Some of my earliest musical memories are of the great old church hymns and gospel music songs heard in church and frequently on the radio, in those days mixed in with music of other genres. In later life, after I decided to try to learn how to play guitar, it was only natural that many of these songs would be among my efforts. Since discovering that I could make my own CD's I have had the desire to do one consisting of my favorite gospel songs.  

No one plays guitar like Chet Atkins and it was his rendition of many of the old gospel favorites that helped motivate me to take up the guitar to start with. The intricate harmonies and beautiful expressiveness Chet achieves is beyond description and must be heard to be understood and appreciated. While understanding that I could never achieve the touch and sound that he gets, I have nevertheless tried to learn how to do some of the harmonies.

Getting started on the harmonies however required the help of my long time friend Tommy Flint. Tommy is a relative of the legendary Merle Travis and is himself a renowned guitarist and author of many instructional books, tapes and CD's, who is quite at home around all the "Super Pickers". Tommy not only can play all this stuff but has the talent to write it down as well and it was he who showed me how the harmonies work, but if he ever hears any of this stuff I have done he will likely disavow knowing me! To find out more about Tommy, Merle Travis and other great pickers be sure to visit the Thom Bresh website. Thom is a fantastic guitar player and all around entertainer - it must be in the genes for he is the son of Merle Travis!

 ~Jim Stark