Ricky Skaggs

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{{Infobox musical artist |

| name = Ricky Skaggs

| image = Ricky skaggs performing.jpg

| caption = Skaggs during the Festival of Faiths in 2007

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Rickie Lee Skaggs{{Cite book |title=Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music |last=Skaggs |first=Ricky |date=2013}}

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|7|18}}

| birth_place = Cordell, Kentucky, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle

| genre = {{Hlist|Bluegrass{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-fea-ricky-skaggs-0409-story.html|title=Ricky Skaggs stays true to his country and bluegrass roots|author=Holtzclaw, Mike|newspaper=Daily Press|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=July 21, 2019}}|neotraditionalist country{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/how-ricky-skaggs-redefined-bluegrass-and-brought-it-to-the-mainstream-253332/|title=How Ricky Skaggs Redefined Bluegrass and Brought It to the Mainstream|author=Freeman, Jon|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 11, 2017|access-date=July 21, 2019}} ["Skaggs had his first country Number One, at age 27, in April 1982 with the weepy ballad “Crying My Heart Out Over You." It kicked off an incredible run of 12 chart-topping hits, placing him in the first wave of country's celebrated neotraditional movement along with George Strait, John Anderson and Randy Travis."]|gospel{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1569152/ricky-skaggs-whites-record-gospel-cd/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816203908/http://www.cmt.com/news/1569152/ricky-skaggs-whites-record-gospel-cd/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2017|title=Ricky Skaggs, Whites Record Gospel CD|publisher=CMT.com|date=September 7, 2007|access-date=July 21, 2019}}|folk}}

| occupation = Singer, session musician, bandleader, producer, arranger

| years_active = 1961–present

| label = Sugar Hill, Epic, Rounder, DCC, Atlantic, Camden, Rebel, Hollywood, Legacy, Skaggs Family

| current_member_of = Kentucky Thunder

| spouse = {{marriage|Sharon White|1981}}

| website = {{URL|www.rickyskaggs.com}}

}}

Rickie Lee Skaggs{{Cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1712490/read-from-ricky-skaggs-memoir-kentucky-traveler/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422020630/http://www.cmt.com/news/1712490/read-from-ricky-skaggs-memoir-kentucky-traveler/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2015 |title=Read From Ricky Skaggs' Memoir, Kentucky Traveler |last=Skaggs |first=Ricky |date=August 16, 2013 |website=CMT}} (born July 18, 1954),{{cite news|url= https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/07/18/Famous-birthdays-for-July-18-Vin-Diesel-Kristen-Bell/8771563155558/|title=Famous birthdays for July 18: Vin Diesel, Kristen Bell|work=United Press International|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=August 7, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190719181941/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/07/18/Famous-birthdays-for-July-18-Vin-Diesel-Kristen-Bell/8771563155558/|url-status=live|quote=Country singer Ricky Skaggs in 1954 (age 65)}} known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster, and banjo.{{cite web | url = https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2018/11/28/ricky-skaggs-headlining-christmas-shows/2125007002/ | publisher = Zanesville Recorder | title = Ricky Skaggs headlining Christmas shows| access-date = 2 March 2021}}

Skaggs was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016 and both the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1792529/country-music-hall-of-fame-elects-ricky-skaggs-dottie-west-johnny-gimble/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327223726/http://www.cmt.com/news/1792529/country-music-hall-of-fame-elects-ricky-skaggs-dottie-west-johnny-gimble/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 27, 2018|title=Country Music Hall of Fame Elects Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West, Johnny Gimble|access-date=July 23, 2018}} On January 13, 2021, it was announced Skaggs had been awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump, alongside fellow country musician Toby Keith.

Biography

=Early career=

Skaggs was born in Cordell, Kentucky.{{cite book|title=American Cowboy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--oCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32|date=May–June 2000|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|page=32|issn=1079-3690}} He started playing music at age 5 after he was given a mandolin by his father, Hobert Skaggs. At age 6, he played mandolin and sang on stage with Bill Monroe. At age 7, he appeared on television's Martha White country music variety show, playing with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. He also wanted to audition for the Grand Ole Opry at that time, but was told he was too young.

In his mid-teens, Skaggs met a fellow teen guitarist, Keith Whitley, and the two started playing together with Whitley's banjo playing brother, Dwight, on radio shows. By 1970, they had earned a spot opening for Ralph Stanley, and Skaggs and Keith Whitley were thereafter invited to join Stanley's band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.{{cite web | url = https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/ricky-skaggs-biography/ | publisher = PBS | title = Ricky Skaggs Biography| access-date = 2 March 2021}}

Skaggs later joined The Country Gentlemen in Washington, DC, and J. D. Crowe's New South from Lexington, Kentucky. In 1976, Skaggs formed progressive bluegrass band Boone Creek, including members Vince Gill and Jerry Douglas. For a few years, Skaggs was a member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band. He wrote the arrangements for Harris's 1980 bluegrass-roots album, Roses in the Snow. In addition to arranging for Harris, Skaggs sang harmony and played mandolin and fiddle in the Hot Band.

Country career

Skaggs launched his own career in 1980, achieving 12 No. 1 hits, 8 CMA awards, and 8 ACM awards. In 1982, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the youngest musician ever to be inducted at that time. Guitarist and producer Chet Atkins credited Skaggs with "single-handedly" saving country music.{{cite web |url=http://www.rickyskaggs.com/bio |title=The Story |publisher=Ricky Skaggs |date=July 1, 1954 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819020842/http://www.rickyskaggs.com/bio |url-status=dead }} Skaggs is considered one of the pioneers of the Neotraditional country sub-genre.

In 1981, he debuted on Epic Records with the album Waitin for the Sun to Shine, which brought him to both the country and pop charts and produced two No. 1 hits.

In 1982, he released Highways & Heartaches, his only platinum album, featuring the instrumental heavy "Highway 40 Blues".

Keeping with his instrumental heavy themes, he released "Country Boy" on the album of the same name. He also had Bill Monroe as a guest on this album.

Exploring a role as producer, Skaggs produced Dolly Parton's album White Limozeen, which started her comeback in country music.

Skaggs also guested on other albums. In 1995, he sang with Vince Gill on "Go Rest High on That Mountain", which later won CMA's Song of the Year and was determined by BMI to be the Most-Performed Song in 1997.

Later career

In 1996, Skaggs went back to his bluegrass roots, and also experimented with new sounds. With his band, Kentucky Thunder, he is a perennial winner of Grammy Awards and International Bluegrass Music Association for best bluegrass album.

File:Ricky Skaggs in May 2016 (cropped).jpg

In 2000, he shared the stage with Vermont-based jam band, Phish.{{cite web|title=June 22, 2000 Setlist :: Phish|url=http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2000-06-22|publisher=The Mockingbird Foundation, Inc.|access-date=September 6, 2012}} On March 20, 2007, Skaggs released an album with rock musician Bruce Hornsby.

In 2008, Skaggs released an album he recorded with The Whites on his Skaggs Family Records label.

In 2008, Skaggs recorded a bluegrass version of "Old Enough" by the Raconteurs with Ashley Monroe and the Raconteurs. He played the mandolin on the track as well as sharing vocals with Jack White, Brendan Benson, and Ashley Monroe.

In 2011, Skaggs, along with other musicians including the Irish band The Brock McGuire Band, released their album 'Green Grass Blue Grass", an exploration of the connection between Irish Traditional Music and American Bluegrass and Appalachian music.

File:Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White 19Aug2015.jpg

Also in 2011, Skaggs contributed to Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love, a bluegrass tribute album to the British Progressive Rock band the Moody Blues. Skaggs sang lead vocal on the song "You And Me".

{{cite web|title=Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love|url=http://www.twomuchlove.com/two-much-love-story-2/|publisher=Moody Bluegrass project website|access-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706091533/http://www.twomuchlove.com/two-much-love-story-2/|archive-date=July 6, 2015}}

In 2012, Skaggs collaborated with Barry Gibb on the song, "Soldier's Son" which was released on Music to My Ears.

In 2015, Skaggs toured with Ry Cooder, Sharon White and other members of The Whites.{{cite web|title=Cozy Up To Warm Sounds for Fall with 'Cooder White Skaggs' Tour |url=http://www.rickyskaggs.com/news/09-09-15/cozy-warm-sounds-fall-cooder-white-skaggs-tour/|publisher=Ricky Skaggs website|access-date=September 9, 2015}}

In 2016, he produced the Grammy-winning album Love Remains for Lady Antebellum member Hillary Scott.

In 2019, he collaborated with Steven Curtis Chapman for Chapman's album Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows

In 2019, Skaggs performed at the 6th Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum Concert and Induction Ceremony.

As of recent years, Skaggs continues performing at the historic Grand Ole Opry house in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2021 Skaggs was nominated for the SOTE award which was delayed by the Covid pandemic.

Personal life

Ricky Skaggs was previously married to Brenda Stanley and has two children, Andrew and Mandy, from that marriage.{{cite book|last1=Skaggs|first1=Ricky|title=Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music|date=2014|publisher=Dey Street Books|isbn=978-0061917349}} Skaggs has been married to Sharon White of The Whites since August 1981.{{cite web |url=http://www.wrightforyou.com/offstage2.html |title=Offstage |website=Wrightforyou.com |access-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020610/http://www.wrightforyou.com/offstage2.html |archive-date=March 6, 2016 }} They have two children; a daughter, Molly, and a son, Lucas. Molly Skaggs is a Christian/Gospel singer.{{cite web |url= http://www.hallels.com/articles/20572/20190103/listen-to-bethel-musics-new-rootsy-aint-no-grave-here.htm |title= Listen to Bethel Music's New Rootsy "Ain't No Grave" Here : News : Hallels |last= Yap |first= Timothy |date= January 3, 2019 |website= Hallels |access-date= December 16, 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Molly Skaggs |url=https://www.cagelessbirds.com/artist-molly-skaggs |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=CAGELESS BIRDS |language=en-US}} Lucas is a multi-instrumentalist and session musician.{{Cite web |title=Luke Skaggs |url=https://www.cagelessbirds.com/artist-luke-skaggs |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=CAGELESS BIRDS |language=en-US}}

In June 2020, Skaggs underwent quadruple bypass surgery in Nashville.

Skaggs in 2021 was awarded the National Medal of the Arts by President Donald Trump.

Discography

Awards

=Grammy Awards=

1983 Best Country Instrumental Performance: New South (J.D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, Todd Phillips, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs) for Fireball
1984 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Ricky Skaggs for Wheel Hoss
1986 Best Country Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist): Ricky Skaggs for Raisin' The Dickins
1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration: Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner & Vince Gill for Restless
1998 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
1998 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals: Clint Black, Joe Diffie, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt & Dwight Yoakam for Same Old Train
1999 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Ancient Tones
2000 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Soldier Of The Cross
2003 Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for A Simple Life
2004 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Brand New Strings
2005 Best Musical Album For Children, "Songs From The Neighborhood, The Music Of Mr. Rogers"
2006 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Instrumentals
2008 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Ricky Skaggs and The Whites for Salt of the Earth
2009 Best Bluegrass Album Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass 1946 & 47
2016 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (as producer for Love Remains by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family )

=CMA (Country Music Association) Awards=

1982 Male Vocalist of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
1982 Horizon Award: Ricky Skaggs
1983 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
1984 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
1985 Entertainer of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
1985 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
1987 Vocal Duo of the Year: Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White
1991 Vocal Event of the Year (with Mark O'Connor & New Nashville Cats){{cite web |url=http://www.rickyskaggs.com/index.htm?id=14090&sid=14078 |title=Ricky Skaggs |publisher=Ricky Skaggs |access-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128004741/http://www.rickyskaggs.com/index.htm?id=14090&sid=14078 |url-status=dead }}

=ACM (Academy of Country Music) Awards=

1981 Top New Male Vocalist of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
1982 Band of the Year – Touring: Ricky Skaggs Band
1983 Band of the Year – Touring: Ricky Skaggs Band
1984 Band of the Year – Touring: Ricky Skaggs Band
1984 Specialty Instrument: Ricky Skaggs (Mandolin)
1985 Band of the Year – Touring: Ricky Skaggs Band
1986 Band of the Year – Touring: Ricky Skaggs Band
1987 Specialty Instrument: Ricky Skaggs

{{cite web|url=https://www.acmcountry.com/winners |title=ACM Winners | Academy of Country Music |website=Acmcountry.com |access-date=January 1, 2016}}

=IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards=

1998 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
1998 Album Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
1999 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2000 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2000 Instrumental Album Of The Year: David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs & Buck White for Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
2000 Recorded Event of the Year: David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Frank Wakefield, Sam Bush, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs & Buck White for Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
2002 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2003 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2004 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2005 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2006 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
2008 Recorded Event of the Year: Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother; Featuring Everett Lilly, Bea Lilly, Charles Lilly, Daniel Lilly, Mark Lilly, Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent, Billy Walker, Ronnie McCoury, Rob McCoury, David Ball, Charlie Cushman, Larry Stephenson, Joe Spivey, Eddie Stubbs, Jason Carter, Dickey Lee, Freddy Weller, Mike Bub, Rad Lewis, Andy May, Darrin Vincent, Marcia Campbell, Clay Rigdon, Eric Blankenship and Bill Wolfenbarger (artists); Charles Lilly & Bill Wolfenbarger (producers); Swift River Music
2012 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: "Singing as We Rise", Gibson Brothers with Ricky Skaggs
2017 Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year for song "Sacred Memories", Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers with Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Skaggs
2018 International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee

=TNN/Music City News Country Awards=

1982 Bluegrass Act of the Year
1983 Bluegrass Act of the Year
1983 Star of Tomorrow
1984 Bluegrass Act of the Year
1988 Instrumentalist of the Year
1989 Instrumentalist of the Year
1990 Instrumentalist of the Year
1996 Vocal Collaboration of the Year (with Vince Gill & Patty Loveless)

=Other awards and accomplishments=

National Medal of Arts, awarded by President Donald Trump in 2021
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on March 27, 2018, in the Modern Era category
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, Class of 2004
R&R Best New Artist{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
Billboard magazine's Artist of the Year
Musician Magazine- Voted One of the Top 100 Guitarists of the Century
Artist of the Decade- Listeners' Poll Award BBC Radio 2
CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music rank No. 37 in 2003.
Judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards
ACM's Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, 2012
Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, 2012
Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation of Dallas, Texas (2017).{{Cite web |url=http://bluegrassheritage.org/bluegrass-star-award/ |title=Bluegrass Star Award, by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation |website=Bluegrass Heritage Foundation |language=en-US |access-date=October 31, 2017}}
Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Eastern Kentucky University – 2005{{cite web|url=http://honorarydegrees.eku.edu/honorary-degree-recipients|title=Honorary Degree Recipients – Honorary Degrees – Eastern Kentucky University|website=honorarydegrees.eku.edu|access-date=July 23, 2018}}
Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music – received in March 2008{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/2008-03-15-3399074100_x.htm|title=Ricky Skaggs getting honorary doctorate - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=July 23, 2018}}
Plaque on Nashville's StarWalk, 1987{{Cite web |url=https://www.apnews.com/6fdce423ff3e624e016d874602627495 |title=Country Music Stars Initiate Sidewalk Memorial |date=August 5, 1987 |website=APNews.com |access-date=February 17, 2019 }}

References

External links

{{Official website}}
[https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-04-13_11_15/page/n58/mode/1up 1982 Interview with Ricky Skaggs]
{{IMDb name|nm1115270}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20200806182602/http://www.steamiron.com/twangin/int-skaggs.html 1997 Interview with Ricky Skaggs]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060627190705/http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com/bio.cfm Ricky Skaggs Biography]
[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ricky-skaggs Ricky Skaggs Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2010)
{{C-SPAN|1017541}}

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Category:1954 births

Category:20th-century American guitarists

Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters

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Category:American bluegrass mandolinists

Category:American country guitarists

Category:American country singer-songwriters

Category:American male guitarists