Kentucky Thunder

For the album by Ricky Skaggs, see Kentucky Thunder (album).

Kentucky Thunder, or Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, is the band that plays with American country and bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs. Many members of the band have won numerous awards. Bandleader Ricky Skaggs plays mandolin and is the lead vocalist. The group has won the Instrumental Group of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association multiple times, as well as seven Grammy Awards.

Kentucky Thunder
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder in Mt Vernon, KY on October 21, 2022.
Background information
Origin	Kentucky, United States
Genres	Bluegrass
Years active	1997-present
Labels	Rounder, Sugar Hill, Hollywood, RCA, Skaggs Family Records
Members	Ricky Skaggs Russell Carson Jake Workman Dennis Parker Mike Rogers Billy Contreras Gavin Kelso
Past members	Paul Brewster Mark Fain Bobby Hicks Luke Bulla Gary "Bud" Smith Marc Pruett Jim Mills Justin Moses Bryan Sutton Clay Hess Darrin Vincent Ben Helson Cody Kilby Eddie Faris Jeff Picker Scott Mulvahill Andy Leftwich
Website	https://rickyskaggs.com/kentucky-thunder/

Line-up

The current line-up is;

• Russell Carson - Banjo
• Jake Workman - Lead Guitar
• Dennis Parker - Rhythm Guitar, Baritone Vocals, Mandolin, Fiddle
• Mike Rogers - Guitar and Tenor Vocals
• Billy Contreras - Fiddle
• Gavin Kelso - Upright Bass

Discography

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US Grass	US Country	US
Bluegrass Rules!	Release date: October 21, 1997 Label: Rounder Records	—	45	—
Ancient Tones	Release date: January 26, 1999 Label: Skaggs Family Records	—	46	—
Soldier of the Cross	Release date: September 14, 1999 Label: Skaggs Family Records	—	65	—
History of the Future	Release date: September 11, 2001 Label: Skaggs Family Records	10	35	—
Live at the Charleston Music Hall	Release date: March 25, 2003 Label: Skaggs Family Records	2	32	—
Brand New Strings	Release date: September 28, 2004 Label: Skaggs Family Records	1	60	—
Instrumentals	Release date: August 1, 2006 Label: Skaggs Family Records	1	73	—
Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947	Release date: March 25, 2008 Label: Skaggs Family Records	1	29	191
Music to My Ears	Release date: September 25, 2012 Label: Skaggs Family Records	2	52	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Guest artists on The Chieftains' Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions (2002)

Awards

Grammy awards

Source:

• 1998 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
• 1999 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Ancient Tones
• 2000 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Soldier Of The Cross
• 2003 Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for A Simple Life
• 2004 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Brand New Strings
• 2006 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Instrumentals
• 2008 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 & 1947

IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards

• 1998 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 1998 Album Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
• 1999 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2000 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2002 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2003 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2004 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2005 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• 2006 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

External links

• Andy Leftwich Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2020)
• Kentucky Thunder at IMDb
• Kentucky Thunder discography at Discogs