Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian single-handedly brought the electric guitar into the mainstream when he joined Benny Goodman on stage in 1939. Christian’s solo performances on Goodman songs like “Flying Home” and “Honeysuckle Rose” mark the earliest examples of the electric guitar being used well as the lead instrument in a big band arrangement, even though he wasn’t the first guitarist to jump in and play electrified. Sadly, Christian, who was 26 years old, passed away from tuberculosis. A generation of legendary jazz guitarists, including Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, and Jim Hall, were influenced by his work.
Charlie Christian
Chet Atkins
Beginning in the 1940s, Chet Atkins recorded innumerable songs both as a solo performer and as a studio player. He actually established the groundwork for early rock ‘n’ roll with a large portion of the session material he recorded and/or produced in Nashville with musicians like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers. Despite being at ease with a variety of musical genres, Atkins is most often linked with country music and the acoustic guitar. Travis, as well as well-known guitarists like Doc Watson, Les Paul, Jerry Reed, and Mark Knopfler, joined Atkins in recording a duo album.
Chet Atkins
