Paul Yandell
September 6, 1935 – November 21, 2011
Paul Yandell was a Nashville guitar wiz who is perhaps best remembered for the 25 years he served as Chet Atkins’ band leader and guitar duo partner. Having become proficient on the guitar at an early age, Yandell moved to Nashville during the mid ’50s and launched his Music City career playing with the Louvin Brothers. From there he joined up with Kitty Wells on whose show he performed from 1961 until 1970. After a brief run with Jerry Reed, Yandell was hired by Atkins. The year was 1975, and he went on to play alongside the guitar legend for the next quarter century. Throughout his career, Yandell released a handful of albums, including a tribute to Atkins, Forever Chet after he passed away in 2001. As an in-demand session player, Yandell can also be heard on records by the likes of Dolly Parton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Perry Como, George Strait, and more. Paul Yandell died of cancer on November 21, 2011. He was 76.