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!

David Chernack
David Chernack is a fiddler, mandolinist, and guitarist from Hyde Park, NY. Trained as a classical violist, David found out about bluegrass music through the Strawberry Hill Fiddlers program and despite his best efforts has been unable to kick the habit. He picked up mandolin and guitar in college in Boston, where he studied environmental science and music. After moving to Denver and performing and touring with several Coloradan bands, he's back in the Hudson Valley. Aside from bluegrass, David also enjoys birdwatching and driving his VW Golf and Mazda Miata.

Latest posts from David Chernack
- Underrated Bluegrass Tunes - June 1, 2023
- Bluegrass Quadruple Plays! - May 3, 2023
- This Is: The Gibson Brothers - April 20, 2023
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.