BOBBY ATKINS (AND THE COUNTRYMEN)
- From Summerfield, North Carolina
- Plays banjo and leads band, “The Countrymen”
- 1953, worked and recorded with Jim Eanes
- 1953, 1958, 1961, worked with Bill Monroe (3 separate stints).
- 1956, worked with Charlie Monroe
- Tony Rice was a member of Atkins’ band the Countrymen when he was 18 years old.
- 1972, appeared in the movie “Preacher Man.”
- Bobby is related to country legend Chet Atkins. (His grandfather and Chet’s grandfather are brothers).
- He performed for many years with his son Mark as “Bobby and Mark Atkins and the Countrymen.”
- 2022, he died at the age of 88.