Randy Kohrs

Randy Alan Kohrs is an accomplished American multi-instrumentalist renowned for his exceptional skills on the resonator guitar. His versatility is evident as he proficiently plays a total of 13 different musical instruments. Kohrs has also made significant contributions to the music industry as a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer.

Born in Osceola, Iowa, south of Des Moines, Kohrs spent his formative years on a farm near the rural town of New Virginia, southwest of Indianola. His musical journey began at the age of 8 when he learned to play the acoustic guitar, guided by his uncle. This early introduction to music paved the way for his later mastery of the resonator guitar. Kohrs' dedication to his craft and his ability to adapt to different musical styles have established him as a respected figure in the music community. His contributions as a producer and recording engineer further highlight his expertise and commitment to the art of music. With a career that spans multiple genres and instruments, Randy Alan Kohrs continues to influence and inspire musicians and audiences alike.

In the fall of 1994, Kohrs moved to Nashville. In 1997 and 1998, Hank Williams III hired him to play in his band, and he toured in support of Tom T. Hall. In 1998, he joined David Parmley, Scott Vestal, and Continental Divide, singing tenor and playing dobro. Kohrs played on the album Feel Good Day. 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. Kohrs backed Patty Loveless on a taping of the Austin City Limits television show on PBS. He has opened shows for Chris Stapleton.  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 Left Of Center label. The album featured John Hughey on pedal steel and James Mitchell on electric guitar. Kohrs' next album was I’m Torn in 2004, which featured a duet with Dolly Parton on "It Looked Good On Paper. In 2003, Kohrs toured with Dolly Parton in the band the Blueniques, playing on three of her albums and performing as her opening act.

Randy Kohrs also owns one of Nashville's most popular studios, Slack Key Studio.

Randy and BENADO have been working together for several years. He owns several of Benado's products, which can be heard on many albums. In the past few years, Randy contributed to some ideas that will soon see the light of day in future BENADO releases.