Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt, and Ricky Skaggs Sing “Uncle Pen”

Many legendary traditional country music artists get on stage to play and sing together

For fans of traditional country music, there are moments in history that get stuck in the back of their minds forever and one such moment happened to be when a group of legendary artists came together on stage, creating an unforgettable musical experience.

Names like Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Dan Tyminski, Ralph Stanley, and The Clinch Mountain Boys, and many more formed together with fiddles, banjos, guitars, and drums.

The songs these legendary artists were playing and singing, including “Uncle Pen.”

Video of the moment captured a stage filled with many talents, each person skilled enough to take the audience on a musical journey. Three of the songs they sang included classics like “Way Down In The Blue Ridge Mountains,” “Uncle Pen,” and “Lonesome Reuben.”

“Uncle Pen” was written by the legendary Bill Monroe who originally composed the song himself. This tune has been covered by various artists over the years. From Porter Wagoner’s rendition in 1956 to Goose Creek Symphony’s unique take on the song in 1971. Even Michael Nesmith of The Monkees sang a solo of it in 1973, including his version on the album “Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash.”

Notably, Ricky Skaggs found tremendous success with his 1984 version of it, earning him his ninth #1 single on the country chart. The song spent a total of 13 weeks on the country chart, with one week at the coveted #1 spot. Beyond its chart-topping success, “Uncle Pen” made a memorable appearance in the 1985 video for “Country Boy,” where Bill Monroe, in character as “Uncle Pen,” expressed his disappointment towards Ricky Skaggs for making the song urban.

Back to the legendary artists on stage playing and singing.

Among the incredible cast, Travis Tritt was the lead voice for “Way Down In The Blue Ridge Mountains.” His soulful delivery, combined with those chiming in to help him sing created an atmosphere that transported the audience to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But this musical gathering wasn’t just about singing; it was mainly about showing off their ability to play the different instruments.

The stage came alive as artists displayed their mastery over fiddles, banjos, guitars, and drums. Each note and chord lit the audience up with excitement and the talent of the artist was undeniable. The magic of this performance was not only because of the individual talents of each person but also because of the synergy they created when they joined forces. Their camaraderie and shared love for traditional country music were very visible.

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The audience loved the music so much that they joined in

The audience was not mere spectators; they became active participants, clapping their hands and singing along with the sound of the songs they loved. It resonated with the soul and showed the true power of how traditional country could bring people together.

As we look back at this iconic moment, it certainly brings back nostalgic feelings. Now, if you haven’t yet, it’s time for you to indulge in the greatness that they did. Take a look at the video below and watch legends like Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Patty Loveless, and their friends break it down like never before.