D'Angelico, Johnny Smith, and D'Aquisto
In the photo at the top of the page, John D'Angelico, the master luthier, and his apprentice D'Aquisto flank the great Johnny Smith.
I was fortunate to have been taught guitar by Gary Atkins when I was a kid in Arvada, Colorado. And even though he loved and admired his uncle Chet, his lifelong friend and mentor was Johnny Smith. Here is but one of the many links about Johnny:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/14/191396165/johnny-smith-revered-guitar-player-has-died
In the same tradition of his great teacher Johnny, Gary immersed me in chords and how they resolve. He played with great expressiveness and beauty. He didn't have much patience for students who weren't serious about working their butts off.
My second stroke of luck, in the same town of Arvada, was to have become friends with Denny (DW) Stevens who was regarded as a luthier in the same class as D'Angelico and D'Aquisto. Here's a wonderful link and tribute to Denny:
http://www.dwstevensguitars.com/testimonials.asp
Of the 198 instruments that he eventually built, I am the lucky owner of a wonderful flat top, #36
I was fortunate to have been taught guitar by Gary Atkins when I was a kid in Arvada, Colorado. And even though he loved and admired his uncle Chet, his lifelong friend and mentor was Johnny Smith. Here is but one of the many links about Johnny:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/14/191396165/johnny-smith-revered-guitar-player-has-died
In the same tradition of his great teacher Johnny, Gary immersed me in chords and how they resolve. He played with great expressiveness and beauty. He didn't have much patience for students who weren't serious about working their butts off.
My second stroke of luck, in the same town of Arvada, was to have become friends with Denny (DW) Stevens who was regarded as a luthier in the same class as D'Angelico and D'Aquisto. Here's a wonderful link and tribute to Denny:
http://www.dwstevensguitars.com/testimonials.asp
Of the 198 instruments that he eventually built, I am the lucky owner of a wonderful flat top, #36
My pal and teacher, the late great Gary Atkins
The incomparable DW (Denny) Stevens who tragically passed at a young age as did D'Angelico and D'Aquisto.
The peghead of Denny's 36th instrument, built in 1973.
Gary Atkins with the Heritage Johnny Smith model that Johnny Smith himself gave to Gary, his lifelong pal.