Randy Kohrs is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his

resonator guitar A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar that produces sound by conducting string vibrations through the bridge to one or more spun metal cones (resonators), instead of to the guitar's sounding board (top). Resonator gui ...

prowess, but he plays 13 instruments. He is also a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer.

Biography

Early years

Kohrs was raised on a farm near the rural town of New Virginia, Iowa. He learned acoustic guitar from his uncle at age 8, quickly followed by resonator guitar. In his teens, Kohrs played with the Missouri bluegrass band Possum Trot. He played with them for 10 years, while also fronting a local country band. He continued to learn other instruments, including electric guitar, drums, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, and bass.

Early career

In 1995, Kohrs moved to Nashville, where

Hank Williams III Shelton Hank Williams (born December 12, 1972), known as Hank Williams III, is an American musician, singer and multi-instrumentalist, known for his unique fusion of traditional country music, rockabilly, heavy metal and punk rock. He was the ...

hired him to play in his band, then he toured in support of

Tom T. Hall Thomas Hall (May 25, 1936 – August 20, 2021), known professionally as Tom T. Hall and informally nicknamed "the Storyteller," was an American country music singer-songwriter and short-story author. He wrote 12 No. 1 hit songs, with 26 more ...

. In 1998, he joined David Parmley,

Scott Vestal Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo. Biography Early years The older of two children, Scott Vestal was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma in a musical fam ...

and Continental Divide, singing tenor playing dobro. He contributed his skills to the album ''Feel Good Day''. Then Kohrs toured with

Holly Dunn Holly Suzette Dunn (August 22, 1957 – November 14, 2016) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Dunn recorded for MTM Records between 1985 and 1988, Warner Bros. Records between 1988 and 1993, and River North Records between 1995 ...

for two years, and joined the John Cowan Band in 2000, playing on the album ''Always Take Me Back''. Kohrs backed

Patty Loveless Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey, January 4, 1957) is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first ...

on a taping of PBS'

Austin City Limits ''Austin City Limits'' is an American live music television program recorded and produced by Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", and is the only television show t ...

television show. In 2003, Kohrs toured with

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

in her band the Blueniques, playing on three of her albums and performing as her opening act.

Solo career

In 2001, Kohrs released his first solo album ''A Crack in My Armour'' on Junction Records, and formed his own band The Lites. Guests on the album included

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christians ...

, and Stuart Duncan. Kohrs followed up in 2003 with the album ''Now It’s Empty'' on his own Left Of Center label. The album featured

John Hughey John Hughey (December 27, 1933 – November 18, 2007) was an American musician. He was known for his work as a session pedal steel guitar player for various country music acts, most notably Vince Gill and Conway Twitty. A member of the Steel Guit ...

on pedal steel and James Mitchell on electric guitar. Kohrs' next album was ''I’m Torn'' in 2004, which featured a duet with Dolly Parton on "It Looked Good On Paper." In 2007, Kohrs released the ''Old Photograph'' album, which featured

and Scott Haas on banjo,

Jim Hurst Jim Hurst is an American bluegrass and country guitarist. He is known primarily as an instrumentalist but has also been credited for vocals with numerous other artists as well as his solo career. Hurst has performed with musicians that include ...

, Clay Hess and Andrew Crawford on guitar, Tim Crouch and Ashley Brown on fiddle, Aaron Ramsey and Jesse Cobb on mandolin, and Jim Weaver and Darren Vincent on bass. In 2009, Kohrs released the album ''Quicksand'' on

Rural Rhythm Records Rural Rhythm Records is a record label based in Nashville, Tennessee specializing in recordings by bluegrass music and gospel music artists. History "Uncle" Jim O'Neal founded the Rural Rhythm label in 1955 in Arcadia, California. He sold via mai ...

with Aaron Ramsey and

Adam Steffey Adam Steffey (born November 24, 1965) is an American mandolin player, best known for playing in the bluegrass and old-time styles. He spent time as a member of bands such as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Mountain Heart, Lonesome River Band, ...

on mandolin. Kohrs composed five of the songs on the album.

Other projects

Kohrs is a recording engineer and producer, and operates Slack Key studios in Nashville, where he has recorded

Larry Cordle Larry Cordle (born November 16, 1948) is an American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter . Cordle is most famous for his song "Murder on Music Row", which was recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson and received the Country Music Asso ...

& Lonesome Standard Time,

Jim Lauderdale James Russell Lauderdale (born April 11, 1957) is an American country, bluegrass, and Americana singer-songwriter. Since 1986, he has released 31 studio albums, including collaborations with artists such as Dr. Ralph Stanley, Buddy Miller, and ...

, and others. In 2009, Jimmy Ross introduced the concept of a compilation album dedicated to luthier Tim Scheerhorn. Besides producing, engineering and mixing the album ''Hornography'', he released it on his Left of Center label. The album featured Kohrs, Ross, Scheerhorn,

Rob Ickes Rob Ickes hymes with "bikes"is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player, born 1967 in San Francisco, California, United States. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in ...

, and resonator guitar artists.

Awards

In 2007, Kohrs won a

Grammy award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

for his contributions to

's album ''

The Bluegrass Diaries ''The Bluegrass Diaries'' is an album by Jim Lauderdale, released through Yep Roc Records on September 18, 2007. In 2008, the album won Lauderdale the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Track listing # "This Is the Last Time (I'm Ever Gonn ...

''. Kohrs being nominated numerous times for Dobro Player of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Personal life

Kohrs proposed to his wife Shaunna Larkin onstage during a Dolly Parton concert. They got married in a ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in September 2003. Randy Kohrs married fiddler and vocalist Ashley Brown in April 2011 and divorced in 2017.Randy Kohrs and the Blind Boys of Alabama
bluegrasstoday.com, May 17, 2011

Discography

Solo albums

* 2001 ''A Crack in My Armour'' (Junction Records) * 2003 ''Now It’s Empty'' (Left of Center) as Randy Kohrs and the Reel Deal * 2004: ''I'm Torn'' ( Lonesome Day) * 2007: ''Old Photograph'' ( Rural Rhythm) * 2009: ''Quicksand'' (Rural Rhythm)

As producer

* 2006:

- ''Bluegrass'' (

Yep Roc Yep Roc Records is an American independent record label based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and owned by Redeye Distribution. Since 1997, the label has released albums from North Carolina and international artists, including Nick Lowe, Paul W ...

) * 2007: Jim Lauderdale - ''

'' (Yep Roc) * 2011: Jim Lauderdale - ''Reason And Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs By Robert Hunter and Jim Lauderdale'' ( Sugar Hill) * 2012: Jim Lauderdale - ''Carolina Moonrise'' (Sky Crunch) * 2014: Jim and Lynna Woolsey - ''The Road That Brings You Home'' (Broken Record)

As engineer

* 2008: various artists - ''Hornography'' (Left of Center) * 2012:

Lou Reid Lou Reid Pyrtle (born September 13, 1954 in Union Grove, North Carolina) is an American bluegrass singer, band leader, and multi-instrumentalist. Biography Early life Reid grew up on a tobacco farm in Moore Springs, North Carolina. His father ...

and Carolina - ''Callin' Me Back Home'' (KMA)

Also appears on

* 1991:

Rhonda Vincent Rhonda Lea Vincent (born July 13, 1962) is an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Vincent's music career began when she was a child in her family's band The Sally Mountain Show, and it has spanned more than four de ...

- ''Timeless and True Love'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

) * 1997: Hank Thompson - ''Real Thing'' (Curb) * 1998:

Redd Volkaert Redd Volkaert (born 1958) originally from Canada, is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players in the modern era and is "among the country’s top Telecaster guitar slingers." particularly in the genres of Western Swing and Honky Tonk. ...

- ''Telewacker'' ( Hightone) * 1998: various artists - ''Bluegrass '98'' ( Pinecastle) * 2000: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2000'' (Pinecastle) * 2000:

- ''Millennia'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: Mike Burns - ''Walk the Water's Edge'' (North Co) * 2001:

Dudley Connell Dudley Connell (born February 18, 1956) is an American singer in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his work with the Johnson Mountain Boys, Longview, and The Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Connell grew up in Rockville, Maryland. ...

- ''Another Saturday Night'' (Sugar Hill) * 2001: Dave Evans - ''Hang Out a Light For Me'' (

) * 2001: David Parmley - ''What We Leave Behind'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2001'' (Pinecastle) * 2002:

The Chieftains The Chieftains are a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous wi ...

- '' Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions'' (

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

) * 2002 John Cowan - ''Always Take Me Back'' (Sugar Hill) * 2002: Jim Lauderdale - ''The Hummingbirds'' (

Dualtone Dualtone Records is an American record label specializing in folk, Americana, and indie rock. It was founded in 2001 by Scott Robinson and Dan Herrington. The company is run by Robinson and the label's president, Paul Roper. Albums are distribute ...

) * 2002:

- ''Don't Fret It'' ( Doobie Shea) * 2002:

- ''

Lovesick, Broke and Driftin' ''Lovesick, Broke and Driftin is the second studio album by American country music artist Hank Williams III, released on January 29, 2002. Hank III has stated that he considers this album as his real solo debut and despises his previous album '' ...

'' (

Curb A curb (North American English), or kerb (Commonwealth English except Canada; see spelling differences), is the edge where a raised sidewalk or road median/central reservation meets a street or other roadway. History Although curbs have ...

) * 2003:

Dierks Bentley Frederick Dierks Bentley (; born November 20, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's ''Modern Day Drifter'', ar ...

- ''

'' (DM) * 2003: The Chieftains - '' Further Down the Old Plank Road'' (RCA Victor) * 2003:

- '' For God and Country'' (

Vanguard The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

) * 2003:

Don Rigsby Donald Glen Rigsby is an American mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, vocalist, and producer in the bluegrass tradition. He is known for his solo career, and for his work with the Lonesome River Band and Longview. Biography Early years Growing up ...

- ''Midnight Call'' (Sugar Hill) * 2004:

Melonie Cannon Melonie Cannon is an American singer, blending country and bluegrass on her solo albums and session work. Willie Nelson said, "Melonie Cannon is one of the best singers I know." Biography Early years Cannon was born in Jackson, Tennessee, but her ...

- ''Melonie Cannon'' (Skaggs Family) * 2004:

Janie Fricke Jane Marie Fricke ( ; born December 19, 1947), known professionally as Janie Fricke, is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and clothing designer. She has placed seventeen singles in the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Ho ...

- ''The Bluegrass Sessions'' (DM) * 2004: Alecia Nugent - ''Alecia Nugent'' (Rounder) * 2004: Dolly Parton - '' Live and Well'' (Sugar Hill) * 2005: Dierks Bentley - ''

Modern Day Drifter ''Modern Day Drifter'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released on May 10, 2005 via Capitol Records Nashville. The album produced three singles on the U.S. ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot ...

'' (

Capitol Nashville Capitol Records Nashville is a major United States-based record label located in Nashville, Tennessee operating as part of the Universal Music Group Nashville. From 1991 to 1995, Capitol Nashville was known as Liberty Records, before returning ...

) * 2005:

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country music and gospel music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. Active from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, he has recor ...

- '' Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise'' (

Word A word is a basic element of language that carries an semantics, objective or pragmatics, practical semantics, meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. Despite the fact that language speakers often have an intuitive grasp of w ...

/ Warner Bros. / Curb) * 2005: Darrell Webb - ''Behind the Scenes'' (Lonesome Day) * 2006:

Jan Smith Mama Jan Smith is an American singer, songwriter, vocal coach and Grammy-nominated music producer from Atlanta, Georgia, who founded Jan Smith Studios. Studio career Mama Jan Smith began her musical career as a performer, singer and songwriter, ...

- ''29 Dances'' (Landslide) * 2006: Hank Williams III - '' Straight to Hell'' ( Bruc) * 2006:

The Wreckers The Wreckers were an American country music duo formed in 2005 by Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, both of whom had solo recordings before the duo's foundation. In 2006, the duo released its debut album '' Stand Still, Look Pretty'', which produ ...

- '' Stand Still, Look Pretty'' (

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

) * 2007:

Little Big Town Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman (née Roads), Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbro ...

- '' A Place to Land'' (

Equity Equity may refer to: Finance, accounting and ownership * Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them ** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business ** Home equity, the dif ...

) * 2007:

Steep Canyon Rangers Steep Canyon Rangers is an American bluegrass band based in Asheville and Brevard, North Carolina. Though formed in 2000, the band has become widely known since 2009 for collaborating with actor/banjoist Steve Martin. In 2013, the Steep Canyon ...

- ''Lovin' Pretty Women'' (Rebel) * 2008:

- ''And the Wheels Turn'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2008:

Kenny Loggins Kenneth Clark Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded as Loggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977. His ...

- ''

How About Now ''How About Now'' is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 2007, its key tracks include "A Love Song" and the title track, "How About Now." As of 2019 it is his most recent album of original material ...

'' (BMG) * 2008:

Jeremy McComb Jerome "Jeremy" McComb (born in Idaho) is an American country music artist and former tour manager for comedian Larry the Cable Guy. In 2008, he signed to Parallel/New Revolution Records and released his debut album ''My Side of Town'' that year ...

- ''My Side of Town'' (

Thirty Tigers Thirty Tigers is an American entertainment company which offers music marketing, distribution, and management services to independent artists. It is based in Nashville. History The company was founded in 2002 by David Macias and Deb Markland ...

) * 2008: Becky Schlegel - ''For All the World to See'' (Audio & Video Labs) * 2008: Rickey Wasson - ''From the Heart and Soul'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2008: Hank Williams III - ''

Damn Right, Rebel Proud ''Damn Right, Rebel Proud'' is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist Hank Williams III. It was released on October 21, 2008. The album was released in two separate versions, one being a censored release for major retaile ...

'' (

Sidewalk A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick ...

) * 2009: Dierks Bentley - '' Feel That Fire'' (Capitol Nashville) * 2009:

- ''One More for the Road'' (Sugar Hill) * 2010:

Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent is an American bluegrass music group composed of Jamie Dailey (guitar, bass, vocals), Darrin Vincent (mandolin, guitar, bass, vocals), Aaron McCune (guitar, bass vocals), Wesley Smith (vocals), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle), Shaun R ...

- ''Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers'' (Cracker Barrel) * 2011:

Blind Boys Of Alabama Blind may refer to: * The state of blindness, being unable to see * A window blind, a covering for a window Blind may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Blind'' (2007 film), a Dutch drama by Tamar van den Dop * ''Blind ...

- ''Take the High Road'' ( Saguaro Road) * 2011:

Sierra Hull Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist, and guitarist. Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13 and released her debut vocal album, ''Secrets'', in 2008 at the age of 16. ...

- ''Daybreak'' (

Rounder Rounder(s) or The Rounder(s) may refer to: Film and television * ''The Rounders'' (1914 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounder'' (1930 film), a comedy short * ''The Rounders'' (1965 film), a western comedy * ''Rounders'' (film), a 1998 poker f ...

) * 2011:

- ''A Gift From Tom T. Hall: Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T.'' (Drumfire / Wrasse) * 2012: Dierks Bentley - ''

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...

'' (Capitol Nashville) * 2012

Kathy Mattea Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that re ...

- ''Calling Me Home'' (Sugar Hill) * 2012: The Roys - ''New Day Dawning'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2012: Steep Canyon Rangers - '' Nobody Knows You (Rounder) * 2013:

John Fogerty John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American mu ...

- '' Wrote a Song for Everyone'' (

) * 2013: The Roys - ''Gypsy Runaway Train'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2014:

and Lonesome Standard Time - ''All-Star Duets'' (MightyCord) * 2014:

- '' Blue Smoke'' (Masterworks) * 2016: Irene Kelley - ''These Hills'' (Mountain Fever) * 2016:

Josh Kelley Joshua Bishop Kelley Sr. (born January 30, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter. Kelley has recorded for Hollywood Records, Threshold Records and DNK Records as a pop rock artist. His songs "Amazing" and "Only You" reached the top ten on the ...

- ''New Lane Road'' (Sugar Hill)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kohrs, Randy Living people American country guitarists American country singer-songwriters American bluegrass guitarists American male guitarists American male singer-songwriters Slide guitarists Grammy Award winners Resonator guitarists Year of birth missing (living people) Singer-songwriters from Iowa