Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder to Release First-Ever DVD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert
(Nashville, TN) October 20, 2003…Widely acknowledged as one of the most significant Country/Bluegrass artists of the last 50 years, Ricky Skaggs has made a name for himself as a true musical pioneer, determined to do it his own way, on his own terms--proving time-and-time again that tradition and innovation can be meshed successfully to create some of the most ground-breaking music the genre has ever seen.
Today, nearly three decades after his first stint as a professional musician, Ricky Skaggs is an artist who continues to break new ground by doing it his own way. As one of the handful of artists who have ventured out on their own to try their hand at running his own record label, (Skaggs Family Records), Skaggs has found the ultimate freedom to make his own kind of music, on his own terms, including his very first DVD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, available for the first time in stores on October 28th.
Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, features music from his award winning all-Gospel Bluegrass CD (Soldier of the Cross) released on Skaggs Family Records in 1999. Taped at the Gibson Bluegrass Café in Nashville, the strength and solidarity of the album transfers into an electrifying live performance of the Gospel. Joined by label-mates, The Whites and Jerry & Tammy Sullivan – as well as some very well-known names in contemporary Christian music, including Marty McCall and Bonnie Keen of First Call, and Lisa Bevill -- Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder thrill a standing-room only crowd of appreciative fans, making this Gospel Bluegrass extravaganza an evening to remember.
Combining traditional songs, like the title track first recorded by The Rowan Brothers in the 70’s, the Bill Monroe-penned “A Voice From on High,” and “Gone Home,” recorded by Flatt & Scruggs in the late 1950’s -- with such tunes as the more-recently penned “Joshua Generation,” by noted contemporary Christian songwriter Geoff Thurman -- Soldier of the Cross-the Concert draws heavily upon the faith and the music of Skaggs’ forefathers and shares the Gospel with his fans from all walks of life.
“Gospel has always been a major part of Bluegrass music,” said Skaggs. “Back in the 1940’s, the pioneering fathers of Bluegrass -- Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt & Scruggs -- all included Gospel in their set lists…sometimes even a quarter of the show would be made up of Gospel.”
But as a major-label Country artist in the 1980’s, Skaggs didn’t always have the ultimate freedom to do things entirely his own way. “Gospel fell into the category of noncommercial music back when I was with Epic, and so I wasn’t really able to do Gospel, or even Bluegrass back then,” he said. “But I just didn’t buy into the notion that the fans didn’t want to hear real, traditional Country music...which has always included Gospel.”
“So while I wasn’t able to record an all Bluegrass album or an all Gospel album back then…I really tried to fit as much of my background, (who I was as both a musician and a Christian), into my records as I could,” explained Skaggs. “I wasn’t afraid to add the fiddle, the banjo or the mandolin to my band…instruments from the music I grew up with, (workin’ in Bluegrass bands), that were all but gone in Country music back in the early 1980’s. I reworked old Bluegrass songs, doing them my own way…and I brought those old Bluegrass songs to new Country audiences who had never heard them before.”
Not surprisingly, Skaggs’ musical ingenuity proved to be right on, as the Country market enthusiastically embraced his more traditional style and sound. Many in the industry welcomed Ricky for bringing his musical creativity and innovation to Music City USA, and credited him for leading the neo-traditionalist movement, which arguably may have “saved” Country music in the early 1980’s.
Much like his determination to push the musical envelope -- Ricky was also unwavering in his right to express his personal religious views publicly. “In shows, I’ve always tried to spread the Gospel, whether it was in the words in a song, or the words I spoke in between songs…somehow I express the word of God,” said Skaggs. “Of course this didn’t always sit well with the folks over at the major labels though,” admitted Skaggs, “but I knew someday, I was going to be able to have the freedom to make the records that were truly in my heart.”
In spite of the fact that his records were going Gold, he was earning countless awards and garnering much critical acclaim -- Ricky frequently found himself at odds with the major-label executives who believed Skaggs’ outspoken Christian message on stage was proving to be detrimental to his career.
In 1991, Epic released My Father’s Son, distributed through Word -- the closest he would ever come to releasing a Gospel album as a major-label artist. “After that, Epic even suggested I do a Gospel album just to appease me…but I knew it wasn’t right,” said Skaggs. “I needed to just wait patiently for my heart and attitude to be in the right place. I needed to do it on my own terms.”
And so Skaggs did just that. After a major run as one of Country music’s very best hit-makers -- racking up 12 #1 singles, winning 8 ACM Awards and another 8 CMA Awards in the 1980's, (including the esteemed ‘Entertainer of the Year’ honor in 1986) -- the legendary artist went back to his musical roots in 1997, started his own record company dedicated to making the best in Bluegrass, and reaffirmed himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile musicians in the genre.
“Today, being free with my own label has afforded me the luxury of finally doing the music I’ve always wanted to do,” related Skaggs. So it was in 1999, that Ricky finally released his very-first all-Gospel album -- Soldier of the Cross – which went on to win him his first Dove Award, for ‘Bluegrass Song of the Year’ (“Are you Afraid to Die?”), as well as Ricky’s most recent Grammy Award, for ‘Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year.’
As the music industry showered Skaggs with accolades upon the release of Soldier -- so too did his fans, who passionately embraced his first all-Gospel project. “Soldier of the Cross remains one of my most successful releases to date,” said Skaggs. “At our shows, we get so many requests for songs from ‘Soldier,’ which was all I needed to prove that my fans were truly accepting what we were doing. That’s why we went on to record the concert for TV…and why we’re making it available to our fans on DVD this year.”
Serving as the perfect accompaniment to the much-celebrated Soldier CD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, is a true labor of love for the talented performer. “I waited all those years for the right time to record an all-Gospel CD…and I’m so proud of the Soldier album. Releasing the new Soldier DVD is another long-time wish come true,” explained Skaggs.
“The main reason I wanted to start the label was so we could do the kind of music we wanted to do, without having 20 people sitting around the table saying ‘it won’t work, it won’t sell, it’s tired, it’s not current anymore,’” said Skaggs. “The truth is that Bluegrass isn’t tired, and it will sell. The same is true with Gospel Bluegrass music…one only has to look at the success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? sound-track and ‘Down From the Mountain’ tour to see that there are millions of folks out there who are hungry for this simple, pure traditional music steeped in the Gospel. And that’s where my heart is…this DVD is a testimony to that.”
Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, which blends Skaggs’ passion for authentic Bluegrass music with his passion for the Lord, will be available nationwide on October 28th.
“I’m not a Gospel singer, I’m not a Christian artist…I’m an artist who’s a Christian. As a Bluegrass artist, I can go and sing my songs and talk about what God has done for me. I’m in the place where God has put me. And sometimes a song can take you where a preacher can’t.” Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder to Release First-Ever DVD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert
(Nashville, TN) October 20, 2003…Widely acknowledged as one of the most significant Country/Bluegrass artists of the last 50 years, Ricky Skaggs has made a name for himself as a true musical pioneer, determined to do it his own way, on his own terms--proving time-and-time again that tradition and innovation can be meshed successfully to create some of the most ground-breaking music the genre has ever seen.
Today, nearly three decades after his first stint as a professional musician, Ricky Skaggs is an artist who continues to break new ground by doing it his own way. As one of the handful of artists who have ventured out on their own to try their hand at running his own record label, (Skaggs Family Records), Skaggs has found the ultimate freedom to make his own kind of music, on his own terms, including his very first DVD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, available for the first time in stores on October 28th.
Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, features music from his award winning all-Gospel Bluegrass CD (Soldier of the Cross) released on Skaggs Family Records in 1999. Taped at the Gibson Bluegrass Café in Nashville, the strength and solidarity of the album transfers into an electrifying live performance of the Gospel. Joined by label-mates, The Whites and Jerry & Tammy Sullivan – as well as some very well-known names in contemporary Christian music, including Marty McCall and Bonnie Keen of First Call, and Lisa Bevill -- Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder thrill a standing-room only crowd of appreciative fans, making this Gospel Bluegrass extravaganza an evening to remember.
Combining traditional songs, like the title track first recorded by The Rowan Brothers in the 70’s, the Bill Monroe-penned “A Voice From on High,” and “Gone Home,” recorded by Flatt & Scruggs in the late 1950’s -- with such tunes as the more-recently penned “Joshua Generation,” by noted contemporary Christian songwriter Geoff Thurman -- Soldier of the Cross-the Concert draws heavily upon the faith and the music of Skaggs’ forefathers and shares the Gospel with his fans from all walks of life.
“Gospel has always been a major part of Bluegrass music,” said Skaggs. “Back in the 1940’s, the pioneering fathers of Bluegrass -- Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt & Scruggs -- all included Gospel in their set lists…sometimes even a quarter of the show would be made up of Gospel.”
But as a major-label Country artist in the 1980’s, Skaggs didn’t always have the ultimate freedom to do things entirely his own way. “Gospel fell into the category of noncommercial music back when I was with Epic, and so I wasn’t really able to do Gospel, or even Bluegrass back then,” he said. “But I just didn’t buy into the notion that the fans didn’t want to hear real, traditional Country music...which has always included Gospel.”
“So while I wasn’t able to record an all Bluegrass album or an all Gospel album back then…I really tried to fit as much of my background, (who I was as both a musician and a Christian), into my records as I could,” explained Skaggs. “I wasn’t afraid to add the fiddle, the banjo or the mandolin to my band…instruments from the music I grew up with, (workin’ in Bluegrass bands), that were all but gone in Country music back in the early 1980’s. I reworked old Bluegrass songs, doing them my own way…and I brought those old Bluegrass songs to new Country audiences who had never heard them before.”
Not surprisingly, Skaggs’ musical ingenuity proved to be right on, as the Country market enthusiastically embraced his more traditional style and sound. Many in the industry welcomed Ricky for bringing his musical creativity and innovation to Music City USA, and credited him for leading the neo-traditionalist movement, which arguably may have “saved” Country music in the early 1980’s.
Much like his determination to push the musical envelope -- Ricky was also unwavering in his right to express his personal religious views publicly. “In shows, I’ve always tried to spread the Gospel, whether it was in the words in a song, or the words I spoke in between songs…somehow I express the word of God,” said Skaggs. “Of course this didn’t always sit well with the folks over at the major labels though,” admitted Skaggs, “but I knew someday, I was going to be able to have the freedom to make the records that were truly in my heart.”
In spite of the fact that his records were going Gold, he was earning countless awards and garnering much critical acclaim -- Ricky frequently found himself at odds with the major-label executives who believed Skaggs’ outspoken Christian message on stage was proving to be detrimental to his career.
In 1991, Epic released My Father’s Son, distributed through Word -- the closest he would ever come to releasing a Gospel album as a major-label artist. “After that, Epic even suggested I do a Gospel album just to appease me…but I knew it wasn’t right,” said Skaggs. “I needed to just wait patiently for my heart and attitude to be in the right place. I needed to do it on my own terms.”
And so Skaggs did just that. After a major run as one of Country music’s very best hit-makers -- racking up 12 #1 singles, winning 8 ACM Awards and another 8 CMA Awards in the 1980's, (including the esteemed ‘Entertainer of the Year’ honor in 1986) -- the legendary artist went back to his musical roots in 1997, started his own record company dedicated to making the best in Bluegrass, and reaffirmed himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile musicians in the genre.
“Today, being free with my own label has afforded me the luxury of finally doing the music I’ve always wanted to do,” related Skaggs. So it was in 1999, that Ricky finally released his very-first all-Gospel album -- Soldier of the Cross – which went on to win him his first Dove Award, for ‘Bluegrass Song of the Year’ (“Are you Afraid to Die?”), as well as Ricky’s most recent Grammy Award, for ‘Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year.’
As the music industry showered Skaggs with accolades upon the release of Soldier -- so too did his fans, who passionately embraced his first all-Gospel project. “Soldier of the Cross remains one of my most successful releases to date,” said Skaggs. “At our shows, we get so many requests for songs from ‘Soldier,’ which was all I needed to prove that my fans were truly accepting what we were doing. That’s why we went on to record the concert for TV…and why we’re making it available to our fans on DVD this year.”
Serving as the perfect accompaniment to the much-celebrated Soldier CD, Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, is a true labor of love for the talented performer. “I waited all those years for the right time to record an all-Gospel CD…and I’m so proud of the Soldier album. Releasing the new Soldier DVD is another long-time wish come true,” explained Skaggs.
“The main reason I wanted to start the label was so we could do the kind of music we wanted to do, without having 20 people sitting around the table saying ‘it won’t work, it won’t sell, it’s tired, it’s not current anymore,’” said Skaggs. “The truth is that Bluegrass isn’t tired, and it will sell. The same is true with Gospel Bluegrass music…one only has to look at the success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? sound-track and ‘Down From the Mountain’ tour to see that there are millions of folks out there who are hungry for this simple, pure traditional music steeped in the Gospel. And that’s where my heart is…this DVD is a testimony to that.”
Soldier of the Cross-the Concert, which blends Skaggs’ passion for authentic Bluegrass music with his passion for the Lord, will be available nationwide on October 28th.
“I’m not a Gospel singer, I’m not a Christian artist…I’m an artist who’s a Christian. As a Bluegrass artist, I can go and sing my songs and talk about what God has done for me. I’m in the place where God has put me. And sometimes a song can take you where a preacher can’t.” Ricky Skaggs
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Written: 10/21/2003 
Author: SGN
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