BluegrassRadio.org will be re-airing the Riverbend Bluegrass Festival show recorded last Saturday this evening (4/26) at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). Performers featured include Ernie Thacker, returning to the stage after his two year recovery from a serious accident, followed by The Chapmans, Grasstowne and Lou Reid and Carolina.

BluegrassRadio.org is a free, listen-supported Internet radio service that runs a 24/7 bluegrass feed, available for both iTunes and Windows Media. Visit their site to choose a feed and listen in anytime.

Ernie Thacker has signed with Pinecastle Records to release his next CD. The as yet untitled project is finished, and expected to hit sometime in August.

As many of our readers are aware, Ernie was seriously injured in an automobile accident in April 2006 and has been undergoing a difficult, but successful recovery since. The new CD was started prior to the accident, and has been completed over this past few months.

Two of the tracks (Detroit City Chill and The Hangman) have already been released to bluegrass radio, where they have been well received.

We have posted many times over the past year about Ernie Thacker, and his battle to return home and to the stage after his serious auto accident in April 2006. Fortunately, most of the updates since them have been full of promising news, but the latest is most disconcerting.

David Russell, who manages a web site for Ernie, passed along two messages he had received this morning. The first comes from Matt Thacker, Ernie’s brother.

“Most of you know that my brother Ernie was in a car accident back in April, and has had a tough time recovering. Well he is back in the hospital and needs all the prayers he can get right now. Im not going to go into details about his condition because right now details are still sketchy, but he is in ICU and considered to be in critical condition. I am getting ready to leave OH to go back to VA and be with him now.

I believe so many people praying is what got him this far, so please if you know me or my brother, pray for him now.”

The second comes from Ernie Evans, who had performed with Thacker in Route 23.

“Please keep Ernie and his family in your prayers tonight. Unfortunately, he is once again in a struggle for his life. His accident has been hard on he and his family and his healing has been slow.

I spoke to Jen a few minutes ago and they are all by his side. It is still unclear what his condition is but he is in good care in ICU. As far as we know he is dealing with complications from infections to pneumonia. They have all been through a lot since this has happened and want everyone to know that your prayers are important and have meant so much already.

More information will be released as we learn more about his progress but for now they need time alone with him. Phone calls are hard to manage as you can imagine.”

Donations are still being accepted for Ernie’s health expenses.

Make checks payable to:

The Lexington Herald ran a story yesterday about Ernie Thacker and how he has continued to perform despite his auto accident earlier this year. We’ve spoken about his accident and recovery before here on The Bluegrass Blog and we’re glad to see Ernie getting out and performing again.

It seems the author of the Lexington Herald piece saw him perform with Don Rigsby and Junior Blankenship. I don’t think he’s performing entire sets yet at this point, but rather just a tune or two when he can.

Please remember to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he continues his recovery. You can visit him online at his website and keep up with his progress.

This may not be news to those friends of Ernie Thacker who have been closely following his recovery from multiple injuries following his automobile accident this past April, but it will be a welcome announcement for any who missed it.

Ernie is home from the hospital, and his web site carries a letter dated August 30 where he briefly describes what a close brush with death he endured. He expresses sincere gratitude for the many people who have sent prayers and good wishes, as well as those who organized and managed benefit shows to help with his medical expenses.

He also discusses his plans, both in the near term and beyond.

“My plans: my plans are to do maybe one or two shows this year and take the rest of the year to try and heal and build my upper body strength so I can be as independent as I can possible be. I have a new van to travel in and a great band who supports me, thanks to Veniese Kennedy and Ernie Evans and all of my supporters and friends down in the southern states of GA and FL. it is just so over whelming how good people have been to me. I never realized how many people I have touched through the power of music.”

You can read his entire letter on his web site, where you can also see some photos of Ernie’s return to the stage on August 14. He was given clearance by his doctors to leave the hospital briefly that day to perform with his band at a local fair.

There is also information there about a number of upcoming benefit shows, and how friends and fans can make a contribution to the fund which has been established to help cover existing, and future medical costs.

David Russell with The Bluegrass Journal reports that this past weekend’s benefit concert for Ernie Thacker was a great success. It was held in Flat Rock, MI.

The show kicked off at 2:00 PM and carried on through to 9:00 PM. There was a great turn out of local bands, fans, and bluegrass newbies. There was non-stop grass from bands like The Harris-Ellis Band, Run For Cover, Fulton County, The Coachmen, New Memphis Express, as well as an all star kids band with a roster of up and coming talent (Dr. Banjo would have been proud). I’d like to thank all the bands that showed, and all the fans as well. Your donations will be put to good use for Ernie and his family. Keep Ernie in your thoughts and prayers.

Regular readers of The Bluegrass Blog know that Ernie was quite seriously injured in an accident this past April. Read our several reports on Ernie and his recovery here.

Ernie’s web site is regularly updated with news of his rehabilitation, and the various benefits held to assist him and his family as he regains his health and mobility. The site also includes information on how friends and fans can contribute to the Ernie Thacker Fund.

We hope to have an interview with Ernie available here soon.

Tresa Jordan is the name of a new CD project from this bluegrass and country singer/songwriter, just released on South River Road Records. A debut single, I Turn To Country, has been promoted in recent weeks to country radio, and a second, Ain’t No Grave, is currently being promoted to bluegrass show hosts.

The material is often modern country in form and arrangement, but the accompaniment is acoustic with a bluegrass band, and some percussion. Tresa has a background in bluegrass, and had been performing with Ernie Thacker’s band until his serious accident in April. She has now formed her own group to support the CD, and is appearing at festivals this summer when she isn’t visiting radio stations.

Bluegrass artists who appear with Tresa on this CD include Wanda Vick on fiddle, Barry Bales on bass, and The Infamous Stringdusters who support Tresa on her cover of Kenny Loggins’ Danny’s Song.

Audio samples and more details can be found on her web site.

More cruise offerings for bluegrass folks. This one is the Bell Buckle Music Cruise sailing to Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas on Carnival Cruise Line’s Sensation. The dates for this cruise are February 4 - 8, 2007. The line up for this cruise is as follows with this one note. Their list of performers includes Ernie Thacker. Due to his condition, recovering from his accident, I doubt his attendance. I did attempt to contact Bell Buckle Music concerning this, but as of yet have received no response.

• Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
• Lonesome River Band
• Tresa Jordan & Southern Lite
• Ernie Thacker & Route 23
• Riverbend Bluegrass
• Swinging Bridge
• Randy Kohrs
• Monroe Crossing
• Smokey Greene

Back in April of this year we brought you the sad news of Ernie Thacker’s automobile accident. From time to time since then we have reported back on his condition. Here’s another update that we just received from David Russell at The Bluegrass Journal.

He’s doing a little better each day but he’s still in a whole lot of hurt. He’s undergone several operations to repair things like a dislocated elbow and his diaphragm. His lungs are getting stronger, and the last we heard they were weaning him off the respirator so he can breath on his own. Ernie did contact me and said that he was working (from his hospital bed have you) on getting the mixing finished for a new CD he wants to get out the door.

I will let you know more as soon as we hear from him. Thanks

We ask that you remember to keep Ernie in your thoughts and prayers through this time of healing.

Previous:
A note from Ernie Thacker
Ernie Thacker Update
Ernie Thacker update in WV paper
Ernie Thacker benefit - date change
Ernie Thacker Health Update
Ernie Thacker Update

We just heard from David Russell with The Bluegrass Journal, who shared a note he had received from Ernie Thacker. Regular readers of The Bluegrass Blog have surely noted that Ernie was seriously injured in an auto accident back in April, and remains hospitalized even now.

It’s just a brief note, which was sent by Ernie’s family to his many friends and fans who have offered support during his recovery.

“I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I am still in ICU, but I am doing better. I can’t talk because I have a trach tube. I’m paralyzed from the waist down but am hoping rehab will help me get back on my feet. It overwhelms me the fans and friends I have, words just can’t describe. I love you all more than you will ever know.”

We just received another another update on Ernie Thackers health. This one came from David Russell. You can find the other posts about this here.

Saturday, May 14, 2006

An update from the family

Ernie’s condition is improving. He is still listed in critical but stable condition. He remains in ICU and is expected to be so for some time. But with every day that goes by his doctors say that they see small improvements. They say it will be a long road to recovery, and that still things are uncertain, but with a lot of time, and with the help of the good Lord, doctors are hopeful that he will recover from this accident.

We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, well wishes, donations, cards, and calls. We will always remain thankful from the bottom of our hearts. We apologize for not being able to update every day, but right now we’ve been focusing all of our attention on Ernie and being there with him, which usually leaves
very little time for updates. We hope everyone understands that we genuinely appreciate the outpouring of love and concern for Ernie. Please continue to visit the website for updates as we are able to post them, and once again, please remember Ernie in your prayers…they are all greatly appreciated and needed.

The Herald Dispatch in Huntington, WV has a detailed story in this morning’s edition about Ernie Thacker’s recent auto accident, which we had briefly outlined in a series of earlier posts. The Herald Dispatch article has information about a number of ways that fans and friends can help Ernie and his family handle the crushing financial burdens of his ongoing hospitalization and rehabilitation costs.

The article also quotes Melvin Goins, Don Rigsby and Bo McCarty, all of whom are involved in helping to raise funds for the Thacker family.

As an editorial aside, we want to take a brief moment to encourage all of our readers (and friends!) who participate as performers or artists in bluegrass music to be aware of the importance of carrying some sort of medical insurance. You may think that the costs are prohibitive for someone whose income is often insecure, or that someone young and healthy doesn’t need the coverage. Ernie’s most unfortunate accident shows how youth and good health provide no protection against serious, and wholly unexpected heath care needs, the uninsured costs of which can be devastating.

Please investigate and consider at least a high deductible, major medical policy which can cover you against catastrophic costs such as what a serious auto accident can deliver, but at a substantially lower premium than what a full coverage policy may require. Despite the fact that people in bluegrass music have always rallied ’round to assist our own when needs arise - and the certainty that we always will - performers would be well advised to take steps to protect themselves, especially with the added exposure to road dangers which touring presents.

Stay healthy, but be prepared for the worst!

We just heard from David Russell concerning the benefit show he’s planning for Ernie Thacker.

We had to move the date of the Michigan Benefit show for Ernie Thacker to Sunday August 6th. The times have not been nailed down, but we have the day set aside. We will finalize everything soon and inform the folks through our websites. It will be held at the Huron Valley Eagles Club in Flat Rock Michigan.

Website: TheBluegrassJournal.com
Previous: Ernie Thacker Health Update, Ernie Thacker Update

We just received this update from the folks who manage Ernie Thacker’s web site. See our earlier post about his recent serious accident.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

A Letter from Ernie’s Family

We would like to let everyone know that Ernie is still very critical but by the wonderful power of God, he will survive this tragic accident!

The doctors are saying that the prognosis is looking better each day. His lungs have improved and that a lot of the swelling has gone down. He now has started taking kidney dialysis but the doctors feel that it is only temporary!

There is a trust fund available for him -

The Ernie Thacker Fund
ATTN. Theda Viers at New Peoples Bank
P.O Box 1053
Grundy, Va. 24614.

Any donations would greatly be appreciated!

We would like to express our appreciation to everyone that has called, prayed, and sent donations! We can’t thank you enough.

We Love You All!

Love, The Family of Ernie Thacker

Ernie Thacker was recently hospitalized after a car accident Tuesday evening. He is in very serious condition and is still hospitalized. His family is asking for prayer.

Don Rigsby reports that:

Ernie was thrown from the car and broke every rib, ruptured his aorta, and suffered numerous injuries. He was in surgery for many hours, and lost his spleen. As of late yesterday, he was still in intensive care, however he was stable and was showing some signs of improving finally. There is some serious concern that he will be paralyzed from the waist down, however we’re praying this is a temporary thing from all the trauma.

At this time that is all that we know about his physical condition. Don did say that benefit concerts are in the works for Virginia and Kentucky. We also have word that others are planning benefits in Michigan, Ohio, and possible Indiana. The expenses relating to his medical care are likely to be overwhelming.

We’ll keep you posted as we know more, and will update as we find more details about ways in which fans and friends can offer financial support. Also be sure to visit his website for updates.

Update 3:00 p.m. We just heard from David Russell of The Bluegrass Journal, and he is working on setting up a benefit show for Ernie and his family at the Huron Valley Eagles Club in Flat Rock, MI on July 22. He asked that anyone who lives in that area and who may be willing and able to help with the show to please email him, or call at (419) 250-5096. Bands who would be willing to perform are also encouraged to get in touch with David.