"This group of guys meets my approval every night," Ricky says. "Each and every one of the pickers in Kentucky Thunder totally amazes me in every show...and that, to me, outweighs any award we could ever win." The all-star lineup of Kentucky Thunder includes Andy Leftwich (fiddle), Cody Kilby (lead guitar), Mark Fain (bass), Paul Brewster (tenor vocals, rhythm guitar), and Eddie Faris (baritone vocals, guitar).
Knoxville, Tennessee's Paul Brewster began his music career with the band Knoxville Grass, singing lead and tenor vocals and playing rhythm guitar. After ten years with the Osborne Brothers and brief stints with the Pinnacle Boys and Dollywood bluegrass band, True Blue, he was asked to become a member of Kentucky Thunder. In addition to lending his unmistakable tenor to countless Ricky Skaggs albums, Brewster is also an accomplished songwriter and solo artist. In 2001, he teamed up with band-mate Mark Fain to co-produce Everybody's Talkin', his first solo project for Skaggs Family Records.
In February of 2001, Ricky Skaggs surprised this young fiddler from White House, Tennessee by extending an on-stage invitation to join Kentucky Thunder. Andy first learned to play the fiddle from his father when he was only six years old, and later won the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship. He also mastered the mandolin and guitar and began playing professionally for Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike by his early teens. In 2003, Andy released his first solo project, Ride, on Skaggs Family Records, which included nine original songs. In 2005, Andy teamed up with dobro player Rob Ickes (Blue Highway) and bassist Dave Pomeroy to form Three Ring Circle, releasing their self-titled debut on Earwave Records. In addition, Andy continues to build an impressive list of studio and performance credits, lending his talents to acts like Craig Morgan, Taylor Swift, Jon Randall, Jimmy Wayne, Trick Pony, Pam Tillis, Bering Strait, Travis Tritt, Steve Wariner, and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
Growing up in Cowan, Tennessee, Cody Kilby picked up his dad's banjo at age 8 and had a Gibson Banjo endorsement by the time he was 11. He started playing his mom's guitar at 10, and by 17, he was the National Flatpicking Champion. He added mandolin and dobro at around age 13, and at 16, recorded Just Me, showing his mastery of each instrument on the recording. While touring with Sally Jones and the Sidewinders, he caught the ear of Ricky Skaggs, joining Kentucky Thunder in 2001. Cody's lightning-fast picking can be heard on a number of projects, including Disney album, O Mickey, Where Art Thou?. He's also released a new solo project, Many Roads Traveled, on which he shares his own original compositions. In rare spare moments, Cody can be found producing and engineering projects for other artists in his home studio.
Mark grew up in Rogersville, Tennessee watching his family play music on the front porch. With the help of his uncles, Mark learned to play bass, drums, and guitar. At age 13, he started his own rock and roll band. With such musical versatility, he went on to perform with several gospel groups, including The Singing Americans, The Neelons, and Gold City Gospel. In June of 1995, Mark became a member of the award winning band, Kentucky Thunder, and has appeared on every Skaggs album since Life Is A Journey. When he is not touring, his unparalleled musicianship keeps him in high demand as a studio musician.
Our newest addition to the band turned a
childhood dream into reality by accepting Ricky's invitation to join Kentucky
Thunder in 2009. At the age of 9 years
old, while attending a Ricky Skaggs concert, he pointed to former band member guitarist
Darrin Vincent and said he wanted his job.
Over the years, Darrin and Eddie became friends, and through that
friendship, Eddie's wish became true!
Eddie grew up in Kansas,
and was a member in his family's band, the Faris Family Bluegrass Band, for 12
years. He started playing music when he
was just 6 years old and learned to play mandolin, bass, guitar, and
fiddle. Later, Eddie took his dad's spot
at banjo in their band. His parents
couldn't be prouder to see Eddie grow musically. He is a baritone vocalist, plays the
guitar and has an endorsement with Hinde Custom Instruments.
PAUL BREWSTER
Knoxville, Tennessee's Paul Brewster began his music career with the band Knoxville Grass, singing lead and tenor vocals and playing rhythm guitar. After ten years with the Osborne Brothers and brief stints with the Pinnacle Boys and Dollywood bluegrass band, True Blue, he was asked to become a member of Kentucky Thunder. In addition to lending his unmistakable tenor to countless Ricky Skaggs albums, Brewster is also an accomplished songwriter and solo artist. In 2001, he teamed up with band-mate Mark Fain to co-produce Everybody's Talkin', his first solo project for Skaggs Family Records. ANDY LEFTWICH
In February of 2001, Ricky Skaggs surprised this young fiddler from White House, Tennessee by extending an on-stage invitation to join Kentucky Thunder. Andy first learned to play the fiddle from his father when he was only six years old, and later won the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship. He also mastered the mandolin and guitar and began playing professionally for Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike by his early teens. In 2003, Andy released his first solo project, Ride, on Skaggs Family Records, which included nine original songs. In 2005, Andy teamed up with dobro player Rob Ickes (Blue Highway) and bassist Dave Pomeroy to form Three Ring Circle, releasing their self-titled debut on Earwave Records. In addition, Andy continues to build an impressive list of studio and performance credits, lending his talents to acts like Craig Morgan, Taylor Swift, Jon Randall, Jimmy Wayne, Trick Pony, Pam Tillis, Bering Strait, Travis Tritt, Steve Wariner, and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. CODY KILBY
Growing up in Cowan, Tennessee, Cody Kilby picked up his dad's banjo at age 8 and had a Gibson Banjo endorsement by the time he was 11. He started playing his mom's guitar at 10, and by 17, he was the National Flatpicking Champion. He added mandolin and dobro at around age 13, and at 16, recorded Just Me, showing his mastery of each instrument on the recording. While touring with Sally Jones and the Sidewinders, he caught the ear of Ricky Skaggs, joining Kentucky Thunder in 2001. Cody's lightning-fast picking can be heard on a number of projects, including Disney album, O Mickey, Where Art Thou?. He's also released a new solo project, Many Roads Traveled, on which he shares his own original compositions. In rare spare moments, Cody can be found producing and engineering projects for other artists in his home studio. MARK FAIN
Mark grew up in Rogersville, Tennessee watching his family play music on the front porch. With the help of his uncles, Mark learned to play bass, drums, and guitar. At age 13, he started his own rock and roll band. With such musical versatility, he went on to perform with several gospel groups, including The Singing Americans, The Neelons, and Gold City Gospel. In June of 1995, Mark became a member of the award winning band, Kentucky Thunder, and has appeared on every Skaggs album since Life Is A Journey. When he is not touring, his unparalleled musicianship keeps him in high demand as a studio musician. EDDIE FARIS
Our newest addition to the band turned a
childhood dream into reality by accepting Ricky's invitation to join Kentucky
Thunder in 2009. At the age of 9 years
old, while attending a Ricky Skaggs concert, he pointed to former band member guitarist
Darrin Vincent and said he wanted his job.
Over the years, Darrin and Eddie became friends, and through that
friendship, Eddie's wish became true!
Eddie grew up in Kansas,
and was a member in his family's band, the Faris Family Bluegrass Band, for 12
years. He started playing music when he
was just 6 years old and learned to play mandolin, bass, guitar, and
fiddle. Later, Eddie took his dad's spot
at banjo in their band. His parents
couldn't be prouder to see Eddie grow musically. He is a baritone vocalist, plays the
guitar and has an endorsement with Hinde Custom Instruments. 
