Bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs returns to Savannah Music Festival

The Savannah Music Festival is gearing up to welcome back a true legend of bluegrass music: Ricky Skaggs and his award-winning band, Kentucky Thunder. The group will illuminate the historic Lucas Theatre on April 4th.

Ricky Skaggs was born into the heart of bluegrass music in Cordell, Kentucky. A child prodigy, he received his first mandolin at the tender age of five. Captivated by the sound, he quickly mastered it and, astonishingly, made his stage debut with the "Father of Bluegrass," Bill Monroe, at the age of six. A year later, his precocious talents landed him a spot on the iconic Flatt & Scruggs television show.

During his teens, Skaggs honed his craft, displaying a remarkable virtuosity not only on the mandolin, but also on fiddle and guitar. He joined legendary bluegrass acts like Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys and J.D. Crowe's New South, becoming a driving force in the progressive bluegrass movement of the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Skaggs expanded his horizons, bridging the gap between his bluegrass roots and mainstream country music. He struck gold, scoring a string of number-one country hits and earning countless accolades, including CMA Entertainer of the Year. Skaggs became a pivotal figure in country music's "New Traditionalist" wave, paving the way for artists like Randy Travis and George Strait.

Despite his country stardom, Skaggs remained a bluegrass purist at heart. In the 1990s, he returned to his musical roots, establishing the acclaimed band Kentucky Thunder. Skaggs has since tirelessly promoted bluegrass, earning him the title of the genre's foremost ambassador.

Skaggs, a Bluegrass and a Country Music Hall of Famer, reflects, "Country music seemed to be very content and doing what they did, but there was something in my heart that was really resonating to come back to more traditional music."


Skaggs isn't just an icon in the world of bluegrass; he's a mentor to a whole new generation of players. "I mean, Billy Strings is a stick of dynamite and it's great for the music," Skaggs says enthusiastically. "We're just really excited about the future of it."

And that future looks bright – fans at the Savannah Music Festival are in for a special treat as he and Kentucky Thunder showcase their fiery brand of bluegrass. Skaggs explains, "We're not really big into lights and all the fancy light show and stuff, we just turn on a couple of lights and we're going to play hard."

The iconic musician has a deep appreciation for the Savannah Music Festival’s broad range of musical offerings: "You know, they may have heard bluegrass one year, but I want to go hear some jazz or go here, and hear some singer-songwriter kind of music, and that I think is done really well at The Savannah Music Festival."

Ricky Skaggs is humbled to be a part of the Savannah Music Festival's diverse lineup. "It makes me feel very proud to be playing it, be part of The Savannah Music Festival." He and the band are eagerly anticipating their return to the charming city.  "Well, I'm very, very happy that we got booked back to come to Savannah. We love the town. We love the people. We love the music scene," Skaggs shares.

His enthusiasm is contagious, fueled by the resurgence of interest in roots music. "It's almost like some people were hearing us for the first time, you know, maybe some of the  younger ones, but they're really into roots music and we're seeing that happen."

This year is shaping up to be another banner year for Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, a testament to the enduring power of bluegrass. "The pandemic was hard on everybody, you know, we've really seen people coming back out and wanting to hear good music again. I mean, last year was our best year ever, and this year is starting out to be even better."

Ricky Skaggs' legacy rests on his extraordinary musicianship, his ability to seamlessly traverse musical genres, and his unwavering devotion to bluegrass music.

With his passion for traditional music, Skaggs sums up the appeal perfectly: "I love the fact that bluegrass music is real, you know it's real."  And on April 4th, that authenticity will resonate through the Lucas Theatre. “So we're really, really excited to get to come back. We've got a great band and I think that everybody's looking forward to it," Skaggs declares.

For more information and to purchase tickets to see Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, visit:
https://www.savannahmusicfestival.org/event/ricky-skaggs-kentucky-thunder/