 40 No. 1 hits and more than 35 million albums sold, Milsap remains one of Country Music’s most successful and beloved crossover artists.

Published in 2015

Ronnie Milsap

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