Country Hits Bluegrass Style

Ricky Skaggs is the quintessential crossover artist, as long as you're talking about crossing over the rickety old bridge that separates bluegrass and country music. A Kentuckian by birth, Skaggs’ deepest roots lie firmly planted in the land of bluegrass. At age seven he was making guest appearances with Flatt & Scruggs, joined Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain boys at the tender age of 15, and at 28 was named the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry. His rise to prominence within the mainstream American music scene began when he decided to “go country” by joining Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band in the late 1970s. During the ensuing decades, Skaggs has led the tribal faithful from the fabled lands of the Appalachian hillbilly canon into the heathen steppes of NashVegas country and Western swing, with a few side-trips along the way.

The follow-up to 2008's Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass, a homage to Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and other bluegrass pioneers, the title of Skaggs’ latest recording on his own label tells you almost everything you need to know about its 14 tracks. Skaggs’ extraordinary talents as an instrumentalist, vocalist, arranger and scholar of the American songbook are showcased on classic country tunes from Guy Clark (‘Heartbroken’), Mel Tillis (‘Honey, Open that Door’) and Larry Cordle (‘Highway 40 Blues’), as well as countrified bluegrass compositions such as Monroe's ‘Uncle Pen’ and Scruggs’ ‘Don't Get Above Your Raising’. For the last ten or so years Skaggs has been keenly focused on reconnecting with his inner bluegrass soul. Country Hits Bluegrass Style marks Skaggs’ finest effort yet in that direction’