Watch Travis Tritt Shred a Banjo Solo Performing “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” with Earl Scruggs and Vince Gill

Many fans think of Travis Tritt as one of the biggest names of the ‘90s. Hits like “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” and “Anymore” were all over the radio at the height of the era. However, some may not know that he was just as comfortable playing bluegrass with Vince Gill and Earl Scruggs as he was performing honky tonk songs with Marty Stuart.

In the video below, Tritt plays banjo on “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” with a stage full of bluegrass greats. Chief among them is Scruggs, the artist responsible for developing the banjo style most associated with bluegrass. When the lead comes to Tritt he steps forward and fires off a flawless banjo break. He looks like he’s having more fun than anyone else in the room while picking the bluegrass classic.

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Tritt isn’t the only one stepping out of his box for this performance. Most fans know that Gill has been playing bluegrass for decades. However, they likely know him best for his voice and guitar skills. This video shows him playing mandolin. He takes the lead just after Tritt and shows that he’s just as comfortable with eight strings as he is with six.

What Put Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, and Lester Flatt on One Stage?

The video above is from a television special called All-Star Bluegrass Celebration. Recorded at the Ryman in January 2002, the PBS special featured several performances from Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, and a laundry list of bluegrass legends. The lineup included The Del McCoury Band, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, and Alison Krauss with Union Station among others.

Tritt returned later in the night to join Ricky Skaggs for a rendition of “Little Georgia Rose.” He played banjo and sang, showing off his range with some high lonesome vocals. Later on, he joined Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless for “Uncle Pen.”

Gill appears early on, fronting the Del McCoury Band for “Cry Holy (Unto My Lord).” He came back later on for the “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” performance and stuck around to play mandolin during “Passin’ Through.”

Featured Image by Ralph Arvesen/Shutterstock