At age 11, following in his father’s footsteps, Kevin began playing music.   He remembers back when he was in the 6th grade in school when his first performance was at a talent show in front of the whole school.  He played the acoustic guitar and sang the old song "My Last Old Dollar’s Done Gone".  When Kevin finished the song he said, "I will  never forget the sound of the applause that my fellow classmates made and how good that made me feel that someone enjoyed what I was doing".  He knew right then and there, that he would always play music! 

     After that Kevin started playing banjo at age 12.  Kevin enjoyed listening to Flatt and Scrugg’s, Bill Monroe ect... traveling to numerous bluegrass festivals around the country.  He continued playing the banjo and then he started learning to play the fiddle, which is what his father plays, all through his teenage years.

 

     At age 21,  his father was playing a square dance in Red Bowling Springs, Tennessee.  Kevin would go with him and would hear the beautiful sound of a Steel Guitar, He said to himself, " that’s the instrument for me! That’s the instrument I want to learn!"   Ricky Skaggs and his bluegrassy country music was taking over the radio, mixing the steel guitar right with the fiddle and banjo which was right down his ally!  Kevin traveled on the road with various bands for about five years, playing 5 and 6 nights a week. He's played with groups opening shows for, George Jones, Marie Osmond , Exile, David Allen Coe, Gene Watson, Leon Russell, Kitty Wells, just to name a few! He worked with Ronnie McDowell for a while and got to play on TNN’S Prime Time Country. 

     Kevin was still not satisfied with the style of music he was playing. All the places that he had played all wanted new top 40 country music, but his heart and soul was in traditional country music, this is where the Country Cookin' Band came in. When Kevin was called to fill in on the show one night, after playing he thought that this was the best show that he had ever seen.  Kevin thought, "finally, a place that really supports a full range of country music, but traditional country being the favorite"!

 

     Kevin states, "My music could not be possible if it was not for my wonderful family, so I would like to dedicate a special thanks to my wife, Melissa and my children, McKenzie, 7 years old, Harleigh 8 months old, Brandon 21 years old and Lindsey who is 17 years old.  Also I would like to thank Rick and Renda for giving me a job, and all the other musicians on the show that truly amaze me with their music ability, and a special thanks to all the people who come out on Saturday night and support this show!"

 

Kevin

     "Kevin is such a wonderfully talented musician, he brings so much versatily to  the Bardstown Opry!  He is not just a musician, but a great  friend!  Thanks Kevin for being our right hand man and for all the years of dedication to the Country Cookin'  Band! 

Rick & Renda

 

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