Randy Kohrs

{{short description|American musician & recording engineer}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Randy Kohrs | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Randy Alan Kohrs | alias = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per WP:DOB --> | birth_place = New Virginia, Iowa | origin = | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) --> | death_place = | genre = Bluegrass music, country music | occupation = Musician, recording engineer | instrument = Acoustic and electric resonator guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass<ref name=RK-bmi-2001>{{cite web |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20010614randy_kohrs_randy_kohrs|title=Randy Kohrs|work=BMI|accessdate=September 8, 2017 |author=staff writer|date=June 13, 2001}}</ref> | years_active = 1995–present | label = Lonesome Day, Rural Rhythm, Left of Center | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|slackkeystudio.com}} | notable_instruments = | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''Randy Alan Kohrs'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/901216071 |title=DON'T LET YOUR WOUNDED HEART COME BETWEEN US |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 26, 2023}}</ref> is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his resonator guitar prowess, but he plays 13 musical instruments. He is a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer.<ref name=RK-gplayer-2011>{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/1014/randy-kohrs-talks-resonator-guitars-at-the-country-music-hall-of-fame/14241|title=Randy Kohrs Talks Resonator Guitars at the Country Music Hall of Fame|work=Guitar Player|accessdate=September 9, 2017|date=October 26, 2011}}</ref>

==Biography== ===Early years=== Kohrs was born in Osceola, Iowa south of Des Moines and grew up on a farm near the rural town of New Virginia southwest of Indianola. He learned to play 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 to play other instruments including electric guitar, drums, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, and bass.<ref name=RK-roots-2014>{{cite web |url=http://www.kkfi.org/program-episodes/taylor-brashears-jon-weisberger-more/|title=Taylor Brashears, Jon Weisberger & more|work=Music City Roots|accessdate=September 8, 2017|date=April 5, 2014}}</ref>

===Early career=== In fall 1994, Kohrs moved to Nashville. In 1997 and 1998, Hank Williams III hired him to play in his band, then he toured in support of Tom T. Hall.<ref name=RK-roots-2014 /><ref name=RK-bgtoday-2015>{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=David|title=Remembering Miss Dixie|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/?p=61723|accessdate=September 9, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name=RK-swamp-2017>{{cite web |url=http://swampland.com/reviews/view/title:tom_t_hall_sings_miss_dixie_tom_t|title=Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T.|work=Swampland|accessdate=September 9, 2017|author=James Calemine}}</ref>

In 1998, he joined David Parmley, Scott Vestal and Continental Divide, singing tenor playing dobro. Kohrs played on the album ''Feel Good Day''.<ref name=RK-nwbn-1998>{{cite web |url=http://www.g4uxd.talktalk.net/nwbn/nl-98-07/cdrevs.htm|title=Continental Divide - Feel Good Day - Pinecastle 1073|work=North West Bluegrass News|accessdate=September 9, 2017|author=John Lawless|date=July 1, 1998}}</ref> Then he toured with Holly Dunn for two years and joined the John Cowan Band in 2000, playing on the album ''Always Take Me Back''.<ref name="RK-amplifier-2017">{{cite web |url=http://bgamplifier.com/music/john-cowan/article_4ceda39c-df84-52e8-a6c6-e89faa21892d.html|title=John Cowan |work=The Ampflier|accessdate=September 9, 2017}}</ref> Kohrs backed Patty Loveless on a taping of Austin City Limits television show on PBS. He has opened shows for Chris Stapleton. In 2003, Kohrs toured with Dolly Parton in her band the Blueniques, playing on three of her albums and performing as her opening act.<ref name="RK-dolly-2011">{{cite book |last=Cardwell|first=Nancy|date=July 22, 2011|title=The Words and Music of Dolly Parton: Getting to Know Country's "Iron Butterfly"|publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=9780313378041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVqsWsJyAWIC&q=randy+kohrs+dolly+parton|access-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="RK-kalamazoo-2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/01/randy_kohrs_juggles_musical_ge.html|title=Randy Kohrs will juggle musical genres at Cooper's Glen Music Festival|work=Kalamazoo Gazette|accessdate=September 9, 2017|author=Mark Wedel |date=January 7, 2009}}</ref>

===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 Scott Vestal, Rickie Simpkins, and Stuart Duncan. Kohrs followed it in 2003 with the album ''Now It’s Empty'' on his own Left Of Center label. The album featured John Hughey on pedal steel and James Mitchell on electric guitar.<ref name="RK-roots-2014" /> Kohrs' next album was ''I’m Torn'' in 2004, which featured a duet with Dolly Parton on "It Looked Good On Paper."<ref name="RK-yuptab-2009">{{cite web |url=https://yuptab.com/im-torn-by-randy-kohrs/|title=Randy Kohrs - I'm Torn|work=Yup Tab|accessdate=September 9, 2017|date=May 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name="RK-truewest-2005">{{cite web |url=https://truewestmagazine.com/im-torn/|title=I'm Torn: Randy Kohrs|work=True West|accessdate=September 9, 2017|author=Bill Groll|date=April 1, 2005}}</ref>

In 2007, Kohrs released the ''Old Photograph'' album which featured Scott Vestal and Scott Haas on banjo; Jim Hurst, 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 with Aaron Ramsey and Adam Steffey on mandolin. Kohrs composed five of the songs on the album.<ref name="RK-std-2010">{{cite web |url=http://countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4342|title=Randy Kohrs: Quicksand|work=Country Standard Time|accessdate=September 8, 2017|author=John Walker}}</ref>

===Other projects=== Kohrs is a recording engineer and producer; he runs Slack Key studios in Nashville, where he has recorded Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Hank Williams III, Jim Lauderdale, and others.<ref name=RK-mix-2007>{{cite news|last1=Schultz|first1=Barbara|title=Randy Kohrs' Slack-Key Studio: Tearing it Up on Both Sides of the Glass|url=http://www.mixonline.com/news/profiles/randy-kohrs-slack-key-studio/365852|accessdate=September 9, 2017|work=Mix Online|date=July 1, 2007}}</ref>

In 2009, Jimmy Ross introduced the concept of a compilation album dedicated to luthier Tim Scheerhorn.<ref name=RK-unlimited-2009>{{cite web |url=http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/reviews/reviews-october-2009/|title=Various Artists: Hornography|work=Bluegrass Unlimited|accessdate=September 10, 2017|date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> Besides producing, engineering, and mixing the album ''Hornography'', Ross released it on his Left of Center label. The album featured Kohrs, Ross, Scheerhorn, Rob Ickes, and resonator guitar artists.<ref name=RK-bgtoday-2008>{{cite news|last1=Brance|title=Hornography|url=https://bluegrasstoday.com/?p=4917|accessdate=September 1, 2017|work=Bluegrass Today|date=November 5, 2008}}</ref>

===Awards=== In 2007, Kohrs won a Grammy award for his contributions to Jim Lauderdale's album ''The Bluegrass Diaries''.<ref name=RK-academy-2007>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/randy-kohrs/12476|title=GRAMMY Award Results for Randy Kohrs|work=The Recording Academy|access-date=September 8, 2017}}</ref> Kohrs has been 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.<ref name=RK-cmt-2002>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1456196/dolly-parton-live-here-she-comes-again/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721152102/http://www.cmt.com/news/1456196/dolly-parton-live-here-she-comes-again/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2020|title=Dolly Parton, Live: Here She Comes Again|work=CMT|accessdate=September 9, 2017|author=Craig Shelburne|date=July 22, 2002}}</ref><ref name=RK-augusta-2003>{{cite web |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2003/08/22/rho_385689.shtml#.WbTRQnNlDgA|title=Larkin girls leave the family circle|work=The Augusta Chronicle|accessdate=September 1, 2017|date=August 22, 2003}}</ref> Kohrs and Larkin were married in a ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in September 2003.<ref>[http://www.dollymania.net/archive092003.html Congratulations, Shaunna and Randy!], dollymania.net</ref> Kohrs married fiddler and vocalist Ashley Brown in April 2011 and they divorced in 2017.<ref>[https://bluegrasstoday.com/randy-kohrs-and-the-blind-boys-of-alabama/ Randy Kohrs and the Blind Boys of Alabama], bluegrasstoday.com, May 17, 2011</ref>

== Discography == ===Solo albums=== * 2001 ''A Crack in My Armour'' (Junction Records)<ref name=RK-std-2001>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=2272|title=Randy Kohrs: A Crack In My Armour|work=Country Standard Time|accessdate=September 8, 2017|author=John Lupton}}</ref> * 2003 ''Now It’s Empty'' (Left of Center) as Randy Kohrs and the Reel Deal * 2004: ''I'm Torn'' (Lonesome Day)<ref name="RK-nodep -2005">{{cite news|last1=Weisberger|first1=Jon|title=Randy Kohrs - Im Torn|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/randy-kohrs-im-torn|accessdate=September 8, 2017|work=No Depression|date=February 28, 2005}}</ref> * 2007: ''Old Photograph'' (Rural Rhythm)<ref name=RK-vintage-2007>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintageguitar.com/3200/randy-kohrs-old-photograph/|title=Randy Kohrs - Old Photograph|work=Vintage Guitar|accessdate=September 8, 2017|author=Steven Stone|date=July 1, 2007}}</ref> * 2009: ''Quicksand'' (Rural Rhythm)<ref name=TK-unlimited-2010>{{cite web |url=http://bluegrassmusic.com/content/reviews/reviews-may-2010/review-randy-kohrs-quicksand/|title=Review: Randy Kohrs - Quicksand|work=Bluegrass Unlimited|accessdate=September 8, 2017|date=May 1, 2010}}</ref>

===As producer=== * 2006: Jim Lauderdale - ''Bluegrass'' (Yep Roc) * 2007: Jim Lauderdale - ''The Bluegrass Diaries'' (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=== 2004 "I'm Torn" 2007 "Old Photograph" 2008: various artists - ''Hornography'' (Left of Center) 2010 "Quicksand" 2012: Lou Reid and Carolina - "Callin' Me Back Home" (KMA)

More than 400 records beyond these listed above were all engineered for other artists by Kohrs. {{citation needed|date=December 2024}} The bulk of his tracks on other records were recorded at his own Slack key Studio in Nashville, Tennessee as well.

===Also appears on=== * 1991: Rhonda Vincent - ''Timeless and True Love'' (Rebel) * 1997: Hank Thompson - ''Real Thing'' (Curb) * 1998: Redd Volkaert - ''Telewacker'' (Hightone) * 1998: various artists - ''Bluegrass '98'' (Pinecastle) * 2000: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2000'' (Pinecastle) * 2000: Scott Vestal - ''Millennia'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: Mike Burns - ''Walk the Water's Edge'' (North Co) * 2001: Dudley Connell - ''Another Saturday Night'' (Sugar Hill) * 2001: Dave Evans - ''Hang Out a Light For Me'' (Rebel) * 2001: David Parmley - ''What We Leave Behind'' (Pinecastle) * 2001: various artists - ''Bluegrass 2001'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: The Chieftains - ''Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions'' (RCA Victor) * 2002 John Cowan - ''Always Take Me Back'' (Sugar Hill) * 2002: Jim Lauderdale - ''The Hummingbirds'' (Dualtone) * 2002: Rickie Simpkins - ''Don't Fret It'' (Doobie Shea) * 2002: Hank Williams III - ''Lovesick, Broke and Driftin''' (Curb) * 2003: Dierks Bentley - ''Dierks Bentley'' (DM) * 2003: The Chieftains - ''Further Down the Old Plank Road'' (RCA Victor) * 2003: Dolly Parton - ''For God and Country'' (Vanguard) * 2003: Don Rigsby - ''Midnight Call'' (Sugar Hill) * 2004: Melonie Cannon - ''Melonie Cannon'' (Skaggs Family) * 2004: Janie Fricke - ''The Bluegrass Sessions'' (DM) * 2004: Alecia Nugent - ''Alecia Nugent'' (Rounder) * 2004: Dolly Parton - ''Live and Well'' (Sugar Hill) * 2005: Dierks Bentley - ''Modern Day Drifter'' (Capitol Nashville) * 2005: Randy Travis - ''Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise'' (Word / Warner Bros. / Curb) * 2005: Darrell Webb - ''Behind the Scenes'' (Lonesome Day) * 2006: Jan Smith - ''29 Dances'' (Landslide) * 2006: Hank Williams III - ''Straight to Hell'' (Bruc) * 2006: The Wreckers - ''Stand Still, Look Pretty'' (Maverick / Warner Bros.) * 2007: Little Big Town - ''A Place to Land'' (Equity) * 2007: Steep Canyon Rangers - ''Lovin' Pretty Women'' (Rebel) * 2008: Melonie Cannon - ''And the Wheels Turn'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2008: Kenny Loggins - ''How About Now'' (BMG) * 2008: Jeremy McComb - ''My Side of Town'' (Thirty Tigers) * 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'' (Sidewalk) * 2009: Dierks Bentley - ''Feel That Fire'' (Capitol Nashville) * 2009: Adam Steffey - ''One More for the Road'' (Sugar Hill) * 2010: Dailey & Vincent - ''Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers'' (Cracker Barrel) * 2011: Blind Boys Of Alabama - ''Take the High Road'' (Saguaro Road) * 2011: Sierra Hull - ''Daybreak'' (Rounder) * 2011: Tom T. Hall - ''A Gift From Tom T. Hall: Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T.'' (Drumfire / Wrasse) * 2012: Dierks Bentley - ''Home'' (Capitol Nashville) * 2012 Kathy Mattea - ''Calling Me Home'' (Sugar Hill) * 2012: The Roys - ''New Day Dawning'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2012: Steep Canyon Rangers - ''Nobody Knows You'' (Rounder) * 2013: John Fogerty - ''Wrote a Song for Everyone'' (Vanguard) * 2013: The Roys - ''Gypsy Runaway Train'' (Rural Rhythm) * 2014: Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time - ''All-Star Duets'' (MightyCord) * 2014: Dolly Parton - ''Blue Smoke'' (Masterworks) * 2016: Irene Kelley - ''These Hills'' (Mountain Fever) * 2016: Josh Kelley - ''New Lane Road'' (Sugar Hill)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{URL|slackkeystudio.com/|Slack Key Studio website}} * {{AllMusic | id= randy-kohrs-mn0000396788 | label= Randy Kohrs}} * {{discogs artist|1248905-Randy-Kohrs|Randy Kohrs}}

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