Russ Hicks R.I.P.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 11 Dec 2023 6:01 pm

Russ Hicks passed away on Monday December 11, 2023. He had been suffering and declining in health for the past year. Russ was 82 years of age, born during 1942 in Crab Orchard, West Virginia. He was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2011. Russ played staff band Steel Guitar for the Hee Haw TV show 14 years in Nashville. Made numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage, Also early in his career he worked and toured with the southern rock band "Bare Foot Jerry", then before that Russ was a regular on the Slim Mimms morning television show which aired on WBTW-TV and WNCT-TV in the Carolina's. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Russ's wife Laney Hicks.

Here's a clip with Russ playing on the Slim Mimms Show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHikVBZNsI

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 11 Dec 2023 6:04 pm

Oh no. This is sad.

Michael McGee · Post by **Michael McGee** » 11 Dec 2023 6:08 pm

Oh no... such sad news. Prayers for his family. RIP, my friend.

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 11 Dec 2023 6:35 pm

Geez another one gone!

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 11 Dec 2023 6:45 pm

I just heard! I am so sorry!

Kenny Foy · Post by **Kenny Foy** » 11 Dec 2023 6:55 pm

A great friend and will be missed.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 11 Dec 2023 6:56 pm

RIP Russ, You've been a great Friend. Condolences to Laney and the family.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 11 Dec 2023 6:56 pm

Laney called me a few minutes ago and told me. I sure hate it. I'm so glad he was able to come to our steel jam in October and play. I enjoyed our conversations through out the day and hearing him play. Praying for Laney and their family.

Tony

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 11 Dec 2023 7:27 pm

Sad news for sure. Russ was certainly an exciting and excellent guitarist. I have been lucky enough to catch him many times over the years. I enjoyed every time I seen him perform. My prayers for his family and friends.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 11 Dec 2023 7:31 pm

This is sad news. Russ and I played a few steel guitar shows and conventions at the same time. I remember in 2004, Russ was part of my set and we played "Look At Us" and "Cold, Cold Heart". In 2006, I played "Once A Day" with Laney and Russ told me he liked hearing me play the song. Russ always played a white JCH or an MSA when we played shows. When I played my first steel guitar show in Hollonville, Georgia 19 years ago in 2004, Russ and Laney were the headliners and I was so happy they were there to hear me play onstage for the first time. RIP Russ, we'll miss you buddy

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 11 Dec 2023 7:49 pm

I really hate hearing this. I always enjoyed time spent with Russ and he will definitely be missed.

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 11 Dec 2023 8:28 pm

My condolences to Laney and his family.

Gary Sill · Post by **Gary Sill** » 11 Dec 2023 8:41 pm

Russ was very instrumental in me developing my course on "How to easily learn to play the E9 neck". What a steel player he was and practiced and practiced. The staff steel player on "Hey Haw" for 14 years,

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 11 Dec 2023 8:45 pm

I can't remember when I didn't get to see Russ at a Steel Convention since I started in 1990. Won't be as fun without him. We had lunch together once at the Phoenix show. Very enjoyable. I know many many people are going to miss Russ dearly. My condolences to Laney and the family.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Dec 2023 8:45 pm

Very sad news. My condolences to all Russ’s friends and family.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 11 Dec 2023 9:10 pm

I'm really saddened to hear this... God bless and keep Russ

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 11 Dec 2023 9:26 pm

very sad news, and quite unexpected.

I was just watching the video for his induction into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame last week. what a huge talent

Russ was a big part of the first steel shows I attended in Knoxville, along with Jimmie Crawford... their twin steel sets were just jaw-dropping. Russ was the perfect partner for Jimmie's "experiments in terror" as he sometimes called it.

so glad I got to meet Russ and hear him with Jimmie and Laney when I was just starting out. I also had Ween's wacky but wonderful '12 Golden Country Greats' album on heavy rotation in those days, which featured Russ as well.

deepest condolences to Laney and their daughters and grandkids.

Jim R. Harrison · Post by **Jim R. Harrison** » 11 Dec 2023 10:18 pm

Wow, this is very sad for all of us to hear. Condolences to Laney & their family. A slight correction to Brett Day's comment about Russ "always played a white JCH or an MSA." Here are three exceptions to that statement. The 3rd image doesn't clearly show this to be Russ but I know it was - see my 2nd photo.

David Decker · Post by **David Decker** » 11 Dec 2023 10:45 pm

RIP my friend, you'll be missed!!

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 12 Dec 2023 2:40 am

RIP Mr.Hicks.

Adair Torres · Post by **Adair Torres** » 12 Dec 2023 3:15 am

R.I.P Russ Hicks.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Russ's wife Laney Hicks.

Michael Scott · Post by **Michael Scott** » 12 Dec 2023 3:28 am

I am so sorry to hear this. Russ was one of the best players and was loved by so many people around the world. He will be remembered for years to come and his legacy will live on. He has definitely left his mark on our industry.

My condolences to Laney and their family.

Michael Scott
President
The Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame, Inc.
St. Louis, MO.
a 501(c)(3) “Not For Profit” Organization
Tax ID #43-1344660

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 12 Dec 2023 3:55 am

Oh, no!

Russ was a good pal to me, approachable, funny and a great player.

This is a shock: I have been playing Russ' and Jimmie's CD for the last week or more.

I recall his set at the UK festival many years ago. He was announcing his next piece, 'Stumbling' and saw me in the front row.

"You know all about that, Roger.

!" ("I wrote it!!!", I answered. )

He was generous and, just like Jimmie and Buck, was happy to share knowledge and show you how something was played.

My sympathies go to Laney and their family. I extend my condolences to anyone lucky enough to have known Rusa.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 12 Dec 2023 4:11 am

So sorry to hear this, Prayers for the Family, Russ was one of the Greats....in the steel world..

Karen Sarkisian · Post by **Karen Sarkisian** » 12 Dec 2023 4:38 am

I’m Sorry to hear this RIP Russ

The Steel Guitar Forum

Russ Hicks R.I.P.

Russ Hicks R.I.P.

Russ

Russ Hicks

My thoughts and prayers to Laney and Russ's family

Such sad news