Randy Scruggs, Award-Winning Son of Earl Scruggs, Dead at 64
Randy Scruggs earned four Grammys, two ACM Awards and five CMAs during a distinguished career as a country music songwriter, musician and producer. The second son to the legendary Earl Scruggs also made many friends who are grieving his sudden death on Tuesday (April 17) at age 64.
Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels shared condolences to the Scruggs family upon hearing the news. Several sources, including the Tennessean and Music Row, report that he died after a brief illness, but offered no more details.
Waylon Jennings, Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn and Alison Krauss are just a handful of artists that Scruggs produced. He also played guitar on albums for Moe Bandy, Vern Gosdin, Miranda Lambert, the Dixie Chicks and many more.
In 1995, Scruggs won his second CMA Award, this time in the Single of the Year category for his production work on Krauss’ “When You Say Nothing at All.” He’d go on to win three Musician of the Year CMAs, plus two ACMs in musical categories. His four Grammy wins came for instrumental performances, most recently for "Earl’s Breakdown" on a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band record.
Hits by Sawyer Brown and Deana Carter are included in Scruggs’ lengthy songwriting catalog, which also features cuts from Martina McBride, Earl Thomas Conely and more. Music Row points out that he worked with new artists like Mo Pitney and Pistol Annies in recent years.
The country and bluegrass star started his own career at age 13, and after dabbling in rock 'n' roll, he teamed with older brother Gary and his father to form the Earl Scruggs Revue. He wouldn’t issue a solo album until 1998. Crown of Jewels featured guest artists like Tritt, Trisha Yearwood and John Prine.
According to the Tennessean, Randy Scruggs leaves behind a wife, one daughter and his brother, Gary. Younger brother Steve died in 1992. There will be a memorial at a later date.
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