Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Molly Tuttle, And Béla Fleck Celebrate Dolly Parton’s Contributions To Folk Music
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The late Dolly Parton was honored on Wednesday, Oct. 21, with a special televised tribute, dubbed the CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.
While she was the “Queen of Country,” she was also a prominent figure in Americana folk music, which is sometimes referred to as roots music.
Honoring this facet of her artistry was Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill, as well as folk musicians Molly Tuttle and Béla Fleck.
Together, the four artists performed the song “A Few Old Memories,” which Dolly recorded in 1999.
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Ricky Skaggs And Vince Gill Honor Dolly Parton With Molly Tuttle And Béla Fleck
“Dolly’s one of the people that makes it cool to be a bluegrass musician or an old-time musician,” Béla Fleck, a renowned banjo player, said in a backstage interview ahead of the CMA tribute to Dolly Parton. “She reaches outside of that world and shows how beautiful and special it is to folks who don’t know anything about it.”
Admitting that he was “very moved” by the passing of Dolly, Béla added, “I met her a couple of times, we’re not the best of buds, or something, I’m just a big fan.”
One of his more frequent collaborators is Molly Tuttle, a bluegrass artist with a fresh perspective and stellar sense of style.
Speaking ahead of the CMA tribute to Dolly, Molly said:
“I think Dolly has inspired my path in music by just setting an amazing example of what it means to be an incredible artist, writing some of the most iconic songs of all time. Her singing just blows me away, and her guitar playing — just her whole stage presence — and being an artist, but, you know, never sacrificing who she was, where she came from, and always leading the way with kindness.”
Molly then said that Dolly “set a wonderful example for everyone, but especially as a woman in this industry,” adding, “[She’s] someone who I look up to a lot.”
Joining Béla and Molly onstage at the CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton were Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill.
Together, these four artists did a dynamic rendition of “A Few Old Memories.”
Originally written and recorded by bluegrass artist Hazel Dickens, Dolly gave her take on “A Few Old Memories” for her 1999 album The Grass Is Blue.
Notably, The Grass Is Blue won Dolly the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
Of this opportunity to celebrate Dolly Parton as a folk artist, Ricky Skaggs said, “Getting to do a special to honor her for her roots music influence is a big thing because I share that as well.”
Speaking broadly about Dolly Parton, Ricky then spoke from a theological perspective on God’s will regarding His creation, including Dolly Parton.
Powerfully, Ricky stated:
“Well, I hope the viewers will take away the fact that, you know, God makes originals, he doesn’t make copies, and I have always encouraged young people to be an original. If God makes snowflakes different, how much more does it please Him to make people then? The gift Dolly had, He’s not going to give that same gift to other people. She had it, and she did well with it, but find your gift.”
This article will be updated with video of their performance of “A Few Old Memories” when it becomes available.
Hear Dolly Parton’s 1999 take on “A Few Old Memories,” here:
Listen to Hazel Dickens’ 1987 original recording of “A Few Old Memories,” here:
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