Ricky Skaggs

And mandolin was all I cared about for a long time after.

that ricky skaggs is a big mandolin player yeah yeah i love ricky skaggs yeah and the man i i just think the mandolin is just a cool instrument yeah and it's just it adds such a unique level to any song

yeah yeah i i i still love it i still play it a lot it's it's on is it on here yeah you're

playing it on here

Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee Today, and now our final story.

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate Vince Gill's 35th anniversary as an Opry member with two special shows on Saturday, October 17th at 7 and 9.30 p.m. Gill will be joined by longtime friends and fellow Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Patti Loveless, along with his wife Amy Grant, vocalist Wendy Moten, and additional guests to be announced.

Gil made his Opry debut on June 29, 1989, and was inducted as a member on August 10, 1991.

Over the past 35 years, the Country Music Hall of Fame member has become one of the Opry's most recognizable ambassadors, regularly returning to perform, collaborate with fellow artists, and welcome new members.

I've been to a lot of large gatherings.

Last night, when we did the 250th... commemoration of american hymnody in the history of the church i have to tell you it was one of the most spectacular uh things i've ever experienced and you don't you can't really call it a concert um yes there were special guests artists ricky skaggs chris tomlin many others that participated over the course of the two hours that we were there But it was actually the story, the tracing, the history of where American hymns came from, what they were about, how they came from many different cultures.

And, of course, Keith and Kristen, not to be unexpected, had a lot of them stem from the Irish roots that many of them came from.

But when the hymns transferred and transgressed the Atlantic region, And came to America.

I've been to huge church gatherings.

I've never heard singing like this.

Then you had Ricky Skaggs who came, brightest and best, a hymn that is written by a hymn writer that a lot of people know for other songs.

And yet this, given a fresh new facelift, Ricky Skaggs bringing it about, And then we get into the modern era.

Gill, by the way, first performed at the Opry in June 1989, was officially inducted as a member in August 1991.

Vince Gill going to be joined by Amy Grant, Patti Loveless, Ricky Skaggs, and more guests, which are still to be announced.

This milestone is coming up shortly.

He recently wrapped up his 50 years from home tour, celebrating five years in country music.

And he did it in my case.

I was working for a country music artist named Ricky Skaggs.

I was a guitar tech for him.

He was the entertainer of the year at that point.

He's played banjo on Broadway for Bright Star, Steve Martin's musical.

He's played the Grand Ole Opry alongside Ricky Skaggs.

His banjo playing is featured on the soundtrack for the hit TV show, Poker Face.

So by any measure, he belongs on any stage.

So we got a nice mixture of, of things, you know, you get used to playing in, If you get used to playing background music at a wedding, it's a different thing.

It's a different mentality than getting on stage.

Like the Bluegrass Guitar Camp, I was on stage with Ricky Skaggs.

Right.

Like, I think Joe Diffie is one of those guys.

I think Ricky Skaggs is one of those guys for me.

Uh, I think ...

I mean, the first time I ever met Kix Brooks was, was at the Opry.

He's such an important person in country music.

Not only-- obviously a great artist and what he's done with his career.

All my favorite singers are the ones that marinated in bluegrass first: Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Keith Whitley.

Um, I think that's why I like Zach Top so much.