Ricky Skaggs

Ricky Skaggs (born July 18 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country music musician, singer and composer. Skaggs' first major professional break came in 1970 when he joined Ralph Stanley'

Ricky Skaggs (born July 18 1954 in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country music musician, singer and composer. Skaggs' first major professional break came in 1970 when he joined Ralph Stanley's legendary bluegrass band, the Clinch Mountain Boys. He is an acknowledged virtuoso on the mandolin and also plays fiddle, guitar, banjo and several wind instruments and for part of his career was a member of Emmylou Harris's "Hot Band". He wrote the arrangements for Harris' highly revered bluegrass-roots album, Roses In The Snow. In addition to arranging, Skaggs also sang harmony and played a number of instruments on the album, including mandolin and fiddle.

Skaggs moved to Nashville in 1980 where he produce his debut album, Waitin' For The Sun To Shine. The album produced four chart singles including two back-to-back number ones. Building on that success he went on to almost singlehandedly rescue country music from the doldrums it found itself in the 1970s. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1982 - at that time the youngest member to be included. He racked up an impressive 18 Top Ten singles with 12 topping the charts. Skaggs picked up dozens of industry awards in the ensuing years including four Grammys and eight awards from the Country Music Association.