"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 Jim Mills (banjo). JIM MILLS
This Raleigh, North Carolina native has earned the title of International Bluegrass Music Association's Banjo Player of the Year 6 times. Since joining Kentucky Thunder in 1997, Jim has released an instructional DVD and three solo projects including Hide Head Blues, My Dixie Home, and Bound to Ride, for which he won the International Bluegrass Music Association's award for Instrumental Album of the Year. This multi-talented artist can also add author to his list of accomplishments as he completes his new book on Pre-War Gibson Flathead Mastertone Banjos.
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 Whitehouse, 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.
