Chet Atkins was a guitarists’ guitarist.  He wasn’t enormously popular when he was live but real guitarists (like, for example, the Mark Knopflers of the world) loved him.  He won 14 grammy awards (including a lifetime achievement award) and is considered one of the best fingerstyle guitarists of all-time.  While Merle Travis is considered the inventor of the fingerpicking style, many would say it is Chet Atkins who perfected it.

Lately at Fretbase we have been listening to some of Chet Atkins’ early recordings.  The Essential Chet Atkins seems like an awfully good place start.  It could quite possibly inspire you to go out and get some thumbpicks.

The Essential Chet Atkins (Amazon)
The Essential Chet Atkins (iTunes)