50 years after his first Grand Ole Opry appearance, Hicks still inspires awe in his audiences. His career has paired him with other country music and bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Earl Scruggs, the Judy Lynn Show in the 60’s, the Bluegrass Album Band of which he was a member plus Tony Rice, J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, Todd Phillips, Jerry Douglas and Vassar Clements.
Considered part of the “first generation” of bluegrass performers, Hicks was recently filmed as part of an International Bluegrass Music Museum project. The project intends to preserve for future generations the first person stories of those early pioneering bluegrass musicians.
In 1981, Hicks began a 21 year association with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, winning 3 CMA awards as Instrumental Group of the Year, 3 Music City News awards as Bluegrass Act of the Year and 5 awards from the Academy of Country Music as the Touring Band of the Year. In addition, Hicks, with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, won Grammy’s for “Bluegrass Rules!,” “Ancient Times” and “Soldiers of the Cross.” Hicks was inducted into the Fiddler’s Hall of Fame in August, 2002.
Born in Newton, North Carolina, Hicks, 73, took up the fiddle at age nine and is self-taught. Hicks explains, “I used to listen to my favorite fiddlers on the Grand Ole Opry when I was a kid and try to play like them, but I eventually developed my own style. Even now I think it’s still important to develop your listening ear and play with your heart.” Today, he is a teacher as well as a performer. He will be teaching at The Montana Fiddle Camp, Steve Kaufmann’s Acoustic Music Camp, and his own workshops throughout the year.
This page is not managed by Bobby Hicks, however he will be checking in on occasion so feel free to leave your comments.
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