Around 1970, a teenaged Tommy Emmanuel of New South Wales Australia wrote a fan letter to his guitar playing idol 10,000 miles away in Nashville. And Chet Atkins wrote him back with encouraging words. A couple of decades later, Tommy was performing and recording with Atkins, who recognized him with the honorary title of Certified Guitar Player. 

Tommy is an extraordinary fingerstyle guitarist, that’s for sure. In that he’s not alone, though he is clearly among the top in the world. What he has going for him that sets him apart is his gifts as an entertainer and communicator. And so this explains how a kid from Australia could climb a long international ladder of success, culminating in one of the most prestigious live gigs in the world. It’s documented on the new CD, Live at the Ryman. 

We’ll talk about this gorgeous recording in the hour ahead, but also about Chet Atkins and Doc Watson and the unique challenges of making hall filling magic with six strings and a few fingers.

Also, how two new bluegrass museums are aiming to transform the experience of bluegrass pilgrims to Owensboro and Rosine, KY.