In 1958, Atkins decided to record an album with his brother Jim, once a vocalist in the Les Paul Trio and for Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.

Five of Jim Atkins' vocal tracks were released on The Guitar Genius on the budget label Camden in 1963.

The backing band was credited as The Rhythm Rockers, which consisted of session musicians Bob Moore, Floyd Cramer and Buddy Harman.

[2] Writing for Allmusic, music critic Bruce Eder wrote of the album "The Guitar Genius is one strange album—good, but strange—beginning with its title.

Of course there's plenty of guitar here, but there's also a surprising number of pieces that rely on vocals... this album is somewhat of a very mixed stylistic bag..."[3] Production