1. Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition.
14 Facts About Rickie Simpkins
1. 2.
Rickie Simpkins is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene.
3.
Rickie Simpkins learned fiddle at age six and played in a show with Flatt and Scruggs at age nine.
4.
When he graduated from high school, Rickie Simpkins joined the McPeak Brothers as a full-time member, and continued with them into the early 1980s.
5.
In 1981, Rickie Simpkins joined the band Heights of Grass, which evolved into the Virginia Squires.
6.
Rickie Simpkins joined the Tony Rice Unit in 1983, who combined traditional bluegrass and jazz.
7.
In 2000, Rickie Simpkins joined the Lonesome River Band and in 2001, joined gospel group the Isaacs, splitting his time between the two ensembles.
8.
In 2002, Rickie Simpkins toured with the Gaithers and in 2007, Rickie Simpkins began touring with Emmylou Harris and her Red Dirt Boys.
9.
Rickie Simpkins joined the Seldom Scene in January 2016 when Ben Eldridge retired from the band.
10.
Rickie Simpkins left the Seldom Scene in 2017, and was replaced by Ron Stewart.
11.
Rickie Simpkins released his solo album Dancing on the Fingerboard in 1997 on the Pinecastle Records label.
12.
Rickie Simpkins played fiddle and mandolin, and sang lead vocals, and wrote several of the songs.
13.
Rickie Simpkins released his Don't Fret It album in 2002 on Doobie Shea.
14.
In 2008, Rickie Simpkins was inducted into the Virginia Folk Music Hall of Fame.