Bobby Hicks

Born: 7/21/1933

As a Blue Grass Boy: Bobby Hicks was just 21 years old when he joined the Blue Grass Boys. Originally hired as a bassist, he switched to fiddle when Gordon Terry left. When Vassar Clements rejoined the band, Hicks switched to banjo for a brief time. He also filled in on mandolin when Bill broke his collarbone in 1955. Hicks was drafted in 1956 and returned to the Blue Grass Boys upon his discharge in 1958. He recorded on six sessions as a Blue Grass Boy in the 1950s, all on fiddle, frequently as part of twin or triple fiddle arrangements. In the late 1980s Hicks filled in occasionally on the road and recorded with Monroe several times, including the Grammy-winning Southern Flavor album.

Recording Sessions: 12/31/1954, 1/28/1955, 9/16/1955, 4/8/1958, 12/1/1958, 1/30/1959, 6/17/1985, 3/17/1986, 3/18/1986, 8/19/1986, 1/4/1988, 1/5/1988, 1/8/1988, 1/12/1988, 1/13/1988, 1/14/1988

Before and After: Hicks left Bill Monroe in 1959 to join Porter Wagoner's band. In 1963 he moved to Las Vegas to play with Judy Lynn. He joined the Ricky Skaggs Band, now known as Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, in 1981 and continued to play with them until 2003. Although primarily featured on fiddle, he was at times played banjo and guitar as well. In 2003 he joined Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, and in 2004 began playing with Hazel Creek. His most recent project is Mark Kuykendall, Bobby Hicks & Asheville Bluegrass who have recorded two albums.

Honors: Fiddlers Hall of Fame (2002); IBMA Hall of Fame (2017)