Kentucky Thunder

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

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
Website	https://rickyskaggs.com/kentucky-thunder/

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.

Line-up

The current line-up serving under Ricky is:

• Russell Carson - Banjo (since 2014)
• Justus Ross - Lead Guitar (since 2024)
• Troy Engle - Rhythm Guitar, Baritone Vocals (since 2025)
• Mike Rogers - Guitar and Tenor Vocals (since 2021)
• Billy Contreras - Fiddle (since 2021)
• Gavin Kelso - Upright Bass (since 2022)

Lineups

1997	1997–1999	1999–2001
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Bobby Hicks – fiddle Marc Pruett – banjo Bryan Sutton – lead guitar Mark Fain – bass Gary "Bud" Smith – piano	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Jim Mills – banjo Bryan Sutton – lead guitar Bobby Hicks – fiddle Mark Fain – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Darrin Vincent – Dobro, baritone vocals Jim Mills – banjo Bobby Hicks – fiddle Luke Bella – fiddle Clay Hess – lead guitar Mark Fain – bass
2001–2004	2004–2007	2007–2008
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Darrin Vincent – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Jim Mills – banjo Bobby Hicks – fiddle Andy Leftwich – fiddle Mark Fain – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Darrin Vincent – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Jim Mills – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Mark Fain – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Ben Helson – guitar Jim Mills – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Mark Fain – bass
2008–2010	2010–2012	2012–2014
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Jim Mills – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Mark Fain – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Justin Moses – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Mark Fain – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Justin Moses – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Scott Mulvahill – bass
2014–2016	2016–2017	2017–2018
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone vocals Cody Kilby – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Andy Leftwich – fiddle Scott Mulvahill – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone vocals Jake Workman – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Mike Barnett – fiddle Scott Mulvahill – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Edie Faris – Dobro, baritone Jake Workman – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Mike Barnett – fiddle Jeff Picker – bass
2018–2021	2021–2022	2022–2024
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Paul Brewster – guitar, tenor vocals Jake Workman – lead guitar Dennis Parker – rhythm guitar, baritone vocals Russell Carson – banjo Mike Barnett – fiddle Jeff Picker – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Mike Rogers – guitar, tenor vocals Dennis Parker – rhythm guitar, baritone vocals Jake Workman – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Billy Contreras – fiddle Jeff Picker – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Mike Rogers – guitar, tenor vocals Dennis Parker – rhythm guitar, baritone vocals Jake Workman – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Billy Contreras – fiddle Gavin Kelso – bass
2024–2025	2025–present
Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Mike Rogers – guitar, tenor vocals Dennis Parker – rhythm guitar, baritone vocals Justus Ross – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Billy Contreras – fiddle Gavin Kelso – bass	Ricky Skaggs – mandolin, lead vocals Mike Rogers – guitar, tenor vocals Troy Engle – rhythm guitar, baritone vocals Justus Ross – lead guitar Russell Carson – banjo Billy Contreras – fiddle Gavin Kelso – 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