By Brent Thompson

Chet Atkins took his guitar to the front and center of country music. The guitarist (1924-2001) – a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame – created a legacy that lives on through musical acolytes including Tommy Emmanuel and Gareth Pearson. We Still Can’t Say Good Bye: A Musicians’ Tribute to Chet Atkins (Morningstar Music) is a 15-track, star-studded project released in celebration of what would have been Atkins’ 100th birthday on June 20. And while there are plenty of household names listed on the album credits – Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss and James Taylor to name a few – it is the lesser-known artists that equally shine throughout the project. Pearson’s “Mr. Sandman,” Brent Mason’s “Lover Come Back To Me,” Guthrie Trapp’s “Caravan” and Sierra Hull’s “All I Ever Need Is You” are all album highlights. Bottom line – We Still Can’t Say Good Bye is a relevant-yet-reverent love letter to a musical icon.