Film Screening: The Jerry Reed Show (1976)

This colorful episode of The Jerry Reed Show features performances and interviews with Lynn Anderson, Chet Atkins, Jerry Clower, and Terry McMillan. Reed performs “Baby’s Coming Home” with Atkins, and all the guests join in on “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” The live house band is conducted by Bill Justis. Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. 45 minutes. Free.

Concert: Muhlenburg County Thumbpickers

Chet Atkins was inspired by the complex fingerstyle guitar playing of Merle Travis called “thumbpicking.” This guitar style has been developed, passed down, preserved, and expanded by generations of players around Travis’s birthplace in Kentucky. Award-winning Muhlenburg County-area guitarists Joe Hudson, Paul Mosely, Eddie Pennington, and Freddie Russell will perform. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Joe Edwards

Joe Edwards spent thirty years playing fiddle and guitar in the Grand Ole Opry Band. He has played on recording sessions produced by Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, Don Law, and Ken Nelson. He toured with Bill Carlisle, Cowboy Copas, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Hamilton IV, Bobby Helms, Grandpa Jones, Jerry Reed, Charlie Walker, and Joe’s wife, Jan Edwards. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Film Screening: Nine Pound Hammer (1998)

In the early twentieth century a few guitar players in Western Kentucky developed a unique style of guitar playing that used the thumb to pick out a steady bass rhythm while the first finger played a melody. This style, which became known as “thumbpicking,” was popularized by Capitol Records recording artist and Muhlenburg County native Merle Travis, and had a significant influence on Chet Atkins. This film features stories and performances from eight Kentucky thumbpickers, some of whom have been playing since the time Travis rose to stardom, while others are from a younger generation of guitarists who have carried on and expanded this traditional style. Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. 52 minutes. Free.

Vocal and Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Jim and Morning Nichols

Jim and Morning Nichols perform and teach country and jazz guitar around the United States and Europe. Jim has played and/or recorded with Chet Atkins, Hubert Laws, Buddy Montgomery, Van Morrison, Kenny Rankin, Toots Thielemans, Tom Waits, and others. Morning has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and has shared the stage with guitar greats Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Murphy, Kenny Rankin, Martin Taylor, and many others. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Eddie Estes and Phil Hunt

Eddie Estes and Phil Hunt play guitar in the style of Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, and Paul Yandell. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Mark Mazengarb and Loren Barrigar

Mark Mazengarb is from New Zealand and Loren Barrigar hails from central New York. They perform as a guitar duo and also incorporate harmony singing into their original compositions and arrangements of bluegrass, jazz, and country music. The duo’s style of guitar playing is built upon the thumb-picking techniques pioneered by guitarists Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: John Standefer

John Standefer is the winner of the 2002 National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at Winfield, Kansas, and the Open Division winner of the 2004 International Home of the Legends Competition. He teaches and performs yearly at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Offsite Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Program: Panel Discussion: Remembering Chet

John Rumble, senior historian for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, will lead a panel discussion featuring four highly acclaimed music veterans who worked closely with Chet Atkins for many years. Panelists include Jim Ed Brown, Ray Edenton, Charlie McCoy, and Wayne Moss. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. [program at CAAS – NOT HELD AT THE MUSEUM]

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Jonathan Brown

Jonathan Brown is a fingerstyle guitarist and composer from Nashville. His influences include Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, George Benson, Lenny Breau, and Tommy Emmanuel. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Concert: Chet Atkins: Friends and Flame Keepers

Chet Atkins was known as an innovative guitarist; as a producer who helped define the Nashville Sound; as a generous teacher and collaborator; and even as a student of other guitarists. This exhibit-closing concert will highlight the relationships that have been sparked and continue to grow around Chet’s music, as well as the artists who are carrying on and expanding Chet’s guitar style. John Knowles, c.g.p., will host this tribute with guest performances by Megan Taylor Anderson, Thom Bresh, Guy Van Duser, Ben Hall, Brooks Robertson, and others. The program will be streamed live at CountryMusicHallofFame.org. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: Brooks Robertson

Oregon-based Brooks Robertson is a composer and arranger in the style of Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Thom Bresh, and his own mentor, Buster B. Jones. In 2004, Robertson won first place in Prairie Home Companion’s Talent from Twelve to Twenty Contest. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Exhibit closing July 15, 2012. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.

Museum admission or Museum membership required for program admittance. Due to limited seating, a program pass is required for your complimentary seat. Passes will be available for pick-up at the Museum two hours prior to the start of the program, on a first-come, first-served basis. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

MEMBERS ONLY: Call 615.416.2050 to reserve your program pass in advance. Reservations will be accepted until 48 hours before the program, or until the program is sold-out. Your pass does not guarantee you a seat after the program begins.

Film Screening: Austin City Limits - “Chet Atkins and Friends” (1987)

In this episode of the long-running public television series, Chet Atkins demonstrates his trademark guitar style as well his love of collaboration. His guests include Thom Bresh, Larry Carlton, Johnny Gimble, Peter Ostroushko, Butch Thompson, and the Prairie Home Companion Band. Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. 55 minutes. Free.