Paul Yandell Video Bio for Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Induction 2022

"All I ever wanted to do as a kid was to go to Nashville and play at the Grand Ole' Opry. That was my dream night and day." Paul Yandell was born September 6, 1935, in Mayfield, Kentucky. Paul raised and sold a calf and used some of that money to buy a $13 Stella guitar and baseball glove. His Army Veteran neighbor taught him how to play the guitar fingerstyle at the age of 12.

Paul was already an accomplished player by age 15 when he left Mayfield to pursue his dream of playing country music in Nashville. Paul's graceful style and unique talent quickly attracted the interest of many of country music's top performers. While still a teenager, the Louvin Brothers hired him to play lead guitar for the band in 1955. He performed on several of the Louvin Brothers' greatest hits, including; 'Cash on the Barrelhead,' 'Plenty of Everything but You,' and 'My Baby's Gone.’

Paul left the Louvin Brothers in 1958 to enlist in the Army and served two years before returning to Nashville in 1960. Shortly thereafter, Paul joined Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright on their TV series until 1969. He joined Grammy Award Winning artist Jerry Reed in 1970 and stayed until 1975. Paul often said, "he went to guitar playin' college" during his stint of recording and traveling with master guitarist Jerry Reed. During the decade of the 1970's, Paul recorded and shared the stage with Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, Steve Wariner, Hank Thompson, Perry Como, Roger Whitaker, Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Les Paul, Woody Herman, The Everly Brothers and Mary Chapin Carpenter just to name a few. Paul also appeared on many of the most prominent variety shows of the day, including the Dinah Shore Show, The Tonight Show, The Today Show, The Pat Sajak Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and Nashville Now.

After Chet Atkins passed away in 2001, Paul honored the Country Music legend by releasing a solo CD entitled "Forever Chet." The CD featured many of Chet's most beloved songs. In 2003, Paul released his "One More Again" CD. In 2004, Paul released "Dream Train," which included several original tunes penned by Paul and performed on the New Gretsch guitar model, the "Nashville Classic," co-designed by Paul Yandell and Fred Gretsch.

In 2005, Paul released "In the Groove," followed by "Drive On," in 2006, both to critical acclaim. In 2011, Paul was presented with one of the industry's most honored lifetime achievement awards. Paul joined master guitarist Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner, Tommy Emmanuel, and John Knowles as the world's only recognized Certified Guitar Players. This prestigious award represents those individuals who personify the ultimate performance skill and musical quality in guitar marksmanship. Paul would also be inducted into and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame, as well as Super Picker Award.

Paul Yandell passed away on November 21, 2011, at the age of 76. His kindness and gentle soul made him one of the most respected and well-loved artists in the entire Country Music industry. Toward the end of his life, Paul said, "All I ever wanted to be was the best guitar player I could be. Just about everything I dreamed of doing in my life, I've done it!" Paul Yandell is still widely recognized as one of the most accomplished guitar players in Country Music history; his unique style, distinctive sound, and incomparable playing ability will never be forgotten.