Ricky Skaggs and the Boston Pops: "Uncle Pen"

[DogsInAPile83]

Ricky's response at 2:36-2:45 is worth a million dollars!!

[Jazzyjess49]

This is why I love the Pops...they can play behind opera...and behind everything else too! Great stuff

[Midgetmedic]

The Boston Pops are so great. They have all different types of music.

[bsdml]

Cool video. Dave, I really enjoyed the cuts I heard here (incl. the other ones you posted from this concert); really tasteful orchestrations too, fit in extremely well with the band. I say this as a fellow orchestrator (I was commissioned recently to do a similar gig: orchestrating behind a band of banjo, fiddle, mandolin players for a concert with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra). I love the possibilities between Bluegrass players and symphony; just way cool.

[MrJimjimboaz]

My son took me to see Ricky for my birthday. It was a packed house in Chandler, Az and every foot was tapping. Bluegrass rules!!!

[betterntv]

Fine music-making, indeed.

[stepsafer]

I just listen to this for the first time and I'm sure not the last. Terrific but what else is new..interesting tidbit about this song "Uncle Pen"..it is the only song representing bluegrass (Bill Monroe's version) on the gold disc attached to the Voyager Space craft flying through the great void. They couldn't have picked a better one.

[bk2nchr]

Thank you, but I am a girl. : )

[Moodlackie]

If that won't make you stomp your foot.....you're DEAD !!

[locomotive131whistle]

1:16 is when the real song started

[kacplaymyst]

This just's blows me away love it love it

[feverrecords]

Bluegrass with ethe boston pops.........GOD MUSIC MAN!

[crosscountrywv]

To quote King Jimmy Martin, this is "about the sorriest f***in' bluegrass."

[smr61754]

This is freakin' AWESOME!! The Boston Pops and Ricky Scaggs....cant get much better than that!

[banjorino]

The performance of this song is hell of a good listening! Its totaly magic with the beautifully orchestra arr! :) Thanks so much! 5*

[CampCreekGrass]

You go Dave,what a fine job.

[dmvhon]

An wonderful musician and person, and with the pops this is real magic!! Did I mention Kentucky Thunder is the cat's ass?

[babs98019]

Wow. So cool to hear all the violins in sync. Ricky is amazing and his fiddle player is hott!

[thisistif]

I rarely comment but I just had to say when it started I just smiled. Wow. Just an awesome arrangement.

[Fugate171]

Two quintessential American institutions the Boston Pops and Ricky Skaggs. All I can say is that I'm grateful that you made this available on You Tube and also that you wrote such great orchestrations.

[jewishcurrymastah]

This song is definitely one of the top ten bluegrass songs

[dottiekirby]

Thank you Keith Lockhart!!!

[quantumdave]

What about me??????

[dottiekirby]

And you too guy...:-)

[quantumdave]

Hahahaha Thank you, Dottie! I am soooooo needy!! :-)

[rainharper62]

@quantumdave -dave if you wrote the orchestrations for them, you did a good job! this is one of my favorite bluegrass songs! yee-ha from tennessee!

[jbdmed]

What a great colaboration of Americana. Boston Pops and Bluegrass!!

[Matt1asH]

Had to come back for another listen!

EXCELLENT WORK DAVE!

Great to see another OKC boy putting out such great work!

Matt

[sepai40]

Now this is music!!!! This is taking bluegrass and orchestra music to another level. This is such an awesome arrangement, it doesn't get better then this. I put my thumb way up, and want to say god bless everybody in the world who plays a musical instrument from beginner to professional. It is by far one of the best hobbies or careers to ever get into no matter what instrument you play. Thanks again for posting this, I am such a big Ricky Skaggs fan! THANKS!!!!!!

[TheFletch827]

I like the orchestration for this one the best.

[bk2nchr]

This music is of the highest quality. Skaggs is talented to the extreme and a great spirit as well.

[mpwelk]

@bk2nchr Agreed! The foundation of his noteworthiness is fantastically tried and true, my boy.

[ElCid48]

That was GREAT!

THANKS!

[koIdexx21]

When I was in Riyadh back in 1991 I heard Ricky Skaggs music for the first time. Tho I didn't know him yet I bought his record and keep on playing his songs on my cassette as if I always feeling groovy listening to his music.

[quantumdave]

Wow! Thank you for the kind compliment bopbopbobert because I, quantumdave (alias David Powell) did all the orchestrations for Ricky that I have posted here. Check out the 4 other cuts with the Pops if you haven't already! Do you need any arrangements done??? ;-)

[md65000]

@quantumdave Arranging a bluegrass tune for a symphony orchestra and making it sound even close to decent is a serious feat!! Nice job!! I wonder how all those violinists liked being fiddelers for a night?

[bopbopbobert]

who scored the music for " The Pops" ??? The strings are great, the horn section???

[Fugate171]

I think musicians of any genre have great appreciation for each other... even when a little country boy from Appalachia stands on the stage with the world-renown Boston Pops. Thank you for this treasure...

[lrover03]

Stellar performance by the greatest of greats. I was actually a big fan of the Boston Pops when Arthur Fiedler was conducting years ago. I'm sure they've been through several conductors and many musicians since then. To see them teamed up with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder is the absolute BEST of both worlds! Thanks for posting this and the others, quantumdave. :))

[453609]

Beautiful stuff. Bluegrass is an American treasure.

[wranglerxx]

I can just hear the violin section now... " hot doggit boys ima playin' the fiddle now heeeeee haaaa

[awanahtunowhiho]

best comment I've seen on youtube in a while, wrangerxx.

[mbacton]

Thank you so much! More people than you imagine do love Boston Pops and love bluegrass music.

[novitec86]

REPEAT!!!!!!!! :-)

[pegcage]

I remember Chet Atkins also performed with the Boston Pops. Probably other country artists too.

[madkatz5083]

Quantumdave  Thank you for the post! Your choice is perfect!!! Thank you.

[maxitismakedon]

these jazz elements spoil the whole image I think...

[COMCHAMP]

I think that is the coolest part of the whole song.....it is totally unexpected and fits in perfectly. How cool is this? WOW.

[debzeppeliniv]

haha Boston Pops violins, fiddlin you go, you yankees

[Bobbygn]

This also shows the versatility of the Boston Pops. You can bet the musicians loved this....as much as I do...

[LeopoldUlysees]

A yankee orchestra never sounded so good!

[hurbini]

My God! Very, very good indeed.

Perfect.

From São Paulo - Brasil

[onehipdawg]

I was thinking the same thing!

To be a classically trained musician and be handed "Uncle Pen!"

[LeopoldUlysees]

They're probably STILL telling their friends, "But they MADE me do it!" Little do they realize that playing such music makes them more cultured, refined, and classy.

[21lumbeewarrior]

I bet it was hard for them to learn

[MontanaFiddler]

I bet it wasn't.

[pegcage]

Thank you for putting music like this up. In the late '50s Eddy Arnold recorded his famous Cattle Call with an orchestra and got all kinds of criticism by traditional country artists and fans. But I loved it! I just get a wonderful feeling when I find long hair musicians can enjoy and even play the great country music. The Pops orchestra did not ruin this song at all; they added a new dimension to it. I love many forms of music, but bluegrass is my favorite and always will be.

[michaelv2001]

wow that gave me chills

[carteru93]

That orchestra just makes them sound so "big".

[computerwizard1959]

I bet those Boston Pops didn't know what to think of that tune!

[ChevyToughRebel]

I would love to hear an interview of some the those people from the boston pops and what they thought

[Mygrassisblue01]

great Video, thanks for posting.........Ricky has done a great job of carrying on the mountain music

[facecrack]

Must be cool to kick off the Boston Pops with a Grun

[crazycuntryboy2]

Ah hell yaaaaaaaa! Ricky Sgaggs/Kentuvky Thunder+The Boston Pops Orchestra! NOW THAT WAS AWESOME!

[chitchatt2006]

I never get tired of hearing Ricky's voice or listening to him play. And his harmonies with Kentucky Thunder are among the sweetest ever.

[mka800]

Ricky's band is almighty.  That's the only word I can come up with. (And I somewhat agree with an earlier comment that the orchestra kind of . . . subdued this song.)

[tkeitez66]

Ricky is well qualified to carry on for the late, great Bill Monroe. In fact, Mr. Monroe hand picked him and to me he could not have done a better job in picking a successor.

[Collecian]

Thanks for posting this, it is so refreshing to hear one of Bluegrass' Legends playing with Kentucky Thunder and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Thanks again.

[CWALKIN420]

the orchestra ruined this song

[ChasinMe]

Think of it this way; a whole new audience got to hear and love Ricky.

[billkilpatrick]

it's called "fun" - try it some time. that was great - thanks for posting!

[Shanelee33]

JIM MILLS always looks like he is having a stroke when he gets his breaks. Cracks me up. Thanks for posting!

[turbletts]

Tom Gray plays so out of tune...He was the flashy during his day...But for solid bass used in a studio or live performance...Mark is hard to beat...

[1kyredneck1]

screw mark..TOM GRAY RULES!!! heck when you get toms age you'll slow down too, moron..

[christStrothman]

this is great man

[foxhoundlady]

Every time I watch this video, I am continually amazed at the talent of Ricky Skaggs. It just doesn't get any better than this... Dr. Ricky Skaggs...you go doc !!!!

[foxhoundlady]

Absolutely the greatest !!!!!

[garytelecastor]

It really makes a difference when someone discovers the love of their life. Ricky played country, but he LOVES bluegrass.

[turbletts]

Mark Fain is just the best bass player for Bluegrass...Always plays the best notes, and his tone is incredible...I think this is Ricky's best band ever...!

[1kyredneck1]

tom gray is the best..

[BigBoiJC]

who does Tom Gray play for?

[1kyredneck1]

i won't even waste my time answering that, anyone that foolish about grass should switch to country..

[BigBoiJC]

it was JUST a simple question...no need to be offended. I didn't mean any offense by asking.

[1kyredneck1]

buddy.  tom gray played bass for the original country gentlemen and the seldom scene...

[BigBoiJC]

do you know if he played with the country gentlemen at the same time Ricky did?

[1kyredneck1]

no. actually he (gray) mostly hung around john duffey..when duffey left the gentleman to form the scene tom gray went with john. doyle lawson replaced duffey, when rick done fiddle work with the gentlemen lawson was on mandolin. ricky never sung a lot with the gentlemen. oddly enough!! ricky is from my hometown of Louisa Ky. and he never has received the recognition here he deserves. i am glad you are a big fan of his..he is a wonderful talent and person as well..

[BigBoiJC]

I think it's very offensive to take offense to an honest question. Sir I believe you owe me an apology for being rude. I was asking just a simple and honest question and you had to snap at me. Just because i don't know a whole lot about bluegrass 1) doesn't give you the right to be insulting to me and 2) doesn't mean that if I don't know about it then i shouldn't bother asking questions. you would probably feel the same way if someone else spoke to YOU in this manner.

[BigBoiJC]

oh shoot I am SO SORRY...I just saw that we had resolved this issue awhile back. I am SO SORRY for what i just said to you sir and I hope you will accept my apology.

[1kyredneck1]

no problem..glad we have got good bluegrass fans like you. i am by no means an expert. i have been a fan for over 40 years and used to host a radio syndicated program called yesterday and todays bluegrass..

[CWALKIN420]

love the music.

[winfieldtom]

nice guaitar playing

[garytelecastor]

Ricky "Bill" Skaggs. Works for me.

[MrWallas]

I have the biggest smile right now.

[smokedup213]

ricky and allison and union station r the best in bluegrass today!! Love u all!!

[kaydubya83]

an old favorite of mine. Sweet.

[giggleblaggle]

Wow what a story! So that's how Ricky Skaggs got so famous.

[zpflegh]

wow

[Pieter13]

definetely a new experience, thanks!!

[BigBoiJC]

never heard this song with a horn solo on it...pretty nice!

[trkcop]

A lot of people think that orchestral and bluegrass are a dichotomy but I think they are branches of the same tree!! This was great!! Loved it!!