Ricky Skaggs Singer, Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Bluegrass Rules, and Net Worth

Ricky Skaggs Bio | Wiki

Ricky Skaggs is an American country and bluegrass singer, musician, composer, and producer from Cordell, Kentucky, United States. He mainly plays mandolin, nonetheless, Ricky also plays guitar, mandocaster, fiddle, and banjo.

In 2016, Ricky was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Moreover, in 2018, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump according to reports on January 13, 2021, along with fellow country musician Toby Keith.

Ricky Skaggs Age

He was born on July 18, 1954, in Cordell, Kentucky, United States. Ricky is 67 years old.

Ricky Skaggs Height

He appears to be a man of above-average stature as depicted from his images. Ricky stands at a height of 5 ft 9 in (approx 1.75 m).

Ricky Skaggs' Photo
Ricky’s Photo

Ricky Skaggs Family

He was born to his parents in Cordell, Kentucky, United States. His father is Hobert Skaggs. Ricky began playing music at the tender age of 5 after he was given a mandolin by his father. However, there is no detailed information regarding his parents and siblings and we will therefore update you once we have detailed information.

Ricky Skaggs Wife

He is happily married to his wife, Sharon White of The Whites. The couple exchanged vows and wedded in August 1981. The pair is blessed with two fantastic adult children, a daughter, Molly, and a son, Lucas. Their son Lucas is a gospel singer.

Previously, Ricky was married to his first wife Brenda Stanley and together they shared 2 children, Andrew and Mandy.

Ricky Skaggs Education

He attended Lawrence County High School in Louisa, Kentucky, however, Ricky received his diploma nearly 50 years after leaving high school. Moreover, in 2020, Lawrence County High School honored him with an honorary high school diploma for all of his work in music.

Notably, the surprise presentation happened when he together with fellow alumni singer and songwriters Larry Cordle, Tyler Childers among others, participated in a virtual high school graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduating class of Lawrence County High School.

Ricky Skaggs Country Boy

He launched his own country career in 1980 and has since received numerous awards including, 8 ACM awards as well as 8 CMA awards. Ricky became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1982 thereby becoming the youngest to ever be inducted at that time. Additionally, he is considered one of the pioneers of the Neotraditional country sub-genre.

Ricky debuted on Epic Records titled Waitin for the Sun to Shine in 1981 and it brought him to both the country and pop charts and produced 2 number one hits. In 1982, he released his 5th studio album, Highways & Heartaches which was his only platinum album. In the album, Ricky featured the instrumental heavy Highway 40 Blues.

Ricky Skaggs Bluegrass Rules

He returned to Bluegrass roots in 1996 and experimented with the new sounds. Ricky has won Grammy Awards and International Bluegrass Music Association for best bluegrass album together with his band Kentucky Thunder. Additionally, he shared the stage with Vermont-based jam band, Phish in 2000.

He released an album with rock musician Bruce Hornsby on March 20, 2007. Later in 2008, Ricky also released another album he recorded with The Whites on his Skaggs Family Records label 2008. The same year, he recorded a bluegrass version of “Old Enough” by the Raconteurs with Ashley Monroe. Additionally, Ricky played the mandolin on the track and shared vocals with Ashley Monroe, Jack White, and Brendan Benson.

Ricky contributed to Moody Bluegrass TWO, Much Love in 2011. The songs became the bluegrass tribute album to the British Progressive Rock band. Moreover, Moody Blues and Ricky sang the lead vocal on the song “You And Me”. Ricky was nominated for the SOTE award which was delayed to the Covid pandemic in 2021.

Ricky Skaggs Songs | Greatest Hits

The 15 time Grammy Award winner, Ricky has some of the most beloved and most awarded in country music history. some of the top 10 songs of Ricky include; Country Boy, (1984), Highway 40 Blues (1982), Honey, Open That Door, (1983), Heartbroke(1982), Love Can’t Ever Get Better Than This (1986), “Lovin’ Only Me (1989), I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could (1982), Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown (1983), Cajun Moon (1985), and Uncle Pen (1983).

Ricky Skaggs Uncle Pen

The song Uncle Pen was released in June 1984 by Ricky from the album Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown. He gives a nod to his traditional roots with this song. The son was written by Bill Monroe as a tribute to his uncle and musical mentor, Pendleton Vandiver. The Uncle Pen song was his 9th single on the country chart and went to #1 for one week. Additionally, it  spent a total of 13 weeks on the country chart.

Ricky Skaggs Highway 40 Blues

The song Highway 40 Blues was released in 1982 from the album ‘Highways & Heartaches’. Additionally, the song is originally from Larry Cordle and it tells a story of a traveling musician who’s wandered the highway for years and “squandered youth in search of truth. However, it is the impressive instrumental solos that dominate the track and make it something truly special, with his inimitable touch.

Ricky Skaggs Honey

The song Honey (Open That Door) was released by Ricky in 1983 from the album Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown. Moreover, the song enabled Ricky to scored one of his most spirited hits with “Honey (Open That Door). Additionally, the song contains some sweet instrumental fills and solos, however, it really centers around his vocal performance. Also, Ricky’s enormous harmony vocal stacks make the record sound panoramic. Notably, the song tells the story of a man who’s asking his woman to let him back in after he lost everything but my name in an ill-fated poker game.

Ricky Skaggs Don’t Cheat In Our Hometown | Albums

The song was released via Epic Records in November 1983 becoming Ricky’s sixth studio album. Amazingly, the album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and it features guitar work from Albert Lee on 5 of the album’s 10 songs as well as Dolly Parton harmonizes vocals on  Don’t Step Over An Old Love and A Vision Of Mother. 

Ricky Skaggs Tour

His life is all about music and his music tour schedule is already full for this year and gave even extended to 2022. His August 2021 Tours are as follows:

  • Aug 6, 2021, Bremen, GA at Mill Town Music Hall
  •  On Aug 7, 2021, in Nashville, TN at Grand Ole Opry
  • Aug 10, 2021, Nashville, TN at Grand Ole Opry
  • On Aug 14, 2021, Winchester, OH at Red Barn Convention Center
  • Aug 18, 2021, Nashville, TN at Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels at Bridgestone Arena
  •  On Aug 26, 2021, Newberry, SC at Newberry Opera House Performing Arts Center
  • Aug 27, 2021, Hopewell, VA at The Beacon Theatre
  • Aug 28, 2021, Union Hall, VA at The Coves Amphitheater at Smith Mountain Lake
  • Sep 3, 2021, Gethsemane, KY at The Amphitheater at Dant Crossing

Ricky Skaggs Net Worth

He is a legendary American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer who has been in the music industry for decades. Ricky has over the years, therefore, accumulated decent fortune from his music career. He has a net worth of $20 million.

How Old Is Ricky Skaggs

He is 67 years old. Furthermore, Ricky was born to his parents in 1954 and celebrates his birthday every year on the 18th of July with family and friends.

Is Ricky Skaggs Still Alive

The 67 years old and 15-Time Grammy-Winning Country, Bluegrass, and Gospel Artist are still alive and in good health. However, there is no available information about him his death. Nevertheless, in case of any developing stories, we will keep up updated.

Who Is Ricky Skaggs Married To

Sharon White of The Whites. Moreover, the duo got married in August 1981 and has two children, Molly and Lucas.

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