Chet Atkins never became a household name outside his genre of country music – but was recognised as a legend within it.

A finger-picking genius, he’s credited with developing the so-called Nashville Sound which popularised country beyond its traditional base by incorporating elements of pop and jazz.

Among his multitude of fans was Paul McCartney, who copied his distinctive style of melodic and intricate fingerpicking for the Beatles song Michelle – and cited this instrumental as his prime influence.

His technique, admired by Macca, was to use his thumb for the bassline and first three fingers for the melody – a method Atkins had adapted from Merle Travis (who played the melody with one finger), taking further influence from Les Paul, Django Reinhardt and George Barnes.

Born dirt-poor in Tennessee back in 1924, Atkins began playing guitar as a child but initially performed as a fiddler, going back to guitar when he swapped an old pistol for his brother Lowell’s instrument.

Practising his craft in the toilets at his high school, he graduated to a semi-acoustic electric guitar but had to travel to friends’ houses to play it as his family home had no electricity.

By the time WWII ended he had become a sought-after session guitarist in Nashville and went on to produce records for just about everyone who passed through town – Elvis, Dolly, Waylon Jennings, Perry Como, Hank Snow, The Everly Brothers and many more.