Ricky Skaggs Interview 

I grew up hearing old fashioned bluegrass..and while I liked it, I developed a whole new appreciation for bluegrass in the 80’s when Ricky put out his Highway 40 Blues album! I’ve been to see Ricky and Kentucky Thunder twice live. Absolutely amazing! No auto tune!!!! Just pure raw vocal harmony and musicians performing perfectly!

My neighbor lent me a mandolin. I’ve had it for around a year. I started pick it up now and started learning how to tune it. I turned on Ricky Skaggs. I’ve heard his name and fell in love God bless you, sir and all your people.

I'm glad Ricky stayed with Bluegrass and is spending more time with the Audience after concerts. It shows that he cares about the people.

i briefly met Ricky at a barbeque shop on the strip in Nashville on a night that he and his group were playing at the Ryman Auditorium about 15 years ago. He was standing in the cafeteria line next to me and was buying food for his band. He hadn't sent a flunkie out to get it but was getting the food himself. When other people recognized him he graciously spent a period of time signing autographs. What a nice man without an inflated ego. I was fortunate to hear him play that night at the Opry.

Just saw Ricky and KY thunder last night in Nashville, IN. I saw him last in Johnson County Park IN performing on a small bandstand with a very young Allison Krauss. What an amazing artists he and Allison are!

Now there's a record title " A man of faith " what a great man, that comes first before the words, great musician which goes without saying .

I think the world of Ricky. I got to drive him to Dr. Graham’s (RIP) house in Montreat a while ago. We talked about the Christian tradition that we both came up in deeply. He is such a gracious man. Reminded me of my late father who was the real deal as a fisherman of men. It was an honor to have time with him as a genuine person. God Speed Ricky. Your Bobby loves you. P.s. I am a Bluegrass mandolin player too. It never came up. Just two folks talking about the Father and His Son. It brought me closer to the tradition and has been instrumental, no pun intended, in bringing me closer to Christ. Bless you Mr. Skaggs.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder is definitely a bluegrass concert you do not want to miss!!! To see and hear this group live is an experience to be remembered. Pure and true bluegrass at it's best. Every one of the members is a soloist and every one of them is featured more than once during the concert... Ricky Skaggs is one of those artists that gets better with age.... Thanks for sharing this great interview of one of the very best in bluegrass...

I'm gonna to have to listen to this again! Heart felt country and bluegrass education from the best! Loved the interview! Love Jesus, Ricky Skaggs, the artist, the legend, and the man! Thank you very much Mitch! Great interview!

Happy you took the time to interview this legend. Quite a long interview!

You can tell he loves his instrument by how he's holdin it. You just tell the love he has for it.

Thank you Mitch for asking such profound questions and thanks Ricky for answering so candidly. Please Mitch, and if possible, invite more bluegrass artists (and mandolin players like Chris Thile, Ronnie McCoury) to conduct similar sessions. Would also like to hear stories about their instruments. Nice studio setting. Great production.

Ricky Skaggs Is a mandolin Wizard

Back in the late 80s he had two shows at the Jackson County Fair in michigan. I attended the second show and it started to rain before the 2nd show started... the roadies took down the equipment and started shutting down the stage except for a stool and a mic stand. When they were finished, Ricky came out and said he decided to cancel the concert in the interest of his band's safety. He then sat on the stool in the rain and played guitar and sang solo for almost 90 mins. The song list included his brand new single "you've got a lover" it was the best concert I can ever remember attending.

So strange. I still see Ricky as that blonde guy with kinda' spikey hair just hitting the mainstream in the '90s when I first started loving his music :D

He's so down to earth! What legend.

I love his spiritual approach to everything first.

Ricky has had a profound effect on bluegrass, country, and gospel music. “Green Grass - Bluegrass” a collaboration with Ireland’s Paul Brock Band, is a wonderful project and album. Pick away! Betty 12/4/2022

I'm definitely drawn more to bluegrass and more traditional stuff now than ever before

Last time I saw Ricky was at our dear friend Ralph Stanley's funeral. I had to leave right after the service, didn't get a chance to say 'hi'.

An Amazing Singer Songwriter Musician God Bless This Legendary artist

The Three Pickers (2002) was the best I have heard. Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs.

Thank you so much for this interview. Very informative and insightful of one of the Legends of Bluegrass and Country music. A humble servant of God and it shows in how he treats others as well as his band. I pray that he has a great influence on the future of Bluegrass.

Thank you SW, the A/V crew, Mr. Skaggs, and Mr. Gallagher!

A humble LEGEND.

Ricky, I adopted your style of using the wide corners of a pick before watching your Sweetwater video and found it much easier to do trills. I could watch and listen to you play all day and would love to buy you a cup of coffee if you ever come to Maine!

terrific interview, what a great talent, such a nice humble man - this was a good program, I enjoyed it.

Ricky Skaggs used bill Monroe as his inspiration when he first started picking, and I listen to Ricky Skaggs for inspiration. 👍 In my opinion Ricky deserves more recognition than George Strait, but for some reason George’s name is so much more well known. I can’t imagine why because when you compare Ricky to George I start wondering…. Okay so what’s George strait’s talent again? 🧐 Does he have one? I don’t know, but Ricky sure has a lot of it and it’s very noticeable. God Bless Ricky Skaggs, you are my country music hero.

Ricky is such a class act A great musicians musician I'm a struggling singer songwriter musician looking for a break I'm a rhythm guitarist harmonica player and struggling to learn banjo I'm eager to be a better picker

A good Punch man is everything when dealing with tape. Good o'll 456.

This is the longest interview I've ever seen .

Don't cheat in our hometown record is my childhood memory

Legend.

Skaggz!!

Cool interview.

What a journey he's had. Great interview...Lord bless yall. ✌😎

Mr.Ricky Skaggs is a Great Christian MAN!!!!!!!

Could someone tell me the name of the tune he plays at the beginning ? Thanks

That mandolin with the Handel tuners, Gibson name scratched off and headstock scroll broken off: Anyone know which one that is? Handel tuners on an F is not that common part from the modern Mike Blohm ones.

Damn what memory ole Scaggs has

Wonderful, but a bit strange that these guys never actually play anything together.

👍👍❤️😘😍

What is the name of the song Ricky is playing on the intro?

Let's not forget Western Music , Willy Nelson

3 people must not like Skaggs wth?

Ted Cruise isn't a bad interviewer. 😀

Ricky needs a Barber.

Don't talk. Play

Talented musician but talks to much about his invisible friend.