Bob Harris Country - 08/10/2009

Tonight's programme features an interview with Grammy-winning bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs. He talks about his love of traditional music, running his own record company and the inspiration behind his new album, which features songs he learned from his late father. Ricky Skaggs' musical career has seen him playing with Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs as a small boy and then with Ralph Stanley's band and Emmylou Harris' Hot Band in the 1970s. With the release of his solo album 'Waitin' for the Sun to Shine' in 1981, Ricky moved to the top of the country charts and remained there through most of the 1980s. He was a key figure in the new traditionalist movement, made up of roots influenced artists who were reacting against the pop crossover sounds which had been dominating the country charts. Indeed, the renowned guitarist and producer, Chet Atkins, credited him with "single-handedly" saving country music. In the 1990s Ricky Skaggs' career focussed once again on bluegrass music and he released several albums with his band 'Kentucky Thunder'. In 2000 he celebrated the music of bluegrass founder Bill Monroe with the star studded album 'Big Mon', which included contributions from John Fogerty, The Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton and Bruce Hornsby. Ricky now runs his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, home of artists such as family band The Cherryholmes. His latest solo album 'Songs my dad loved' has just been released in the UK. Bob Harris interviewed Ricky on the stage of the Ryman auditorium in Nashville last month .