A few years ago I ran into Chet Atkins, who I had worked with several times before. He was working on some project with Ray Stevens and he asked me if I could get my hands on an accordian. I told him that I had one at home that my Dad gave me ( to make up for him moving me from accordian to piano lessons when I was a kid). It was a gag gift but a real accordian.
Well I pulled it out and let Chet use it.
Afterwards, he gave it back and I asked how things went. Chet deadpanned in his dry way, "Here's what you should do with that accordian - wash it, then burn it"
Chet is one of my favorite guitarists. He was a great man, and I remember hearing of his death in the summer of 2001; it came as a shock to me. I read his autobiography; his dad was a piano tuner, as I am, and as a boy, Chet was so poor that when he broke a guitar string, he took a piece of wire from the back porch screen door.
Accordion - I'm in Nashville where the men are men and the sheep are wary. 'A' vs 'O' notwithstanding, Chet still wanted it washed and burned - which was the point of the story.
"guitar geezer"? what an ignoble end for one of the most important, influencial and revolutionary musical figures of our time. By the way, Chet is on the Chieftains - Further On Down the Road CD, for those wondering about the Celtic link
Bobgordon, relax. “Geezer” doesn’t mean quite the same in UK slang that it does in the US. Two nations separated by a common language and all that. Their geezer is more like our “dude” or person in general. Over here we use it somewhat disparagingly to mean “old man”. I don’t think lisaniska intended any disrespect.
Chet was indeed a phenomenal talent and from everything I’ve ever heard, a truly gracious man. You are lucky indeed to have been able to associate with him.
Bobgordon, aren’t you from Cincy? Boy, I could go for a nice plate of fried goetta right now, or maybe a skyline 4-way bean!
accordian story
accordian story
A few years ago I ran into Chet Atkins, who I had worked with several times before. He was working on some project with Ray Stevens and he asked me if I could get my hands on an accordian. I told him that I had one at home that my Dad gave me ( to make up for him moving me from accordian to piano lessons when I was a kid). It was a gag gift but a real accordian.
Well I pulled it out and let Chet use it.
Afterwards, he gave it back and I asked how things went. Chet deadpanned in his dry way, "Here's what you should do with that accordian - wash it, then burn it"
Still cracks me up.
Bob. Nashville
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: accordian story
Chet is one of my favorite guitarists. He was a great man, and I remember hearing of his death in the summer of 2001; it came as a shock to me. I read his autobiography; his dad was a piano tuner, as I am, and as a boy, Chet was so poor that when he broke a guitar string, he took a piece of wire from the back porch screen door.
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: accordian story
Geeze, spell it right: accordion.
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by chautauqua
Re: accordian story
Yeah - accordions like that make wonderful novelty lamps, too.
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by kris
Re: accordian story
Accordion - I'm in Nashville where the men are men and the sheep are wary. 'A' vs 'O' notwithstanding, Chet still wanted it washed and burned - which was the point of the story.
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: accordian story
It's also spelt accordian and accordeon ,
and box and bocks
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by P.browne
Re: accordian story
The quote doesn't get any funnier just because it's supposed to be by Chet Atkins.
Almut, founder member of the SPCAI
(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Instruments)
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by kuec
Re: accordian story
But why go to the trouble of washing something if all you’re going to do is burn it?
# Posted on August 25th 2005 by fidkid
Re: accordian story
Chet Atkins made an early impression on me, from an album my dad bought
and i didn't know this guitar geezer was dead
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by lisaniska
Re: accordian story
"guitar geezer"? what an ignoble end for one of the most important, influencial and revolutionary musical figures of our time. By the way, Chet is on the Chieftains - Further On Down the Road CD, for those wondering about the Celtic link
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: accordian story
Bobgordon, relax. “Geezer” doesn’t mean quite the same in UK slang that it does in the US. Two nations separated by a common language and all that. Their geezer is more like our “dude” or person in general. Over here we use it somewhat disparagingly to mean “old man”. I don’t think lisaniska intended any disrespect.
Chet was indeed a phenomenal talent and from everything I’ve ever heard, a truly gracious man. You are lucky indeed to have been able to associate with him.
Bobgordon, aren’t you from Cincy? Boy, I could go for a nice plate of fried goetta right now, or maybe a skyline 4-way bean!
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by fidkid
Re: accordian story
The Ceht Atkins diet: every time you are hungry play guitar.
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by Why Bother?
Re: accordian story
ha ha !!!
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by BegF
Re: accordian story
He must have been hungry a lot!
# Posted on August 26th 2005 by fidkid
Re: accordian story
well not FROM cincy but I did live there for quite a while
# Posted on August 27th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: accordian story
Yes, that Mr. Atkins. Remarkable sense of humor. Just can't get over it. Remarkable.
Good thing he stuck with the guitar.
# Posted on August 27th 2005 by chautauqua