Died On This Date (November 21, 2011) Paul Yandell / Band Leader For Chet Atkins
themusicsover 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.
Charlie Louvin was a longtime country singer and songwriter who became a national treasure singing alongside his brother Ira Louvin as the Louvin Brothers. From 1940 to 1963, the Louvin Brothers created a catalog of country and folk music that ushered in the use of close harmonies to the genres and would be a direct influence on the likes of the Byrds, the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, Alison Krauss, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Starting out as a Gospel group, the Louvin Brothers soon began singing secular songs so they could reach a larger audience. That lead to appearances at the Grand Ole Opry and several charting singles. The duo disbanded in 1963 and then in 1965, Ira was tragically killed in a car accident, so Charlie forged on as a solo artist. In recent years, Louvin’s career experienced a renaissance thanks to recognition from the likes of Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Elvis Costello, and Bright Eyes to name just a few. Outside of tributes, his songs have been recorded by Uncle Tupelo, 
