RICKY SKAGGS SELECTED AS 2013 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE AT THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM
Special Guests include Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, Peter Frampton, Bruce Hornsby, Gordon Kennedy, Kentucky Thunder, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 7, 2013) – It was announced last Saturday evening, from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, that Ricky Skaggs will be the Country Music Hall of Fame®
and Museum’s 2013 Artist-in-Residence. Skaggs will present two
intimate evening performances on November 18 and 19, at 7:00 p.m. The
concerts will be the museum’s first public programs in the new CMA
Theater.
and Museum’s 2013 Artist-in-Residence. Skaggs will present two
intimate evening performances on November 18 and 19, at 7:00 p.m. The
concerts will be the museum’s first public programs in the new CMA
Theater.
Established
in 2003, the museum’s residency program annually honors a musical
master who can be credited with contributing a large and significant
body of work to the canon of American popular music. Honorees are given
a blank canvas and are encouraged to lend their own creative
brushstrokes to an up-close-and-personal musical experience. Previous
Artist-in-Residence honorees include Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs,
Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill,
Buddy Miller, Connie Smith and Kenny Rogers.
in 2003, the museum’s residency program annually honors a musical
master who can be credited with contributing a large and significant
body of work to the canon of American popular music. Honorees are given
a blank canvas and are encouraged to lend their own creative
brushstrokes to an up-close-and-personal musical experience. Previous
Artist-in-Residence honorees include Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs,
Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill,
Buddy Miller, Connie Smith and Kenny Rogers.
This
year, Skaggs has chosen to perform two unique shows—each with its own
theme and lineup of guest artists. The first show, November 18, will
have a country music theme; Ricky’s special guests that night will
include Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Gordon Kennedy and The Whites. The second show, November 19, will celebrate his bluegrass roots with special guests Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites. Both nights will feature Skaggs’ award-winning band, Kentucky Thunder.
year, Skaggs has chosen to perform two unique shows—each with its own
theme and lineup of guest artists. The first show, November 18, will
have a country music theme; Ricky’s special guests that night will
include Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Gordon Kennedy and The Whites. The second show, November 19, will celebrate his bluegrass roots with special guests Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites. Both nights will feature Skaggs’ award-winning band, Kentucky Thunder.
“Ricky
Skaggs has created his own career path,” said Museum Director Kyle
Young. “It’s rare to find an artist who thrives in three different
genres, but Ricky does. He is highly respected in country, bluegrass and
gospel music, and he has a way of blending these styles that delights
music fans. Ricky has been a great friend to the museum for many years.
He was on hand, in 2011, when we announced our plans for expanding the
museum. Now he will present the museum’s first public program in our new
CMA Theater. With its nearly 800-seat capacity, the new theater allows
us to welcome more guests while still maintaining the intimate
atmosphere that makes our Artist-in-Residence series so special.”
Skaggs has created his own career path,” said Museum Director Kyle
Young. “It’s rare to find an artist who thrives in three different
genres, but Ricky does. He is highly respected in country, bluegrass and
gospel music, and he has a way of blending these styles that delights
music fans. Ricky has been a great friend to the museum for many years.
He was on hand, in 2011, when we announced our plans for expanding the
museum. Now he will present the museum’s first public program in our new
CMA Theater. With its nearly 800-seat capacity, the new theater allows
us to welcome more guests while still maintaining the intimate
atmosphere that makes our Artist-in-Residence series so special.”
An
innovative musician, top-notch vocalist, record producer and label
owner, Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs has developed a unique hybrid
of traditional American music throughout his more than four decades
career. While he is regarded as a pioneer of country music’s
neo-traditionalist movement and a flame-keeper for traditional
bluegrass, he also has been creatively restless, at times moving
roots-oriented music in new, progressive directions.
innovative musician, top-notch vocalist, record producer and label
owner, Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs has developed a unique hybrid
of traditional American music throughout his more than four decades
career. While he is regarded as a pioneer of country music’s
neo-traditionalist movement and a flame-keeper for traditional
bluegrass, he also has been creatively restless, at times moving
roots-oriented music in new, progressive directions.
Ricky
Skaggs was born on July 18, 1954, in Cordell, Kentucky. His father
gave him his first mandolin when he was five, and it was soon apparent
that the young boy was a natural musician. A year later, when Bill
Monroe performed in the nearby town of Martha, he invited young Skaggs
onstage to play his mandolin. By age seven, Skaggs earned his first
paycheck for performing “Ruby” and “Honky Tonk Swing” on Flatt &
Scruggs’ syndicated TV show.
Skaggs was born on July 18, 1954, in Cordell, Kentucky. His father
gave him his first mandolin when he was five, and it was soon apparent
that the young boy was a natural musician. A year later, when Bill
Monroe performed in the nearby town of Martha, he invited young Skaggs
onstage to play his mandolin. By age seven, Skaggs earned his first
paycheck for performing “Ruby” and “Honky Tonk Swing” on Flatt &
Scruggs’ syndicated TV show.
In
1969, Skaggs and fellow Kentuckian Keith Whitley formed a band, the
Lonesome Mountain Boys, and did note-perfect covers of the Stanley
Brothers’ songs. In 1970, Ralph Stanley heard the young men perform and
invited them to join his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys. Skaggs stayed
with Stanley until 1974, when he joined the Washington, D.C.-based
Country Gentlemen. He also performed and recorded with J.D. Crowe &
the New South. He started his own band, Boone Creek, and recorded albums
for Rounder Records and Sugar Hill Records. In the late 1970s, Skaggs
joined Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and bridged the gap between bluegrass
and country music—something he would do throughout his career.
1969, Skaggs and fellow Kentuckian Keith Whitley formed a band, the
Lonesome Mountain Boys, and did note-perfect covers of the Stanley
Brothers’ songs. In 1970, Ralph Stanley heard the young men perform and
invited them to join his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys. Skaggs stayed
with Stanley until 1974, when he joined the Washington, D.C.-based
Country Gentlemen. He also performed and recorded with J.D. Crowe &
the New South. He started his own band, Boone Creek, and recorded albums
for Rounder Records and Sugar Hill Records. In the late 1970s, Skaggs
joined Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and bridged the gap between bluegrass
and country music—something he would do throughout his career.
Though he continued to perform and record with other acts, Skaggs launched his solo career with the release of Sweet Temptation in 1979, on Sugar Hill. His first major-label release, Waitin’ for the Sun to Shine, was issued by Epic Records in 1981. The album charted four singles, including back-to-back #1s “Crying My Heart Out Over You” and “I Don’t Care.”
Waitin’ for the Sun to Shine
earned Skaggs two 1982 Country Music Association awards—the Horizon
Award and Male Vocalist of the Year. He became a member of the Grand Ole
Opry that same year. His follow-up album, Highways & Heartaches, served up three more #1 singles—“Heartbroke,” “I Wouldn’t Change You if I Could” and “Highway 40 Blues.”
earned Skaggs two 1982 Country Music Association awards—the Horizon
Award and Male Vocalist of the Year. He became a member of the Grand Ole
Opry that same year. His follow-up album, Highways & Heartaches, served up three more #1 singles—“Heartbroke,” “I Wouldn’t Change You if I Could” and “Highway 40 Blues.”
The following album, Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown, scored Skaggs three more chart-toppers: the title track, “Honey (Open That Door)” and Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen.” Country Boy,
released in 1984, was Skaggs’ fourth consecutive gold album and
featured the #1 title track. In 1985, he won CMA Entertainer of the
Year and a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental, for “Wheel Hoss”—off of
the Country Boy album. Skaggs rounded out the 1980s with six more Top Ten hits.
released in 1984, was Skaggs’ fourth consecutive gold album and
featured the #1 title track. In 1985, he won CMA Entertainer of the
Year and a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental, for “Wheel Hoss”—off of
the Country Boy album. Skaggs rounded out the 1980s with six more Top Ten hits.
The
1990s marked Skaggs’ return to his bluegrass roots. In 1997, he formed
his own label, Skaggs Family Records. In addition to his own
award-winning releases, his label has put out recordings by other acts
including Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, the Del McCoury Band and The
Whites. Under his label imprint, Skaggs has consistently released
Grammy-nominated bluegrass albums, beginning with the Grammy-winning Bluegrass Rules!,
which also earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Album
of the Year honors. The album helped Skaggs and his band, Kentucky
Thunder, win IBMA’s 1998 Instrumental Group of the Year award—a feat
that would be repeated seven more times.
1990s marked Skaggs’ return to his bluegrass roots. In 1997, he formed
his own label, Skaggs Family Records. In addition to his own
award-winning releases, his label has put out recordings by other acts
including Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, the Del McCoury Band and The
Whites. Under his label imprint, Skaggs has consistently released
Grammy-nominated bluegrass albums, beginning with the Grammy-winning Bluegrass Rules!,
which also earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Album
of the Year honors. The album helped Skaggs and his band, Kentucky
Thunder, win IBMA’s 1998 Instrumental Group of the Year award—a feat
that would be repeated seven more times.
Skaggs
has remained an important figure on the 21st century music scene; he
toured with the Dixie Chicks in 2000 and participated in two PBS
specials in 2002 and 2003. He continues to release critically acclaimed
bluegrass and gospel albums, including Grammy-winning albums Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass Tribute to 1946 and 1947 (2008) and Salt of the Earth
(2007). He has released more than 30 albums and won 14 Grammys, 11 IBMA
awards, eight CMA awards and nine Academy of Country Music awards.
has remained an important figure on the 21st century music scene; he
toured with the Dixie Chicks in 2000 and participated in two PBS
specials in 2002 and 2003. He continues to release critically acclaimed
bluegrass and gospel albums, including Grammy-winning albums Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass Tribute to 1946 and 1947 (2008) and Salt of the Earth
(2007). He has released more than 30 albums and won 14 Grammys, 11 IBMA
awards, eight CMA awards and nine Academy of Country Music awards.
On August 20, Skaggs and Hornsby released Cluck Ol’ Hen, which debuted at the top of Billboard’s Bluegrass Album chart. The two previously released a duet album in 2007. Also in August 2013, Skaggs released his autobiography, Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music.
Ticket
prices for these shows range from $35-$55 per show (plus ticketing
fee). Tickets will go on sale to the general public at noon on Friday,
October 18, and can be purchased at www.countrymusichalloffame.
Ticket sales, limited to four tickets per transaction, are available on
a first come, first served basis and are non-refundable. Will call
tickets will be available day-of-show at the museum’s ticketing office
in its new Fifth Avenue lobby.
prices for these shows range from $35-$55 per show (plus ticketing
fee). Tickets will go on sale to the general public at noon on Friday,
October 18, and can be purchased at www.countrymusichalloffame.
Ticket sales, limited to four tickets per transaction, are available on
a first come, first served basis and are non-refundable. Will call
tickets will be available day-of-show at the museum’s ticketing office
in its new Fifth Avenue lobby.
Museum
members are eligible for a 10% discount and a pre-sale beginning at
noon on October 15, for Honor Society members, and noon on October 16,
for other museum members, through October 17, by visiting www.countrymusichalloffame.org
members are eligible for a 10% discount and a pre-sale beginning at
noon on October 15, for Honor Society members, and noon on October 16,
for other museum members, through October 17, by visiting www.countrymusichalloffame.org
Parking information is available at parkitdowntown.com. Cash-only concessions will be available before the show and during intermission.
The
2013 Artist-in-Residence program is made possible, in part, by RJ
Young. Additional support for educational programs is provided by the
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission
through an agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts.
2013 Artist-in-Residence program is made possible, in part, by RJ
Young. Additional support for educational programs is provided by the
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission
through an agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts.
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame®
and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state
of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the
history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern
culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates
CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press,
Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®.
and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state
of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the
history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern
culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates
CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press,
Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®.
More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.
For more information on Ricky Skaggs, visit www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com.