Ricky Skaggs

Ricky Skaggs ( born July 18, 1954 in Cordell, Kentucky ) is an American country and bluegrass musician.

Biography

Since then, he started at the age of five years, to play mandolin, Skaggs was considered a musical prodigy. In a Bill Monroe concert the six year old was encouraged by heckling from the audience to a gig next to the big star. A year later he made ​​her first appearance in a TV show. Gradually he learned other instruments. To enable him public appearances, his parents founded a family band, the Skaggs Family.

Although he briefly enthusiastic about the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, was his real love of traditional country music. He felt particularly drawn to bluegrass. His models were Bill Monroe, Buck Owens, Ralph Stanley and George Jones. At a talent competition, he met like-minded Keith Whitley. The two worked together from then on. In 1970, she received the opportunity to step in at a concert for the late Ralph Stanley. The star was so impressed by her performance and hired the fifteen year old Skaggs short hand for his bluegrass group, the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Career

Skaggs spent two years with Ralph Stanley. In 1973 he was hired by the prestigious Country of Gentlemen. Here he remained about two years. Meanwhile, his old companion Keith Whitley had made ​​a career. With him he played a two duet albums. After a brief stint in the Bluegrass lineup JDCrowe and the New South 1976, he founded his own band, the Bone Creek.

Emmylou Harris became aware of the talented young musicians and tried repeatedly to win for her band. Only in 1977, after the departure of Rodney Crowell, Skaggs agreed. Skaggs practiced soon to have a strong influence on Harris, whose music is thus clearly oriented toward bluegrass.

In 1980 Skaggs on a small label, a bluegrass album. His reputation in the country music scene was now so well established that he became renowned Epic label in 1981 offered a contract, who admitted him most extensive musical freedom. Contrary to the prevailing trend, he played with Waitin 'For The Sun To Shine a an album that was based very closely on traditional Country. And he succeeded against all expectations. The album sold over 500,000 copies and went gold. Two singles reached No. 1 on the country charts. Ricky Skaggs was in 1982 awarded the prestigious CMA Award Country Singer of the year. In the same year he joined the Grand Ole Opry.

Neo - traditionalism in country music

Skaggs was one of the early 1980s to the triggers of a general return to the original values ​​of country music and one of the first new traditionalists. His successes kept the eighties to pass. 1985 as he finished with the old Bill Monroe song Uncle Pen Place 1 Numerous prizes and awards, including nine Grammys, were recognition of his performance.

In 1991, he teamed up with the rising stars Vince Gill and Steve Wariner and founded the Nashville Cats. Two years later he started his own radio show called ' Simple Life ', which was so popular that it was taken over by more than 400 stations, including some European. From the mid- nineties, sales of his records were down significantly.

Discography ( albums)

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