Wariner takes vintage approach in homage to Atkins

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Paying homage to a legend can be a challenge, especially when he's a close friend and mentor, but country artist Steve Wariner rises to the occasion on his tribute album to Chet Akins.

Atkins gave Wariner his start: While the legendary guitarist was head of RCA Nashville in 1977, he fired Wariner from his own band in order to sign him to a solo deal. Wariner went on to have hits with "All Roads Lead to You," "The Weekend" and "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," as well as a lengthy, Grammy Award-winning career as a singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso.

"Steve Wariner, c.g.p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins" is out October 6 on SelecTone. "C.g.p." stands for "certified guitar player," an honorary title that Atkins bestowed on only four musicians: John Knowles, Tommy Emmanuel, the late Jerry Reed and Wariner.

Billboard: When did you meet Chet Atkins?

Steve Wariner: In 1973 -- I was touring with Dottie West. RCA put together a tour of Europe with a lot of their big acts -- Dottie West, Jim Ed Brown, Bobby Bare, Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass and Chet. Chet was on the first leg of the tour because he had to get back to running the label. We were doing a show at Wembley Stadium. It was really cool meeting him. He was just as kind as I thought he would be.

Billboard: How did you approach paying tribute to your friend and mentor?

Wariner: I really wrestled with that. I have wanted to do this project since he passed away in 2001. My thought was, "What is the purpose of doing his songs and doing them halfway as good as he did?" I had to have some kind of different take on it. My hook is that I wrote part of it and had the concept of a soft timeline and trying to record songs in styles of those different eras. I used some of his guitars and I used analog tapes. I used old vintage mics. I really wanted it to be true to how he would do it.

Billboard: How did he influence you?

Wariner: Watching how he dealt with people, I really learned a lot from him aside from all the music stuff. And I certainly learned a ton from him in the studio. Chet trusted my playing from day one. Playing on my own records is vital for me as an artist, and Chet saw that. He let me cut my own songs. He was not into the publishing game. Chet said, "I do not play that stuff. If it's a great song, then I go for it, I don't care who wrote it or who published it." That's a lesson that stuck with me.

Billboard: Why did you launch SelecTone Records in 2003?

Wariner: It was something that my wife, Caryn, and I talked about doing for a long time. It was in the works when I left Capitol Records. I think the timing was right. The first album was "Steal Another Day" and then the Christmas album, and then I did an album called "This Real Life," and then I did the Chet tribute.

Billboard: The album came out in limited release in June and will be widely released October 6. Why two street dates?

Wariner: I wanted the timing between Chet's birthday and the time of his death. He was born on June 20 (1924) and then he died on June 30 (2001). I really wanted the wide release to be then, but it was just not going to be ready. We are giving part of the money from the limited release, which has a different cover, to Chet's music foundation.

Billboard: In addition to the original songs you wrote, you recorded a "Producer's Medley" encompassing hits that Atkins produced for Skeeter Davis, Perry Como, Jim Reeves and the Everly Brothers. Why?

Wariner: He never recorded that medley ever. He did it on a TV show a couple times. When we did our symphony dates, we would do it and he would say, "Every now and then we get lucky with the right song with the right artist, and I am going to play you some of the hits" -- and then he would make a joke, saying, "I do not have a medley of my hits because I don't have that many." I had to do that medley because I love it. It illustrates what a brilliant man he was as a record producer.

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)