Song:I Don't Care
Album:16 Biggest Hits
Ricky Skaggs used a total of 11 number one country music hits in the 80s to establish himself as the heir to Bill Monroe's bluegrass legacy. He continues that legacy today. I Don't Care was the second of those number one hits in 1982. He was born July 18, 1954 in Cordell, KY. At age seven he appeared on TV with Flatt & Scruggs. And by age 15, Skaggs and fellow teen prodigy Keith Whitley were members of Ralph Stanley's band. In the 70s, he was a member of bluegrass bands The Country Gentlemen, J.D. Crowe & the New South and led his own band Boone Creek. But it was his time with Emmylou Harris' Hot Band from 1977-80 that likely got the attention of Epic Records. Skaggs replaced Rodney Crowell in Harris' band and moved her band in a more traditional bluegrass direction. After recording two solo albums for the bluegrass label Sugar Hill, he signed with Epic. They wanted Skaggs to break out of bluegrass into the mainstream country market. His 1981 Epic debut album Waitin' For The Sun To Shine reached #2 on the Country Album chart and was certified Gold. Skaggs' cover of the Flatt & Scruggs hit Crying My Heart Out Over You was his first number one country music hit and his cover of Webb Pierce's 1955 number one country hit I Don't Care was Skaggs' second number one hit. Skaggs' success on the country charts continued through the 80s and he won a lot of awards. You can get all his 80s hits on this budget CD. When country music changed in the early 90s, Skaggs simply went back to his bluegrass roots. He left Epic in 1992 and after recording for Atlantic and Rounder, he has recorded for his own Skaggs Family label since 1999. His latest CD Country Hits Bluegrass Style is a CD of his 80s hits newly recorded with bluegrass arrangements. It was released July 2011. Ricky Skaggs continues to be a popular concert act today known for his versatile musicianship playing mandolin, guitar and fiddle. Here's Ricky Skaggs performing I Don't Care on Nashville Now 1982. I believe the legendary Jerry Douglas is playing dobro.
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