With his diverse talents, Ricky Skaggs' musical genre is hard to define.
He's seen top-of-the-industry success in both country and bluegrass music, and he's now recognized as an outstanding gospel artist as well.
For Skaggs though, he doesn't really care how you describe his sound. He just takes satisfaction from the fact that fans have enjoyed his sound for portions of six decades and counting.
Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, will return to Decatur's Princess Theatre on Sunday, March 17th at 7 p.m., for a show that will appeal to all music lovers. Tickets are $35-$65 and are available online at www.princesstheatre.org.
“I describe my music as being very real and honest,” Skaggs told the FFP last week. “It's played from the heart and has the purpose of bringing joy. And in this day and time, in this climate in our world, people need joy and I don't think there's any music I know of that has more joy than bluegrass music does.”
Skaggs grew up in the small town of Cordell, Kentucky. He describes his childhood as 'very simple, very honest.' His father worked as a welder and his mom, a housewife, would often be found canning foods and putting them up in the pantry.
“We had no A/C in the summertime. Dad just put screens in the windows,” Skaggs said. “We never locked our doors, but we'd put a latch on the doors to keep the 'coons and possums from coming in.
“It was an honest time where we took care of each other. I fished a lot, ran the hills, hunted and brought in squirrels, quail and rabbits. It was pretty much as you'd expect a 50s lifestyle in the mountains to be,” he added.
His professional musical career began in 1971 when he and Keith Whitley were invited to join bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley's band.
Skaggs pivoted to country music in the late 1970s and it turned out to be a career-changing move. He started as a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band before moving on to becoming an individual recording artist who logged 12 #1 country hits in the 1980s.
His 1982 induction at the Grand Ole Opry made Skaggs the youngest member in the Opry's history.
Songs like Heartbroke, Don't Cheat in Our Hometown, Highway 40 Blues and Honey (Open That Door) shot their way to the top of the country charts.
Skaggs' bluegrass career took off after he started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997. Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder have released 12 Grammy-nominated bluegrass classics, eight of which went on to win the award.
His first two bluegrass albums also won Grammy Awards in consecutive years.
In 2000, Skaggs won a Grammy for his album Soldier of the Cross, his first all-gospel project.
Among his many awards, Skaggs is particularly humbled by his January 2021 National Medal of the Arts, presented to Skaggs and Toby Keith by President Donald Trump at the White House.
“That was the first Presidential award I'd ever received. I love President Trump. I loved him then and I love him more now,” Skaggs said. “And I believe he's definitely going to be reelected.”
Skaggs' March 17th show in Decatur will feature many of his country hits performed in bluegrass style, some of his favorite instrumentals and some gospel music.
“It's just a really well-rounded fun show. We'll come out rippin' and roarin' with bluegrass and we won't take the foot off the pedal until after the show. It's good to be coming back to the Princess. It's a special place for bluegrass,” Skaggs said.
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