The Three Pickers

by Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs

Overview

Folk and bluegrass legends meet live on-stage on Rounder's bright and entertaining Three Pickers. The titular "pickers" are bluegrass banjo innovator Earl Scruggs, guitarist and folk purist Doc Watson, and relative newcomer (with only 45 years of musical experience under his belt) Ricky Skaggs on mandolin and guitar; they work most often as a trio but also perform with a wide variety of combos that were lucky enough to be invited on-stage. Recorded in Winston Salem, NC, in December 2002, the album reflects an honest interplay between the three main performers and the audience that seems lost in most concert experiences, and despite their age, Watson can still sing and Scruggs can still pick nearly as well as they did in their prime. Guest vocals and fiddle from the ubiquitous Alison Krauss liven up "The Storms Are on the Ocean" and the "one-sided prenuptial agreement" murder ballad "On the Banks of the Ohio," while Skaggs and his Kentucky Thunder inject some youthful exuberance into the evening during their set. The songs performed by "Earl Scruggs With Family and Friends" get a little loose around the edges, but the sweet and lowdown duo of Watson and his grandson Richard more than make up for it with their warm intimacy. All in all, it seems as though this was a spectacular exhibition of authentic folk music live on-stage, and the album lets that genuine honesty and warmth shine through perfectly. ~ Zac Johnson

Product Details

Release Date:	07/15/2003
Label:	Rounder Select / Rounder / Universal
UPC:	0011661052628
Rank:	71108

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Earl Scruggs   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Doc Watson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Ricky Skaggs   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic)
Richard Watson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Kentucky Thunder   Primary Artist
Alison Krauss   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Fiddle,Vocals
John Jorgenson   Guest Artist,Mandolin,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Electric)
Brad Davis   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic)
Glen Duncan   Guest Artist,Fiddle,Vocal Harmony
Paul Brewster   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic)
Gary Scruggs   Vocals,Bass (Electric)
Darrin Vincent   Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic)
Rob Ickes   Dobro
Jim Ed Brown   Director
Jim Mills   Banjo
Martin Parker   Drums
Andy Leftwich   Fiddle
Mark Fain   Bass (Acoustic)
Cody Kilby   Guitar (Acoustic)

Technical Credits

Brent King   Engineer,Mixing
Earl Scruggs   Composer,Liner Notes
Doc Watson   Arranger,Adaptation,Liner Notes
Charles K. Harris   Composer
Carter Stanley   Composer
Mitch Greenhill   Associate Producer
Alan Silverman   Editing,Mastering
W. Walker   Composer
Gladys Stacey Flatt   Composer
John McEuen   Composer
Sarah Cullen   Producer
Scott Billington   Project Coordinator
Wayne Walker   Composer
Sara Carter   Composer
Louise Certain   Composer
Ricky Skaggs   Composer,Producer,Quotes Researched & Compiled
Mother Maybelle Carter   Composer
Jimmie Rodgers   Composer
Jim Ed Brown   Producer,Liner Notes
Jimmie Skinner   Composer
Mel Tillis   Composer
A.P. Carter   Composer
Sarah Carter   Composer
John Ely   Composer
Lee Groitzsch   Recording Coordinator
Luke Wooten   Engineer
Public Domain   Composer
Stephen Day   Associate Producer
Steven Jurgensmeyer   Art Direction
Joy Setton   Associate Producer
Louise Scruggs   Associate Producer
Les Leverett   Photography
D.J. McLachlan   Associate Producer
Maybelle Carter   Composer
Traditional   Composer
J. H. Carr   Composer