Chet Atkins by Michael Cochran, Russ Cochran (2003, Paperback)

This book is an excellent pictorial and narrative story, captured in the very words of the man who was very much at the center of shaping the country music scene in the 40's 50's, and 60's, and the guitars he used to accomplish it. The pictures are excellent, and covers all of Chet's important guitars and what made them important. Interwoven amongst the anecdotes and stories of the guitars are insights into the life of this truly amazing man who lived four lifetimes worth of experiences in a mere 77 years. He was a guitar stylist like no other before him, producing over 100 albums in his career. He was also very successful producer and record label executive who shaped the careers of countless artists, either directly or from behind the scenes. He became so famously attached to the guitar as an instrumentalist and innovator of guitar designs that he came to be known as "Mr Guitar." As a producer and record label exec, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to arrange and pick one hit song after another, causing artists to seek him out to bolster their careers. His artistic skills seemed to have no bounds, and after reading this book, you will see why that is so.