Ricky Skaggs Receives 3 IBMA Nominations

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Sony Legacy) - Bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs received 3 nominations from the International Bluegrass Music Association awards announced last week. His self-titled collaboration with Bruce Hornsby received a nomination for Recorded Event of the Year, while Ricky and his ace band Kentucky Thunder were nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year, of which they're 8 time winners. Their 'Instrumentals' album also received a nomination in the Instrumental Album of the Year category. Kentucky Thunder banjo player Jim Mills also picked up a nomination for Banjo Player of the Year, an honor he's won 6 times. The honors come just 6 months after Skaggs won his 12th Grammy for 'Instrumentals.'

The nominations come as Ricky prepares to release 'Salt Of The Earth' with The Whites September 25th on Skaggs Family Records. 'Salt Of The Earth' is the first full length album collaboration between Ricky and the Whites (Ricky's wife Sharon White, sister-in-law Cheryl White and father-in-law Buck White). The album displays Ricky and The Whites deep roots in the gospel tradition, all the while adding new songs sure to become part of the gospel canon. Each share lead vocals, and meld their voices into meticulous familial harmonies. With guitar, mandolin, bass and fiddle forming the foundation of most tracks, the sparse arrangements allow the vocals to color each song.