Doyle DykesIF YOU GO• What: Doyle Dykes concert benefiting Prison Prevention Ministries• When: 7:30 p.m. today, Aug. 29; doors open at 6:30 p.m.• Where: Calvary Chapel, 3415 Broad St.• Admission: Free; love offering will be taken• Phone: 423-622-5768.• Website: www.prisonprevention.org
No less than Chet Atkins counted himself a fan of Doyle Dykes. In an interview with Vintage Guitar magazine, the legendary picker singled out Dykes as an artist he’d pay to see.
That won’t be necessary for Dykes’ next show. In a benefit concert for Chattanooga’s Prison Prevention Ministries tonight, Aug. 29, Dykes will perform for free. A love offering will be taken to help PPM continue its work of preventing at-risk youth from going to prison and former inmates from returning.
Dykes, a Florida native now living in Cleveland, Tenn., has been cited as one of the best fingerstyle guitarists in the world and the “natural heir” to Atkins’ throne. He draws regular praise for his distinct sound, borne of his ability to blend technical skill with musicality.
Atkins was an early inspiration for Dykes, but his style also shows influences of Duane Eddy, the Allman Brothers, The Beatles and U2. His appreciation for various styles of music is reflected in his signature compositions, which range from “Jazz in the Box” to “How Great Thou Art.”