Michael Cochran

Chet Atkins is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential and universally admired guitarists of all time. The high standards he set as a performer, session player, solo recording artist, record producer, and label executive have inspired, comforted, and gladdened the hearts of generations. Published as a companion to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, this book examines the fascinating career of one of America’s most influential musicians. In addition to images of many rare treasures saved by Atkins and his family, the book includes words from, among others, three of Atkins’s four fellow Certified Guitar Players: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, and Steve Wariner.

In 2009 the legendary Les Paul passed away at the age of 94. In celebration of his life this book capturing Paul's own reflections on his remarkable inventions and guitar playing was published as a high-end collector's edition. In 2015 Les Paul reached his centennial and Backbeat Books is pleased to celebrate the legend once more in the first-ever paperback edition of ÊLes Paul in His Own WordsÊ making his fascinating story available to a wide range of readers.ÞThis book is the definitive work on the recording and electric guitar pioneer whose prodigious talents and relentless work ethic single-handedly launched a new era in American popular music. This authentic account of Les Paul's life is packed with words of wisdom and experience from one of the most important contributors to modern music.