Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder in Concert with Opening Act Crossties
Venue: Little River Bluegrass Barn, Radford
Organizations: Crossties, Ricky Skaggs
Date: Friday, December 2, 2016
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Event Types: Music
Cost:

Description:
The Little River Bluegrass Barn presents Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder in Concert with Opening Act Crossties on Friday, December 2, 2016.

A life full of music. That's the story of Ricky Skaggs. By age 21, he was already considered a "recognized master" of one of America's most demanding art forms, but his career took him in other directions, catapulting him to popularity and success in the mainstream of country music. His life's path has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact.

Ricky started performing over 50 years ago and this 14-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics, the diverse and masterful tones come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart.

Born on July 18, 1954 in Cordell, Kentucky, he received his first mandolin at the age of five. Two weeks after teaching him the G, C and D chords, his dad returned from working out of town shocked to see his son making chord changes and singing. When the legendary Bill Monroe came to perform, the crowd wouldn't let up until "Little Ricky Skaggs" got up to play. The father of bluegrass called six-year-old Skaggs up. No one imagined what a defining moment that would be in the life of the young prodigy. By seven, Skaggs performed with bluegrass legends Flatt & Scruggs on their popular TV show earning his first paycheck.

In the late 70s, Ricky turned his attention to country music. First as a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band and later as a solo artist. Skaggs reached the top of the country charts in 1981 and remained there throughout most of the 80s, resulting in a total of 12 #1 hits. In 1982, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the youngest to be inducted at that time. As his popularity soared, he garnered eight awards from the Country Music Association (CMA), including "Entertainer of the Year" in 1985, four Grammy Awards and dozens of other honors.

Ricky Skaggs has often said that he is "just trying to make a living" playing the music he loves. But it's clear that his passion for it puts him in the position to bring his lively, distinctively American form of music out of isolation and into the ears and hearts of audiences across the country and around the world.

Links:

• http://www.rickyskaggs.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/rickyskaggsofficial
• https://www.twitter.com/RickySkaggs

Crossties is a local bluegrass and roots band based in southwest Virginia that started in 1990 and is still thriving today.

The band performs often at the Floyd Country Store, annually at Steppin Out, and frequently at Virginia Tech's Henderson Lawn among many other venues and have shared the stage with Ricky Skaggs.

Many of the members have changed from the original lineup, but the twang keeps rolling on.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/CrosstiesVA

Tickets are available at the Riner Food Center, The Sportsman, Due South BBQ, Radford Travel Center and Fatback Soul Shack.

Doors open at 6 pm. The show starts at 7 pm.

The Little River Bluegrass Barn is located at 7800 Little River Dam Road in Radford, VA.

For more information or to purchase tickets on the phone, call Nick McNeil at 540-320-6145.