Originally from Texas, Atkison was a one-man-band Rochester mainstay in the 70's, 80's and early 90's playing the home scene as well as rooms from from Cleveland to Boston, including, among others, Attica Prison where Atkison was the first outsider to entertain the prisoners after the notorious Attica prison uprising. Since leaving Rochester, Atkison lived and played in Seattle for a few years and is now living in North Carolina.