By Kevin Murphy Wilson
Photos provided by Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs is a master musician and a bona fide Country music superstar. Known for honoring tradition while leaving room for innovation, Skaggs has never been afraid to jump the fence when it comes to musical genres. In fact, Skaggs is the literal link between J.D. Crowe and Jack White, having lent his soaring tenor vocals and mandolin magic to both the New South and the Raconteurs. We recently caught up with the 15-time Grammy Award winner to discuss his storied past as well as the current Christmas project that lands him back in town with his boisterous Bluegrass band Kentucky Thunder.
VT: It is an understatement to say that you’ve had some high-profile musical allies and performance partners over the years. A lot of folks around here are still very much intrigued by that classic J.D. Crowe and the New South lineup that featured you alongside Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas and Bobby Slone. What was Crowe like as a bandleader?
RS: “J.D. was awesome to work with and he knew exactly what he wanted, most of the time.”
VT: So, how did you fall in with that bunch originally?
RS: “Me and Keith Whitley had talked for years, after we left Ralph [Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys], about trying to put a band together, the two of us, and it just never happened. So, when I left Country Gentlemen, my plans were still to try to put together a Bluegrass band of my own. But J.D. called and said, ‘Well, you should come and work with us until you decide what you’re gonna do because we need you.’ It felt good to be needed. Tony [Rice] and I had already sung a little bit together on his ‘California Autumn’ record that John Starling [of the Seldom Scene] produced. So, I knew that the two of us could blend well. I was the one who invited Jerry Douglas to our recording sessions even though J.D. didn’t think he wanted any dobro in the early beginning. Jerry ended up playing on most of the album and later joined the band. Man, what a super group that was.”
VT: This month you’re presenting a very special Bluegrass Christmas concert at the Louisville Palace. What does Christmas mean to you? And what can people expect from this particular set of music?
RS: “It is a celebratory time. It’s about giving gifts as God gave his son Jesus as a gift to the world. So, we’ll be telling stories, singing songs, and playing instrumentals that people wouldn’t normally get to hear in our regular sets throughout the year.”
VT: How do you approach being a man of faith in the secular space that is the modern music business?
RS: “This career that I’ve had has been an opportunity to share Jesus with people, especially in the marketplace. I couldn’t be someone who worked in a church for anything, you know. Talk about a fish out of water! We never start a show with Gospel music. We always begin with Bluegrass and for a long time we just thrash and play and have fun. I feel like, at a point, after we’ve earned the right to talk to people, then I think it’s OK to start sharing a little bit and introduce Jesus in a good way. I think going out and opening with Gospel music, when people have paid their hard-earned money to see a Bluegrass show, would present Him in a bad light.”
VT: You’ve had quite the ride thus far and you’re already enshrined in multiple halls of fame. What is the best measure of your success these days?
RS: “Well, you know, my growth in the Lord is a big part of my journey in life. I’m always praying, ‘Lord, let me walk down the path that you want me to walk today.’ So, I think staying committed to that is success.”
For tickets and information visit louisvillepalace.com.
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