Randy Kohrs is a Dobro player from New Virginia, Iowa. He plays many instruments, but he is best known on the resonator guitar. In Nashville he has worked as a sideman, a solo artist, and a producer. He runs Slack Key studios, where he records other artists.
Why Kohrs matters
Kohrs works on both sides of the studio glass. He has backed country stars such as Tom T. Hall and Dolly Parton on the road and made several solo albums. He also produces and engineers records for others.
Life and career
Kohrs grew up on a farm near New Virginia, Iowa. He started on guitar at age eight and soon added the resonator guitar. As a teenager he played in a Missouri bluegrass band called Possum Trot.
He moved to Nashville in the mid-1990s and toured with Tom T. Hall. In 1998 he joined David Parmley, Scott Vestal, and Continental Divide on Dobro. In 2000 he joined the John Cowan Band, led by bass player John Cowan. He also toured with Dolly Parton.
In 2001 he released his first solo album, A Crack in My Armour, on Junction Records and formed his own band, the Lites. More albums followed: I’m Torn (Lonesome Day, 2004), Old Photograph (Rural Rhythm, 2007), and Quicksand (Rural Rhythm, 2009).
Playing style
Kohrs started on guitar and moved to the resonator guitar soon after. He also plays mandolin, banjo, and bass, but the Dobro is the instrument he is known for.
Influences and legacy
Kohrs has played Dobro beside banjo player Scott Vestal in Continental Divide and beside John Cowan in the John Cowan Band.
Essential recordings
A Crack in My Armour (Junction, 2001) I’m Torn (Lonesome Day, 2004) Old Photograph (Rural Rhythm, 2007) Quicksand (Rural Rhythm, 2009)
Watch and listen
Kohrs plays Dobro in a microphone test for Royer Labs.
What to learn from Kohrs
Kohrs came to the Dobro from the guitar. If you already play guitar, use what you know. Tune the Dobro to open G and find the G, C, and D chords on the neck with the bar. Then play a simple song such as Will the Circle Be Unbroken using only those three bar positions.
Sources
Randy Kohrs, Wikipedia Kohrs, Randy, BluegrassBios.com
Related players
See the Dobro players hub and the Dobro guide. John Cowan led one of Kohrs’s bands, and Scott Vestal played banjo beside him in Continental Divide.