Ricky Skaggs Reveals New Kentucky Thunder Band Members

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(L-R:) Ricky Skaggs, Mike Rogers, Dennis Parker, Billy Contreras, Russ Carson, Jeff Picker, Jake Workman
Photo Credit: Russ Carson

Ricky Skaggs has added new Kentucky Thunder band members Mike Rogers on tenor vocals and rhythm guitar and Billy Contreras on fiddle. The news comes as Paul Brewster retires from the band, and Mike Barnett recovers from a brain aneurysm sustained in 2020.

Rogers is a vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist who plays drums, acoustic guitar, banjo, and steel guitar. Throughout his career he has performed as a band member for Kevin Denney, Craig Morgan, and Doyle Lawson and is also a songwriter and producer, having penned songs for Morgan, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Lonesome River Band and Jimmy Fortune, and produced Fortune’s album, Lessons.

Contreras is a fiddler as well as an educator, session player, arranger, and producer. He has performed and/or recorded with a host of talent including Lionel Hampton, George Jones, Doc Severinsen, Hank Thompson, Hank Jones, Crystal Gayle, Grady Tate, Charlie Louvin, Al Grey, Ray Price, and more along with teaching at Belmont University.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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