Bobby Hicks Obituary
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Bobby Hicks, 91, of Marshall, North Carolina passed away peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2024. Hicks was born in Newton, North Carolina on July 21, 1933 and was the son of the late Roy and Buenah Hicks. He learned to play the fiddle before he was 9 years old and attended several fiddlers conventions and at the age of eleven, he won the "North Carolina State Championship" playing the tune "Black Mountain Rag". In the early 1950's, he joined Jim Eanes band.
In 1953, he was hired as a bass player in Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. He did not record with the Bluegrass Boys until December 31, 1954, by then he had switched to fiddle. During this period, he learned to play "Nashville swing" by the session fiddler Dale Potter, a style Hicks often used when playing with Bill Monroe on the road. Monroe dubbed Hicks "the truest fiddler he had ever heard". He recorded seven tunes with Monroe but left in 1956 to join the army. In 1958, after his discharge, he rejoined the Bluegrass Boys, recording ten more songs. He left in 1959 to join Porter Wagoner. Later in 1963, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and became a fixture on the Judy Lynn Show for the next seven years. In 1981, he joined Ricky Skaggs, a stint that would last for 22 years. During the 1980's, he would frequently perform with Bill Monroe on stage and on records. In 2002, he was inducted into the "Fiddlers Hall of Fame;" he played at the Grand Ole Opry many years and in 2004 celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first appearance; and was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Hicks is also a 10-time Grammy winner.
Surviving are his loving wife of 21 years, Catherine B. Hicks; children, Rick Sutton, Tammie Hobby and her spouse, Jay, Tim Lindsay and his spouse, Connie, Melissa Holland and her spouse, Andy, and Joey Hicks and his spouse, Wendy Waites; ten grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and his fur babies, Isaac, Jasper, and Patch.
A private memorial service will be held, and in October of this year he will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Friends of Madison County Animals.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Bobby Hicks, please visit our Tree Store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Gloria Gaffney
July 15, 2025
We miss you and we think about you and we thank you for all the happy Days you shared your extraordinary talent with us. Gloria and Bobbie, Asheville.
Ron Chilton
July 15, 2025
My Mother reminds me often of how Bobby was with Carlton Haney and visited us when my Dad's group was playing at our home. I was a toddler in the early 1950's and didn't remember it but later took fiddle lessons from Bobby at the old Music Barn in Greensboro. Dad would never stop talking about Bobby's fiddle playing. Bobby kept two extra items in his double fiddle case I remember, a picture of Emily Lou and an old Carlton bumper sticker. I had been a guitar player but played most string instruments. The time with Bobby learning his methods and style was the most eye opening experience ever for me in music. I was his last student in the evenings and sometimes followed him to his home after class and listened to his stories. Bobby was the most brilliant musician to sit around and listen to while he played fiddle as only an expert like him could manage. You didn't just listen, you had to play something also. My most memorable moment was during a lesson at the barn. I (sort of) played fiddle, Bobby played guitar, and Marvin Hudson, (co-founder of the Marlen Steel Guitar Company I had known my whole life) played banjo. I will never forget those evenings being around such talent, and never forget the legend I had known while watching, and listening to his career.
During PBS Festival years ago, old clips of the Grand Old Opry were shown when Bobby was with Bill Monroe. The story was that Carlton Haney helped Bobby get started with Bill as the bass player, however in at least one of those clips he played banjo, and of course later became the fiddle player. His ability in and with music was just amazing.
Diane Hicks Nortness
October 5, 2024
So sorry for your loss. I have not seen my Uncle Bobby since 1986.
Lois Anthony
September 30, 2024
Cathy: So sorry to hear that Bobby passed away . I only found out when researching the devastation of Hurricane Helena in your area.
Lois Veldhoff Anthony
We met in the campground Lebanon TN
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steve cummings
August 20, 2024
I almost moved to Marshall to hear Bobby at Zuma. /really salt of the earth kind of guy.
Ron Chilton
August 19, 2024
I don't remember first meeting Bobby really, I was 2. My Dad was a fiddler that grew up with Carlton Haney and he visited with us then (early 50's). Mom still remembers Bobby being with Mr. Haney. In the late 1970's when Bobby had moved back home he taught lessons at the old Music Barn in Greensboro. I was his last evening student and would stop by his house occasionally, heading home myself. I had grown up around a lot of great musicians but was in awe at how Bobby could play any instrument he picked up. One of the last memories of lessons attended I ran into Marvin Hudson, co-founder of the Marlen Steel Guitar, and also an old friend of Dad's. For that lesson I played fiddle, Marvin played banjo, and Bobby played guitar. As I struggled and we took a break Bobby struck off on a Red Hot Picker lick by Jerry Reed. It was one of those times you never forget as a musician when a master holds the instrument as few can, which for him was many. He was the truest musician I'd ever known.
We will all share grief with the family. My deepest symphaties and condolences to the family, and all the music world over our loss.
Gloria Gaffney
August 19, 2024
I first met Bobby Hicks 12 years ago at Zuma. He touched my life with his music and continued to enrich my life every week for 12 years. He is a great loss to the world of music, especially his brand of Blue Grass.
Shirley Simmons
August 19, 2024
Great musician,
Robert Nixon
August 18, 2024
It was such a thrill to get to see this true legend of the bluegrass community play fiddle at Shindig on the Green. I was standing beside a legend and watching him play for free. He would always accommodate a requested song and seemed to genuinely enjoy hanging out and playing there. He will be missed by so many and I feel truly blessed to have seen him play so many times.
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