Claim: Chet Atkins produced records for Norma Jean.

Chester Burton `` Chet '' Atkins -LRB- June 20 , 1924 -- June 30 , 2001 -RRB- , known as `` Mr. Guitar '' and `` The Country Gentleman '' , was an American musician , occasional vocalist , songwriter , and record producer , who along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson , among 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 . He also played the mandolin , fiddle , banjo , and ukulele .   Atkins ' signature picking style was inspired by Merle Travis . Other major guitar influences were Django Reinhardt , George Barnes , Les Paul , and , later , Jerry Reed . 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 Browns , 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 .   Among many honors , Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . He also received nine Country Music Association awards for Instrumentalist of the Year . He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame , the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum , and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum .