Sponsored by The DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder are ready to spark joy in the hearts of the audience with their Bluegrass immersed traditional country music rooted into a contemporary sound.

Kentucky Thunder are 8-time winners of the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year. Skaggs said of the band, “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 legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once credited Skaggs with “single-handedly saving country music.” While his journey includes many musical genres, Skaggs has returned to where it all began.

In a recent interview, he shared how he had a lot of success in country music in the 1980s and into the mid 1990s, but when Bill Monroe, “the Father of Bluegrass music,” passed in 1996, Skaggs said he felt a deep calling to go back to his roots. He felt that he would go back and re-dig the ground work, bringing the credibility that he had.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are scheduled to perform at The Struthers Library Theatre, 302 W. Third Ave., Warren, Saturday at 8 p.m.

Bluegrass is what Skaggs played years before he entered into the country music genre.

“I really felt like I could bring credibility as an artist, as a producer, I could bring that to bluegrass music after his passing, and just really try to plow in that ground to encourage young people to get excited about the music. I look back at it now, and I totally feel that I did what I set out to do. I think bluegrass music right now is bigger and stronger and more appealing to young people, maybe than ever before.”

Skaggs recalls a fond memory of meeting Monroe at the age of 6. He had been playing mandolin for a year, and the encounter with Monroe burned in his mind for years. The next year he was on stage with Monroe for the Flatt and Scruggs television show in Nashville. Skaggs said his father saw his talent at a young age and so he likes to encourage parents of young children who are showing promise or interest in music to come out to see their family friendly show.

“It’s sowing those seeds into those young hearts and young minds, especially if they have a musical gift. I think it helps to wake up that gift, you know, and maybe just shake it a little bit, and put some vision in their heart and mind,” Skaggs said.

Upon elaboration on the storytelling that is present in bluegrass music, Skaggs mentioned musician A.P. Carter, founding member of the Carter family, one of the most popular acts in the history of country music. Calling Carter a “song catcher” Skaggs said how they are celebrated as the first family of country music. “They really brought so many stories and songs together. Living in a world long before the internet, a lot of people relied on those stories and those songs to sing and give people hope and entertainment as well.”

Crediting Bill Monroe with the creation of a whole new sound in bluegrass, along with Lester Flat and Earl Scruggs into Monroe’s band, Skaggs said their style had drive and speed. “One of the characteristics of a genre is that people that write songs, and create new rhythms and new instrumentation, I think that is a part of bluegrass’s history, and bluegrass music’s foundation stones that we still stand on today.” Skaggs said that he thinks that even the new generation of bluegrass artists such as Billy Strings, Sierra Hull and Molly Tuttle are also carrying on the traditions of the old storytelling from the past in their new songs.

In discussion of the advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, Skaggs shared his thoughts, “When it crosses the boundaries into creativity of the heart and the spirit of people, it can’t really replicate that, you know, if you really listen deep.”

When asked how his faith ties into his musical career, Skaggs said Christians have a job to do in a way because they have a life to live in front of others and should never be ashamed of their faith, but always be a light.

“One of the first sermons Jesus ever did, just talking about the kingdom — he was trying to get the kingdom into the people, more than he was trying to get the people into heaven. I think it’s important for me as a Christian to to let people know that, you know, they were created for greatness, not just mediocracy.”

While Gospel music intertwines with blue grass, Skaggs aims to earn people’s trust first with the musicianship and by the fun and joy that we all have with playing and listening to music.

“He (Jesus) is everywhere, you know, and wants to be in the marketplace where people don’t know Him. And that’s kind of part of, I think, the calling and part of what I’ve been called to do,” said Skaggs. “I think, when people see us on stage, they see the joy that we have playing music as a band. You know, joy is infectious.”

Tickets range from $30 to 70 and can be purchased at the door at the Struthers Library Theatre or purchase tickets online at strutherslibrarytheatre.org