How can one be dispassionate about Ernie Thacker and the release of his latest CD, The Hangman?

While in the middle of recording tracks for The Hangman (Pinecastle PRC 1167), Thacker was involved in an horrendous automobile accident that very nearly took his life. As it was, he spent two months in a coma and a further four months of rehabilitation. In the longer term, the incident has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

After that trauma and thanks to the support of his family, band mates – his brother Matt (bass guitar and tenor vocals), Dick Roach (banjo and baritone vocals) and Brandon Shupping (mandolin) – and record label, he was able to return to performing and complete work on the CD that was released earlier this week.

The Hangman features three songs from Thacker family members, the title track, the Gospel Church Upon The Hill and Keith How Many, a powerfully emotive tribute to one of Thacker’s predecessors in the Clinch Mountain Boys, the late Keith Whitley. New material from other sources include the up-tempo lead song Bill Castle’s The Ballad Of Charlie Dill, Dave Carroll’s Detroit City Chill, Friday Once Again (Dave Russell) and Word Of Mouth from Salvatore Guido and Paul Kelly.

Additionally there are covers of This Drinkin’ Will Kill Me from Dwight Yoakam, I Wish You Knew, Sunday Morning Coming Down and the traditional Rollin’ On These Rubber Wheels.

We are indeed blessed by Thacker’s courage and continued commitment to bluegrass music.