Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), 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. Skaggs was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 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. 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, at which 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. Skaggs later joined The Country Gentlemen in Washington, DC, J. D. Crowe's New South. 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. 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. In 2000, he shared the stage with Vermont-based jam band, Phish. 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. 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". 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. 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 to the Covid pandemic. Personal life. Ricky Skaggs was previously married to Brenda Stanley and has two children, Andrew and Mandy, from that relationship. Skaggs has been married to Sharon White of The Whites since August 1981. They have 2 children; a daughter, Molly, and a son, Lucas. Molly Skaggs is a Christian/Gospel singer. 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. Ricky Skaggs Rickie