Roy Huskey Jr.
Musician · 1956–1997 · Nashville, Tennessee
Best known for
Bass
Roy Huskey Jr. was one of the most in-demand Nashville session bassists of the 1980s and 1990s — son of A-Team bassist Junior Huskey, and a player whose warm tone and impeccable timing made him a first-call bassist for Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and many others.
- Born in Nashville. Son of Junior Huskey (1928–1971), a Nashville A-Team bassist; continued his father's legacy in the Nashville session scene.
- Started bass professionally in his teens. Studio work began in the late 1970s.
- Extensive session credits in Nashville country and bluegrass recording from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, including work with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Will the Circle Be Unbroken Volume II, 1989).
- Member of the New Coon Creek Girls and various other bluegrass session configurations.
- Toured with Emmylou Harris's Nash Ramblers in the early 1990s alongside Sam Bush, Al Perkins, and Larry Atamanuik.
- Grammy wins include Emmylou Harris's At the Ryman (1992).
- Died of lung cancer in Nashville on September 6, 1997 at age 40 — a shock to the Nashville community.
- His death was widely mourned in the bluegrass and country communities; Vince Gill's “The Key to Life” is partly a tribute.
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Peter RowanPlayed on recordings with Peter Rowan
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John HartfordPlayed on recordings with John Hartford
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John Hartford, Tony Rice and Vassar ClementsPlayed on recordings with John Hartford, Tony Rice and Vassar Clements
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Norman Blake and Red RectorPlayed on recordings with Norman Blake and Red Rector
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Jim and Jesse and the Virginia BoysPlayed on recordings with Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys
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David GrismanPlayed on recordings with David Grisman
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Hazel DickensPlayed on recordings with Hazel Dickens
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Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain BoysPlayed on recordings with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys
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Mark O'ConnorPlayed on recordings with Mark O'Connor
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Blaine SprousePlayed on recording with Blaine Sprouse
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Doc WatsonPlayed on recording with Doc Watson
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Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou HarrisPlayed on recording with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
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Emmylou HarrisPlayed on recording with Emmylou Harris
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Gillian WelchPlayed on recording with Gillian Welch
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Hartford and HartfordPlayed on recording with Hartford and Hartford
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Iris DeMentPlayed on recording with Iris DeMent
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Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain BoysPlayed on recording with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys
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Linda RonstadtPlayed on recording with Linda Ronstadt
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Mike Compton and David GrierPlayed on recording with Mike Compton and David Grier
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The Cluster PluckersPlayed on recording with The Cluster Pluckers