“Autumn Leaves“ is a popular song and jazz standard composed by Joseph Kosma with original lyrics by Jacques Prévert in French, and later by Johnny Mercer in English. An instrumental version by pianist Roger Williams was a # 1 best-seller in the USA Billboard charts of 1955.
Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as “Mr. Guitar“ and “The Country Gentleman“, was an American musician, occasional vocalist, songwriter, and record producer….who, along with Owen Bradley, Bob Ferguson and others, created the country music style that came to be known as the Nashville sound….which expanded country music’s appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primarily known as a guitarist…..as he also played the mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and ukulele.
Atkins’s signature picking style was inspired by Merle Travis….with other major guitar influences being Django Reinhardt, George Barnes, Les Paul, and, later, Jerry Reed…..as his distinctive picking style and musicianship brought him admirers inside and outside the country scene both in the United States and abroad. Atkins spent most of his career at RCA Victor….and produced records for the Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Perry Como, Floyd Cramer, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings, and many others.
