Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/in-memoriam-chet-atkins Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript A tribute to music great Chet Atkins. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: Finally tonight, remembering Chet Atkins, who died this weekend. As a guitarist and record producer, Atkins helped change and popularize country music, creating what became known as the Nashville sound.He played on hundreds of hit songs, including those of Elvis Presley, and the Everly Brothers. His own albums sold more than 75 million copies.As an executive with RCA Records, Atkins helped the careers of such stars as Don Gibson, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings. Here he is in 1988, performing his song, "Waltz for the Lonely." (Playing "Waltz for the Lonely" ) RAY SUAREZ: Chet Atkins had battled cancer for a number of years. He died at his home in Nashville. He was 77.