Bluegrass legend Skaggs coming to PAC

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 29, 2008

ASHLAND, Ky. — Ricky Skaggs is coming to the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky.

Skaggs will perform at the Paramount Arts Center on June 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, $30, and $10.

Skaggs, who was born in Lawrence County, Ky., is widely credited with bringing Bluegrass music back to mainstream country music.

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Skaggs, who is 53 and has spent 37 years as a professional musician, began playing mandolin at very young age, by the time he was 7 he had performed on television and on stage with such Bluegrass legends as Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

By 1970, he and fellow Kentuckian, Keith Whitley were playing in Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys band.

In the decade that followed, Skaggs became a producer and moved to Nashville to record his major label debut, Waitin’ For The Sun to Shine, which had four hits.

In 1982, Skaggs achieved his childhood dream and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Over his long career, Skaggs has had 12 number one hits, six top ten singles, won 12 Grammy Awards and eight Country Music Association Awards.

Skaggs has also played with non-country acts like Phish and Bruce Hornsby.

Skaggs has become known as the “Official Ambassador of Bluegrass” and his last eight Bluegrass recordings released on his own Skaggs Family Records label have included Bluegrass Rules! in 1998, Ancient Tones in 1999, both Soldier of the Cross and Big Mon: The Songs of Bill Monroe in 2000, History of the Future in 2001, Live at the Charleston Music Hall in 2003, Brand New Strings in 2005, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Instrumentals in 2007.

Skaggs will perform at the Paramount Arts Center on June 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, $30, and $10.

For additional information, or to order tickets, please call the Paramount Box Office, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at

(606) 324.3175.