Ricky Skaggs
Classic Bluegrass
Contemporary Bluegrass
Classic Country
Ricky Skaggs's solo recording catalog as an artist falls in two distinct eras: his bluegrass-country breakthrough records of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and his commercial peak as one of country music's biggest stars in the mid-1980s. In 1997 he formed Kentucky Thunder as his dedicated bluegrass touring band (see separate entry), so his solo artist page focuses on work outside that band context.
- That's It! (1975) with Keith Whitley on Rebel Records was recorded when both were in Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys; a raw, traditional-duet debut.
- Sweet Temptation (1979) on Sugar Hill Records was his breakthrough — a bluegrass-country hybrid with Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Bobby Hicks, and others that crossed over and pointed toward his coming country stardom.
- Skaggs & Rice (1980) with Tony Rice: an acoustic duet album of brother-duet material that became a genre classic.
- Signed to Epic Records and delivered a string of #1 country hits across Waitin' for the Sun to Shine (1981), Highways & Heartaches (1982), Don't Cheat in Our Hometown (1983), and Country Boy (1984) — bringing bluegrass-tinged traditional country back to country radio.
- Won CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1985 and was the youngest member inducted into the Grand Ole Opry since Hank Williams.
- Returned explicitly to bluegrass in 1997 with Bluegrass Rules!, the debut of Kentucky Thunder — beginning a new chapter of his recording career under that band name.
- Collaborative albums outside Kentucky Thunder include Cluck Old Hen and Instrumentals with Tony Rice, and several recordings with the Whites (his in-laws' bluegrass-country group).
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Honor in 2021.
-
A Vision of MotherDon't Cheat in Our Hometown (1983)
-
Could You Love Me One More TimeSweet Temptation (1982)
-
Crying My Heart Out Over YouWaitin' for the Sun to Shine (1981)
-
Don't Cheat in Our HometownDon't Cheat in Our Hometown (1983)
-
Hallelujah I'm ReadyFamily and Friends (1982)
-
Highway 40 bluesHighways and Heartaches (1982)
-
I Know What it Means to Be LonesomeSweet Temptation (1982)
-
I Wouldn't Change You If I CouldHighways and Heartaches (1982)
-
I'm Not Broke But I'm Badly BentBest of the Sugar Hill Years (2008)
-
River of JordanFamily and Friends (1982)
-
Ricky SkaggsPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Bobby HicksPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Jerry DouglasPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Joe AllenPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Marc PruettPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Peter RowanPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Albert LeePlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Emory Gordy Jr.Played on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Tony RicePlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Buddy EmmonsPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Joe OsbornPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Sharon WhitePlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Cheryl WarrenPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Emmylou HarrisPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
H.S. "Buck" WhitePlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Hank DeVitoPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
-
Bela FleckPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Brian AhernPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Bruce BoutonPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Cheryl WhitePlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Cody KilbyPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Darrin VincentPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Dolly PartonPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
John StarlingPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Molly SkaggsPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Ray FlackePlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Sharon HicksPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Steve BryantPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Terry BaucomPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs
-
Wes GoldingPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs