Kentucky Traveler: My Life in Music

it turns out that r. skaggs can write as well as he plays. He's "picky ricky" about more than just music. This autobiography is a jewel which frequently had me in tears. I'm familiar with country and bluegrass and am a competent amateur musician. Skaggs was the great hope for country back in the dreadful late 70's, early 80's. His "highway 40 blues" might be my favorite alltime country song. But this bio makes you feel like you are right there. It is worth reading just to understand the history of bluegrass. He is obviously a real God-fearing Christian who wears his religion on his sleeve. If you are family oriented at all, his life story will really touch your heart. You feel like you're almost there the day he had to tell his dad that they wanted him and Keith whitley to play on stage and not his dad. This glorious book is for anyone that loves Eastern Kentucky, bluegrass, country, or wants insight into the music business and history. Ricky Skaggs was the biggest name in country during the 80's. He left bluegrass, but he also brought it with him and returned country and the Opry to its roots. Then he walked away from it and returned to his real love--bluegrass and gospel. Maybe I'm a little biased because we're the same age and I'm also a musician that was heavy into bluegrass and country--and eastern Kentucky. The bio of Tammy Wynette was also very emotional to read, but by comparison this one at least had a much happier ending.

What I enjoyed about the book was as Ricky Skaggs takes you on his life's journey as a kid growing up, and throughout his adulthood, it was also a bit of a history book starting from the 1950's of bluegrass music when discussing his experiences with Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. Other reviewers mentioned there was an overabundance of religiosity contained in the book, but as a Christian, that did not bother me. Ricky is genuine in his beliefs and expressing his love for Christ is just part of what it means to be a Christian. I'm a Ricky Skaggs fan and bluegrass musician, so I loved the book.

If Ricky maintained focus on his musical journey and minimized his proselytizing, this book would have been more enjoyable. However being a Bluegrass junkie it was overall a satisfying read. It would be difficult to make up such a story as this. The journey includes being part of Flatt and Scruggs TV show at age 7, with Bill Monroe on stage at age 6, and recognized by the Stanley Brothers as an adolescent. This is all beyond one's imagination. Rich with country music anecdotal history, it is a pointed moment when Ricky decides to dedicate himself to Bluegrass. His professional life is filled with decisions made by his passion for his art and less on financial considerations. More than once he chose to not follow the professional advice he was given and followed his bliss. This may be a lesson for any young artist considering following their muse professionally. Overall a good read, however if you are sensitive to overt evangelicalism,I suggest avoiding the latter chapters.

y for including his religion in his narrative. While it at times might seem excessive, I personally admire that he unashamedly talks about his beliefs and their importance in his life; perhaps if we had more people involved with kindness, understanding and following God's word, there would be a whole lot less suffering and a lot more happiness in this world today, which seems to be going to hell in a hand basket. This is a good read-even more so if you're a fan of Country and/or Bluegrass music.

This book is great. If you are a blue grass lover; you will absolutely love this book.His father gave him a mandolin when he was 5 years old and the story goes from there.For those who don't know much about blue grass music and those who played it; this is your book tobuy. I read it from cover to cover in about a week. I enjoyed every minute of it. He does not alwaystalk about playing blue grass but he tells his personal story as well. I like Ricky Skaggs because he wasraised in a Christian home and though he strays from it temporarily, he hears his Mom's voice and gets back on track. If you are a country music lover as well as blue grass, you will love this book

I found this book very interesting. I am a big fan of the older country music and never realized how big a part Ricky Skaggs played in helping this music develop. He is truly a talented bluegrass performer and I found his life history in the music business quite interesting. I enjoy reading about the struggles of musicians as they attempt to continue a fairly normal personal life and still succeed in the music business.

From child prodigy to the elder statesman for modern bluegrass, Ricky Skaggs has come a long way from the boy who ran the hills and hunted the hollers in Brushy Creek near Cordell in eastern Kentucky.Well written and filled with countless stories of the people (both musicians and others) who impacted Ricky's life, this great autobiography stays true to the voice of the man who calls himself the Kentucky traveler.Never once does the book wallow in sentimentality but don't get me wrong - it does not lack in emotional candor or self-reflection, making this story of probably the greatest mandolin player who ever lived so approachable, authentic, likable and oh so real.I highly recommend this book to would-be musicians, bluegrass aficionados, and about else who loves a great story told with love, truth and more than as little bit of humor.

I bought this book looking to read about the evolution of bluegrass country and how Ricky developed into one of music's best pickers. I discovered a man with a loving spiritual heart who's love of music and God seeps from the pages. I am british and Christian so some of the way Ricky talks about Jesus felt a little OTT at first but once I let down my guard and took it for what it is (a deep desire to share his music and his faith) it actually made me look deeper at my beliefs and Heart. if Ricky reads this, thank you for bringing me closer to Jesus again.

The reader is taken from a small locality in the Kentucky mountains and introduces us to the "greats of Bluegrass@ including Bill Monroe and The Stanley brothers - this is great - it also tells how a true Christian learned how to live for Jesus Christ.

Excellent read - praise God for the witness of Ricky Skaggs. Still remember the night he sang in Belfast N. Ireland.

Great book about bluegrass history and life in the backwoods in the 60s and being a mandolin player in bands

Nice easy going read like you are sat next to the fire having a chat. I've enjoyed Books about Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley and enjoyed this too.