RICKY SKAGGS BOARDS 75TH ANNUAL SANTA TRAIN TO BRING HOLIDAY

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RICKY SKAGGS BOARDS 75TH ANNUAL SANTA TRAIN TO BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO APPALACHIA
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Photo courtesy of Ed Rode

Country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs climbed aboard the 75th running of the CSX Santa Train on Saturday, November 18 for a 110-mile route through Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee and performed for the crowds in Kingsport.

Skaggs joined Santa Claus and volunteers from the Kingsport Chamber, Food City, Appalachian Power, Soles4Souls and presenting sponsor CSX Transportation in handing out more than 15 tons of gifts at the 14 stops along the route.

"I didn't know exactly what to expect, I just knew we were gonna be giving away toys, backpacks, clothing and food to the folks in the mountains, but those precious faces I saw gave me more than I gave them. A very moving event," notes Skaggs. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat. CXS was totally professional and prepared. 75 years! Then you have Santa! Awesome!"

About Ricky Skaggs


Earning 12 #1 hit singles, 15 GRAMMY® Awards, 12 IBMA Awards, nine ACM Awards, eight CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), two Dove Awards, the ASCAP Founders Award, three honorary Doctorate degrees, inductions into the Musicians Hall of Fame and GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the 2013 Artist-In-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in the Instrumentalist category along with countless other awards, Ricky Skaggs is truly a pioneer of Bluegrass and Country music. Since he began playing music more than 50 years ago, Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and has performed thousands of live shows. He started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and has since released 12 consecutive GRAMMY®-nominated albums. His latest release, Hearts Like Ours, with his wife, celebrated artist Sharon White of The Whites features the couple dueting on handpicked country love songs. And the Grand Ole Opry member has released his first-ever autobiography, "Kentucky Traveler." The book details the life and times of Skaggs and provides a descriptive history of Country and Bluegrass music, as told by the master himself. In addition to his regular touring schedule with his band, Kentucky Thunder, he recently performed a string of dates with his better half Sharon White along with guitar legend Ry Cooder on the critically-acclaimed "Cooder-White-Skaggs" tour and from time to time hits the road with versatile singer/songwriter and pianist Bruce Hornsby on another critically-acclaimed tour, "Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder."


For more information on Ricky Skaggs, visit rickyskaggs.com.



About the Santa Train
Now in its 75th year, the Santa Train operates along a 110-mile route through Appalachia, making 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee to distribute more than 15 tons of toys to Appalachian families. The Santa Train is sponsored by CSX, Food City, Appalachian Power, Soles4Souls and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Please visit www.beyondourrails.org/index.cfm/events/santa-train/ for more information, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.