Buddy and chet

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 3 Mar 2004 7:23 am

A freind sent me this pic recently. It may have been on this Forum before.
Can anyone interpret the last word of the
inscription.
"For Buddy,
my very ____?____
Chet A. CGP (Certified Guitar Player)

[This message was edited by Roy Thomson on 03 March 2004 at 07:25 AM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 3 Mar 2004 7:25 am

favorite

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 3 Mar 2004 7:54 am

I'm with Larry,

I would vote for "favorite".

But, who knows?

carl

Mark Tomeo · Post by **Mark Tomeo** » 3 Mar 2004 8:07 am

"CGP" actually stands for "Certified Guitar Picker," a wholly fabricated and enormously fatuous designation Atkins applied to himself during the late part of his career.
I love Chet and his playing, but that "CGP" business grates on me the same way "King of Pop" does when people talk about Michael Jackson.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 3 Mar 2004 8:21 am

Mark.

After Chet left RCA and the record business crap he had to deal with for so many years, he was so happy to get back to just being a "guitar player" that he gave himself this little CGP (Certified Guitar Player) thing not to boast of his playing but to show that he was indeed just a guitar player again. Sort or like a second beginning. He also at this time was recovering from a bout of colon cancer.

He always admired educated people because of his complex of having dropped out of high school and feeling inferior for his "hillbilly" upbringing and the way folks made fun of his speech. He said that he always wanted a degree from someplace so he just gave himself one.

This is in no way a self gloating thing on his part as he was always very humble when it came to his own playing, which by the way was the single most important influence in the world on guitarist of the 50s, 60s and even today in some ways.

Hope this explains a little better and tames your feelings on this C.G.P. thing.

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 3 Mar 2004 8:39 am

You got it right Bill!
That's just the way I heard it too.
"Fovourite" looks right Larry. Thanks.

If Buddy is looking in here maybe he can
establish the year this photo was taken.
My guess would be 1998/99?

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 3 Mar 2004 9:27 am

I disagree, Mark.
I think Chet's "CGP" is cool.
(I admit that I'm very biased toward the late great Mr. Atkins.)

I'd guess circa 98, as the sig looks very much like this one that's dated 98.

The managaer at my local deli has "MBD" after his name on his card. When I asked he said it stands for "Married Boss's Daughter".

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 3 Mar 2004 9:41 am

God bless Chet Atkins!

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 3 Mar 2004 11:48 am

Now there is a photo to behold !!! The two biggest influences in my musical career - and still my two favourite pickers. I still have about 25 of Chets albums and just about everything Buddy has ever recorded - that poster would be most appropriate hanging in my music room. God bless them both.

Russ Hicks · Post by **Russ Hicks** » 3 Mar 2004 11:49 am

Any one who doesn't consider Chet Atkins 'certified', self proclaimed or not,needs to be at least 'grated' on....Chet's original C.G.P.referrence meant Country Guitar Picker...be careful who you slamm...you may strike more nerves than you care to deal with.[This message was edited by Russ Hicks on 03 March 2004 at 11:56 AM.][This message was edited by Russ Hicks on 03 March 2004 at 08:51 PM.]

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 3 Mar 2004 1:35 pm

Not to get too off topic but,dose anyone still remember the album "The Atkins/Travis
Traveling Show"?Man.....thats pickn'

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 3 Mar 2004 1:35 pm

It's on the Fun Stuff page. It's one of Buddy's favorite pictures. Buddy said when I put it up that it's from the middle to late 80's.

They're both one of a kind!

------------------
My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 3 Mar 2004 2:21 pm

Russ, I thought it was "Country Guitar Player,"too. At least, that's what Chet told me, when I got his autograph back in 1991. And, although Chet had a great deal of confidence in his playing, I'm sure, he was NOT the kind of guy who'd brag on himself---just let his fingers do the talking!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Mar 2004 2:23 pm

Part of Chet Atkin's enormous charm as a person was the way he - one of the best pickers on the planet - would often be so self deprecating ... i.e. "If it wasn't for Merle Travis I'd be looking at the back end of a mule", etc, etc. If anybody earned/deserved C.G.P., it was Chet.

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 3 Mar 2004 2:38 pm

You mitey rite Russ! Whether it mean country,certified,self proclaimed or whatever, it's fittin! I never heard Chet boast but I know I'd have listened to him if he had. Wasn't he grate! Regards, Fred

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 3 Mar 2004 3:18 pm

I don't think that I've admired any public figure as much as I did Chet.

It goes without saying that his craftsman-like musicianship was an inspiration to all of us, but it was his generous praise of other players, along with his self-effacing manner, that endeared him to me; he was almost dismissive of his own accomplishments.

There's a man I wish I'd met - I'd have liked to tell him what he meant to me.

Roger Rettig

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 3 Mar 2004 4:32 pm

Atkins/Travis is one of my favorites along with Chet's colabrations with Jerry Reed, Les Paul, and Doc Watson.

And don't forget "Superpickers" with Weldon Myrick and other top session guys.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 3 Mar 2004 4:41 pm

I am a dedicated "Chet" fan and still enjoy the man's music. I think that one might say that "Chet put a face on the guitar"; probably had a tremendous influence on the growth of the instrument. I too, wish I had met him.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 3 Mar 2004 10:23 pm

When Chet autographed my two Country Gent guitars, I was proud he included CGP with his name. As far as I am concerned, the "C" could stand for "Cool" "Courageous" "Crafty" or a lot of other things. My 50+ years of his recordings authenticates the word "Certified" and is not presumptuous in any way. We could change it to GPK, "Guitar Playing King" and he really was.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 5 Mar 2004 7:37 pm

I believe he was a country gentleman.

Rick[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 05 March 2004 at 07:40 PM.]

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 5 Mar 2004 8:09 pm

I love Chet and his playing, but that "CGP" business grates on me the same way "King of Pop" does when people talk about Michael Jackson.

Chet Atkins lived up to his, Michael Jackson didn't.

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 5 Mar 2004 8:49 pm

Chet is greatly missed.I miss seeing him on the opry as well.But his music,and style will live on,and on.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 5 Mar 2004 11:02 pm

As an added note and Roger said some real truths about Chet.
Sometimes we have heros that at some point in their lifetime, they let their guard down and disappoint us through some personal blunder. Chet was married to his first wife and only her until death did they part. Chet was kind to me when I was 18 years old and let me sit beside him in the control booth at Studio B while he was producing a dub session. The muscians included Floyd Cramer, Buddy Harmon, Bob Moore and Grady Martin. Sitting with a legend and watching a room of legends was almost more than this kid could stand. After they all left, he took me back to his office, played his newest tune, yet to be released, "Hidden Charm" and pulled his D'Angelico from the closet, which had been restored back to a non-electric by Mr. D'Angelico himself. After playing some of his special tunes just for me, I thought I'd never come down out of the clouds.
He had class, charm and integrity and he will always be at the top of my hero list.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 6 Mar 2004 12:33 am

Well, It's kind of like the difference between "doing" Hank Williams, and "being" him.

Same with Mr Atkins.

I liked him LONG before his diet became popular.

EJL

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 6 Mar 2004 3:37 am

Gary.

You might be interested to know that Atkins took the old D'Angelico and "restored" it to it's original electric version a few years before he passed on. You can hear it on several cuts of the "Almost Alone" CD. He had all the original parts and put it back exactly like it was the first time he went out into the back yard and cut the holes in the top himself and installed a Bigsby pickup in front and a Gibson P90 in the back. This time he did not put them out of phase like the first time. Ray Butts picked up the original guitar one day and discovered it was out of phase. Chet didn't know it. The guitar was knocked off a stand accidently in the late 50s by June Carter and the headstock broke off. Atkins returned it to D'Angelico for repair.

Chet said it was nice to see his old guitar looking the same as when they both were young.[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 06 March 2004 at 03:39 AM.]