Two for Tuesday: Steve Wariner

I have to confess, I was not all that familiar with Steve Wariner before I learned that he was also granted the distinction of Certified Guitar Player by Chet Atkins. He’s popular in country music circles, but, despite living in the South, I don’t listen to a lot of country music. So, I had to search the Internet for whatever I could find out about him…

Steve was born in Noblesville, Indiana (north of Indianapolis) on Christmas Day, 1954. He was influenced by Chet Atkins and got his start playing with his father’s band, and eventually started playing in local clubs. Dottie West hired him as her bass player, and he appeared on her 1973 single “Country Sunshine.” He left her band and played bass for the Grand Old Opry’s Bob Luman when Chet Atkins signed him to a contract with RCA Records. Since then, he’s worked with Nicolette Larson, Brad Paisley, Asleep at the Wheel, and Glen Campbell in addition to his work as a solo artist. He has four Grammy awards, three of which are for Best Country Instrumental.

Steve said in an interview that he doesn’t get much of a chance to record instrumentals, but in 1996 he recorded the album No More Mr. Nice Guy, his one primarily instrumental album, on which he appears with Vince Gill (on the title track, the first selection here), Chet Atkins, Lee Roy Parnell, and Leo Kottke. Since then, he’s been limited to one instrumental per album. The second selection here is the beginning of a tribute concert in 2009, which Steve hosted and opened with “Windy and Warm” and a second tune which I don’t recognize.

Steve Wariner: You Two For Tuesday, December 11, 2012.