Ricky Skaggs may be known better to some as a classic country star of the 1980s, but to us, he’s a well seasoned bluegrass bellwether who’s been in the game for more than five decades. Both a skilled instrumentalist and vocalist, Skaggs helped define both the second generation of bluegrass—with icons like Keith and Dwight Whitley—and its voice from the 1990s onward. His first-rate Kentucky Thunder has helped him execute a vision of unbelievably precise bluegrass with a constant eye on his childhood influences, such as Flatt and Scruggs. Enjoy this playlist of one of bluegrass music’s true masters, Ricky Skaggs!
Skaggs is a MONSTER talent picker and singer. “Back in the day” when he was just starting to get into country music, mostly as a session musician, one year Playboy magazine named him the best country picker. I can imagine that didn’t go down very well in the Skaggs and related households, them all being quite religious.