National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame Inducts Country Star Steve Wariner

Posted by Lisa L. Rollins Sep 23, 2009

Grammy-winning guitarist, country artist and songwriter Steve Wariner will receive pair of new accolades this when he’s inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame during the organization's 12th annual induction ceremony.

The induction will take place Friday, Sept. 25, at the Merle Travis Music Center in Powderly, Ky. In addition, Wariner's current CD homage to his musical idol and mentor, Steve Wariner, c.g.p., My Tribute to Chet Atkins,has been named Thumbpicking Recording of the Year.

"I've been a thumbpicker since my dad taught me when I was young," Wariner said. "In my later years I was lucky enough to play with Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Paul Yandell. Receiving this honor is because of them. It's an incredible honor for me to join the esteemed ranks of the Thumbpickers Hall of Fame."

Other 2009 inductees will include Richard Smith and Chip Young. Moreover, past National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame inductees include not only Wariner's friend and mentor, Chet Atkins, but also Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Paul Yandell, Doc Watson, Grandpa Jones, John Knowles, John Hartford and Joe Maphis, among others.

Muhlenberg County, Ky., is considered the birthplace of thumbpicking, also called fingerpicking, which is a style of guitar playing in which the thumb maintains a steady rhythm by alternating bass patterns on the lower three strings, while the other fingers play melody and fill-in notes on the high strings.

In other Wariner-related news, the Indiana native was nominated for a Nashville Music Award this week for Instrumentalist of the Year. Although defunct for several years, the NMA honors, which include a variety of genres--not just country music--were revived this year.

Readers interested in this news may also find favor with Steve Wariner's New Chet Atkins Tribute CD Set to be Distributed by Allegro Media Group.